Jumping the Gun.

I wonder whether we are jumping the gun. Going into space is after all not like taking a stroll in your backyard. Once we leave the protection of our ecosphere we are faced with an intensely hostile environment. If the intention is to walk on Mars and come back, as was done in the case of the Moon there should be no major problem. But is that the aim of a trip to Mars? Or is it going to be something more durable, like setting up a small colony there?

With all the delta V's we are talking about, it is clear that supplying any outpost from Earth is going to be a very difficult task. The only way out is to make any space outpost basically self-sufficient in terms of basic needs; at this point in time the issue is not trade but SURVIVAL. And the only way to ensure it is to develop the technology so that a space settlement can almost fully recycle their supply of water and grow all the food required for survival. At the same time have the type of environment where everyone does not go nuts.

So the first step should be... Set up Space Habitats in Earth orbit where the required technologies can be proven. A couple of individuals should be able to stay in an enclosed environment for say two years, fully recycling all the water and growing all the fresh food they need - canned food should be kept to a minimum. Let us also do away with this zero G business. When zero G is known to be detrimental why deliberately persist with it?

In parallel... It will be desirable if nuclear rocket technology can be developed, which can use any matter as reaction fuel. This will make sure that rocketry is not dependent just on water as source for fuel

Does it sound crazy?

Selvaraj.