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No need for upteen SLS launches to assemble a Mars Expedition
The moon is destined to be a gas station,
Mars is a mistake. I mean, we should go there and all, but it will never be a viable colony world. The soil is extremely toxic with lots of Chromium and arsenic and other stuff. We’d have to bring acre-feet of earth dirt to get any farming going. Plus it’s a significant gravity well, and that means it won’t be a good base for further space operations. The moon is destined to be a gas station, with plenty of He3 available to be mined for fusion powered reactors. Aside from that, the same problems with food generation exist. The vat-grown meat, yeast-grown protein complex would be the only way to get food long term, along with hydroponics. With enough production and investment, it might be a viable colony at some point. And ship yards could be constructed at the LaGrange point between it and Earth.
Mars is a mistake. I mean, we should go there and all, but it will never be a viable colony world.
Never say never. I can imagine that future technology may render it much more viable.
Having a spare planet sounds like a good idea.
Ah, Fuck Off, Unimaginative Schmuck.
Water... Alumina... Iron. What do you have? Dumb Mass and LOX/LH2 aka upper-stage propulsion. What does that mean? No need for upteen SLS launches to assemble a Mars Expedition.
Stations were needed for Sailing and Steam Ships. The Moon will be our Station. Time to get our asses up there and check out the Poles. 90% Sunlight with the Sun on the horizon, with a few meters away a deep ass crater, plus water ice = Sterling Engine. Could be nuclear powered as well. Great place to set up and maintain geosynchronous satellites, far cheaper than an Earth Launch. Never lack Satellite Bandwidth Again; can really think about Microwaved Solar Power as well.
In terms of National Defense, China is already very interested in sending things from the moon to ASAT our spy satellites, a place where it's hard to see. We need to get there first.