need a hand with a plot element

Janet,
You may have touched on your own solution...why not
establish that generational platform in a
geosynchronous orbit above Mars while building a
livable colony on the planet and bring into near orbit
mineral-rich and water-rich asteroids for
mining.....both to turn a profit (and therefore
sustainable economic independence) and provide raw
materials for whatever projects/living quarters are
needed?
Larry

--- terrierkeeper wrote:

> --- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com,
> "janet_baker76"
> wrote:
> >
> > Hi, Settlers,
> >
> > Would you give me a hand with something I need in
> a story? First,
> > what would you call rather small communities,
> designed to hold
> several
> > generations of a family or several families, which
> are a cross
> between
> > space colonies and space ships insofar as they are
> intended to
> venture
> > into deep space over a long period of time?
>
> I once toyed with the idea of using a Island One
> Stanford Torus to
> drift from earth to Mars to transport a major
> exploration force and
> to provide them with a base of operations.
> >
> > And second, what would be a plausible economic
> mission of such a
> > ship/dwelling? In other words, what do we need in
> deep space that
> we
> > cannot get from objects in the near vicinity of
> earth?
>
> Certainly Mars exploration in search of mineral
> wealth and other
> assets could be deamed an economic purpose. And the
> same can be said
> of Venus. Certainly a space island could also serve
> as a base of
> operations for Terraformation work.
>
> However unless there is something unique to either
> planet, both would
> be self defeating since mineral weallt can be more
> easily acquired
> mining asteroids and comets.
> >
> > Thank you,
> > Jan
> >

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