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This is a statement about the absence of immediate first-order incentives. But there are other incentives, for example, being interested in the problems of act
by wwweston 4y ago
This is a statement about the absence of immediate first-order incentives.
But there are other incentives, for example, being interested in the problems of actually settling Mars.
Necessity is certainly motivating, but people serious about their ambitions often don't wait for it to motivate their preparations. Would-be serious ocean-farers probably want to become practiced in producing/storing/carrying/consuming/restoring hard tack (or other equivalent sustenance) before relying on it over weeks away from port.
The absence of self-sustaining colonies in harsh outposts on the earth (and similar absence of more local positive terraforming projects) indicate limits in how serious anyone is about colonizing Mars.
- JumpCrisscross 4y ago> absence of self-sustaining colonies in harsh outposts on the earth (and similar absence of more local positive terraforming projects) indicate limits in how serious anyone is about colonizing Mars This is a stronger argument. I agree. I think there is serious interest in establishing permanent facilities on Mars. But a self-sufficient, self-sustaining population isn't being planned on because there are too many unknowns for any definition of a plan that doesn't overlap hard science fiction.
- lisper 4y agoSomething I've never even seen mentioned, let along seriously discussed, is the protocol for deciding under what circumstances the first human will be born and raised off-earth. I predict that will turn out to be an intractable problem.
- JumpCrisscross 4y ago> the protocol for deciding under what circumstances the first human will be born and raised off-earth This one's easy. We won't have one when it happens. > predict that will turn out to be an intractable problem In what ways?
- lisper 4y agoGoodness, where to even begin? Maybe here... https://www.wired.com/2009/08/spacebabies/ https://www.wired.com/2009/08/spacebabies/ We've never even successfully raised a mouse in space.
- JumpCrisscross 4y agoOh, you're talking about extraterrestrial reproduction being intractable. Sure. I have no view on this scientifically. That won't stop people from trying. And I'd assume there's a massive difference between zero g and 0.4g.
- lisper 4y agoMaybe. We have zero data about this.
- JumpCrisscross 4y ago> have zero data about this I agree with you as much as I am certain that data have close to no consequence for the people making the decision.
- yencabulator 4y ago> That won't stop people from trying. Or, what I consider more likely, people not trying but nature, um, finding a way. None of the common prevention methods is 100%.
- dylan604 4y agoHave you not read Stranger In A Strange Land?
- lisper 4y agoYes. Why do you think that's relevant? You are aware that this was a work of fiction, yes?
- dylan604 4y agoWait, what? Someone wasn't actually born on Mars, and there aren't actually Martians? You're joking! /s Did you honestly believe that I was suggesting that the first person born on Mars was going to be considered the owner of Mars?
- MagicMoonlight 4y agoWhen a female crew member gets nutted in on the two year long journey to mars... I give it like a day before they're all having sex.
- xen2xen1 4y agoI can't imagine they won't all be fixed for that reason.