possible method of mars exploration?

On Jul 6, 2006, at 11:38 AM, Robert wrote:

> the things is i have never understood how ppl can say do one or the
> other. in my vision of it (yes only mine i know), the two are
> connected.

Human diversity almost guarantees that both orbital and planetary
colonization will be done. Planets do have advantages of readily
available raw materials, and will just seem more "secure" to some,
but they have all that stinky gravity to deal with. Terraforming
seems out of the question to me. Not only would it be enormously
wasteful and expensive, but it would be a shame to spoil the natural
beauty of other planets. In fact, I almost feel a moral problem with
terraforming (for what it's worth). If you want Earth, go to Earth.
Leave Mars as Mars. I think planets will be colonized, but the people
there will have to live in enclosed habitats at the bottom of a
gravity well. Of course Mars and the Moon have much less gravity than
the Earth, so when we develop cheap systems to escape Earth, escaping
Mars and the Moon will be even cheaper.

doug