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"Combs, Mike" wrote

"Someone talks about permanent human settlements on
Mars. I propose permanent human settlements in orbit as an alternative.
Then I get told I'm a pie-in-the-sky dreamer because first we have to
think about CATS. But if our present lack of CATS makes discussions of
High Frontier premature (and I can see and respect that point of view),
why does it not also make discussions of permanent human settlements on
Mars premature?"

Look here, people, we need to take baby steps first. Even if we decide that
there is value in a Mars colony, it's a logistical nightmare. Even though I
personally think we'd be better off targeting the Asteroid Belt, I know this
won't happen in this century. It's just too damn far away at this point.

The first step is going to be settlements in Earth orbit, preferably high
Earth orbit. Next we may establish mining camps on NEO. If that proves
profitable, we may target Luna next. (Or Luna first, and then the NEO. I'm
easy either way.)

Then, and only then, will people start to consider going farther afield.
Mars or the Belt? I don't know. It will depend upon what we learn about
those places. But until there is a thriving spaceport in HEO, none of this
will happen. That's the first step. And there will probably be more than
one settlement in orbit. Like everything else, the Market will decide.

That was the big flaw in America's Race to the Moon. Von Braun and company
wanted to establish a space station as a platform for trips to Luna or Mars
or wherever. They were voted down because We Have To Get To The Moon Before
the Commies. Yeah? Then what? We followed that up with various space
stations and labs (Skylab, Salyut, Mir) and we're now pouring money into a
station in /Low/ Earth Orbit. We're doing what should have been done 40
years ago because we didn't have a coherent plan with proper priorities.
Frankly, we still don't. The ISS should have been built in HEO. It's
current location means it's destined to be a /temporary/ space station.

People used to whisper behind their hands that the space shuttle started out
as a horse until a committee took over the design process and turned it into
a camel. I believe the term 'white elephant' was mentioned more than once.
Lately people have been more vocal in their criticism of the shuttle, and
a replacement may soon be on the drawing boards. Hopefully, we won't get
another camel.

Well, there's my rant. Feel free to pick it apart. ;)

PS: What's CAT? (Apart from that critter who keeps begging me to feed him)