Other Solar Systems and planets.

I would not describe myself as an extra-solar planet expert, but I do
know what has been found. The search for extra-solar planets relies on data
that can be obtained now, and that data is obtainable for massive (meaning
on the order of Jupiter's mass) planets. So the planets found so far will
not be Earth like. But they might have sister planets or satellites (like
Jupiter does) that could be Earth like. However in thinking about
colonizing Mars I conclude the long trip it takes to get there rules it out
for now. Never mind that the peak of Mount Everest is more hospitable (it
is warmer, has oxygen in the atmosphere, probably less wind, and if
water-ice is warmed there it turns into a liquid, but not on Mars). The
round trip to Mars which we can plan now but not actually prepare for as we
don't have any machines that can do what is required, would take between 2
and 3 years. So for these reasons, for most budgets, Mars is not now an
attractive colony location.
What about those 60 or so extra solar planets? Well, they are hundreds
of thousands of times further away, which would make a trip there more
expensive by about the same factor, if it could be done at all. Could they
be colonized some time in the future? With revolutionary new technology, of
course. But, now? No way. Only in your dreams.
Sincerely, Jay S. Huebner at jhuebn@...