"We've been to the Moon. We don't need to go back. We need to aim higher." In an absolute sense, we don't need to do either. I believe the Moon will support t

"We've been to the Moon. We don't need to go back. We need to aim higher." In an absolute sense, we don't need to do either. I believe the Moon will support the first permanent population of humans outside Earth. It remains to be seen if there is any meaningful physiological difference between 1/6 G and 1/3 G. If not, the experience of living on either will be more similar than not. My gut feeling is that there will have to be centrifugal "gravity" available on both the Moon and Mars. I think the Moon has one thing that Mars does not - it is an attractive spot for heavy industry producing goods shipped to Earth, with abundant solar energy to boot. There is no issue with nuclear power there either.