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> Elon wanting to colonized Mars is an example that isn't like that at all and his effort seems to have positive side effects Everything can, to some extent, h
by BerislavLopac 3y ago
> Elon wanting to colonized Mars is an example that isn't like that at all and his effort seems to have positive side effects
Everything can, to some extent, have some positive side effects. But keep in mind what is the real reason why Elon (and other libertarians) are so interested in colonising Mars - as opposed to exploring other, and much closer, "undiscovered countries", like Antarctica or the ocean floor: the existing legal systems do not reach there, or if they do it's very difficult to enforce them. Their idea is to create a "libertarian paradise" where they would define the rules of the society.
I mean, it has zero chance of working the way they envision it, but they envision it nonetheless.
- xboxnolifes 3y agoOr they just think space is cool.
- rzzzt 3y agoI thought the interest revolved largely around space mines and industry. Helium, solid gold asteroids, etc.
- DennisP 3y agoAs a life-long space buff, no that's not the reason at all. The solar system can support a vastly greater civilization than our little planet, with millions of times the resources available and no existing ecosystems to screw up (that we know of so far). Antarctica does not compare.
- anonymouskimmer 3y agoEarth's ecosystem can only absorb the side-effect of so many spaceflights per year. It's one thing to advance the state-of-the-art of space travel vehicles, it's another thing to plan on colonizing the solar system with the equivalent of coal-burning, soot-emitting, 19th century locomotives. Billions of people could live in habitats in orbit around Earth, while mining local asteroids or the moon. Targeting one of the deepest gravity wells in the inner solar system doesn't seem like a good first step.
- DennisP 3y agoStarship's exhaust is CO2 and water. At scale, make the fuel from ambient CO2 and you're net-zero carbon. Water vapor in the stratosphere is a potential problem but only at extreme volume, since most of the exhaust is at lower altitude. Definitely we should do the moon and orbitals too, and Starship's launch costs would make that a lot easier. Mars does have things to recommend it though: lots of local resources, gravity only 1/3 of Earth's so you can get to orbit with just the Starship upper stage, only place in the solar system besides Earth where you can grow crops on natural sunlight, close to the asteroid belt.
- anonymouskimmer 3y ago> Starship's exhaust is CO2 and water. And fast moving, directional heat.
- DennisP 3y agoThat's a very transient, localized effect. I have a hard time imagining it making a real impact, though if you can reference a study showing otherwise I'd be interested.
- anonymouskimmer 3y agoI don't follow rocket studies.