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Robert Walker on Quora is a prolific writer regarding this. https://www.quora.com/profile/Robert-Walker-5 https://www.quora.com/profile/Robert-Walker-5 Specif

• tomp 8y ago
  I find his answer entirely unconvincing. > I think we are best not rushing into space, there’s no hurry about that. Let’s find out about space first, explore, learn, learn about our own capabilities too, [...] Exactly the same argument can be made then. > [...] have settlements in space when and where they are acutally needed, as the needs arise. By then it will be too late. The idea is that we learn by doing. > All this is hugely expensive and Earth would have to foot the bill. Because there is no way that they are going to turn a profit on Mars. All this is hugely expensive and UK would have to foot the bill. Because there is no way that they are going to turn a profit in America. > Not many peopole could afford a $200,000 spacsesuit. "640K ought to be enough for anybody" The most convincing part of his argument is weeks-long Martian dust storms.