Doomed Dome: The FutuThat Never Was

Underground living could be a prep for living inside asteroids or on airless bodies like Luna. Above ground domes could offer experience for Mars or other atmospheric bearing bodies(ie, ones that provide sufficient protection from particulate radiation and meteorites). If these approaches prove economically feasible on earth, they'd be a proof of principle for living in space.

Gary 7

I've often thought that a small domed city (or large shopping mall that
includes parks and residential areas) would be a great first step
towards a space colony, and that the best place to put it would be
somewhere near or beyond the Arctic circle. Surely at least some of the
residents there would be willing to pay extra (perhaps quite a bit
extra) to live in a place with a Hawaiian climate, or at least a
Hawaiian day/night cycle. And those who aren't would probably drive (or
snowmobile or whatever they do) quite a ways to spend some time (and
money) in such a climate.

Such an enclosure wouldn't need to be more than a few km across to be
effective, I think. And it'd be a great way to experiment with things
like creating a satisfying artificial sky.

Best,
- Joe