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Completely independently of a mars colony, this would be an interesting experiment. You might want to start with just building a very large east/west solar ins
by rklaehn 5y ago
Completely independently of a mars colony, this would be an interesting experiment.
You might want to start with just building a very large east/west solar installation to create a large shaded area, then some water extraction systems and high intensity greenhouses. And obviously give the whole place very good internet connection.
It would not have to be fully closed, like biosphere 2. Many things you don't have to worry about, like CO2 from concrete accumulating. You can even have a bit of water loss.
But the problem is this: if you are successful and create some thriving city there, one of the neighbouring countries will suddenly discover some long lost claim to the land and annex it.
- rklaehn 5y agoA better idea might be to take a place that is very inhospitable but already has a sizeable human presence, like the site of the EELT https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extremely_Large_Telescope https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extremely_Large_Telescope . This region is politically stable. It has to be for the extremely large investment of the EELT. Then take a few square kilometers of desert in the vicinity and try to build a self sustaining city there for the EELT employees. Maybe it can grow into a tourist attraction. You would have to be extremely careful not to create light pollution though.