Quote from: RobertThat depends also on whether we want to terraform it first as human colonists could get in the way of terraformation...Well, after you've inherited a swamp in Florida, you don't first design the entire house down to the gold plated toilets, then verify whether or not it will fit the site. First, you visit and study the site carefully, and then design the house.So it should be, and most probably will be with any martian terraforming. A couple of bases here and there, which slowly grow, hopefully. Should it turn out to be a worthwhile endeavor in a century or two, ya terraform it.
That depends also on whether we want to terraform it first as human colonists could get in the way of terraformation...
Quote from: gospacex on 06/21/2012 04:19 pmWith potential cost of Mars real estate and resources of immeasurable trillions of dollars...For sale: Cheap, fixer-upper planet in desireable location within habitable zone of nearby star...
With potential cost of Mars real estate and resources of immeasurable trillions of dollars...
Quote from: JohnFornaro on 06/21/2012 04:43 pmQuote from: RobertThat depends also on whether we want to terraform it first as human colonists could get in the way of terraformation...... First, you visit and study the site carefully, and then design the house.So it should be, and most probably will be with any martian terraforming. A couple of bases here and there, which slowly grow, hopefully. Should it turn out to be a worthwhile endeavor in a century or two, ya terraform it.Yes, true. With the terraforming you still have the issue that introduced life is going to start transforming the planet anyway, just a little to start with. ...It's going to be tricky anyway to get the whole planet working [properly.]...If you just introduce colonists without thinking about the effect on terraforming then it might be that you are making it much harder to terraform the planet.
Quote from: RobertThat depends also on whether we want to terraform it first as human colonists could get in the way of terraformation...... First, you visit and study the site carefully, and then design the house.So it should be, and most probably will be with any martian terraforming. A couple of bases here and there, which slowly grow, hopefully. Should it turn out to be a worthwhile endeavor in a century or two, ya terraform it.
You worry too much young Paduan. As Jeff Greason mentioned in his recent ISDC talk: Twenty year plans don't work. Terraforming Mars will be done by trial and error, should it ever come to pass.Study the planet carefully from above. Eventually, should it so be decided, send a group down to try out the planet. If that works, send some more. Repeat every two years or so for a hundred years.
...that year at Culham (1971-2 was when I was there if I remember right)...
Quote...that year at Culham (1971-2 was when I was there if I remember right)...Okay.Old Paduan.