Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science » in reply to re: ***As moderator, I have to ask you two a question***

Forgot Another Key Issue
Mark Eby — (archived)

Bogus economic justifications for return to the Moon such as:

1) Promotions of the Moon as a source for He3 for a fusion method even further beyond our technology than what we've been chaising for the last 50 years.

2) Water on the Moon being of any economic value beyond using it on the Moon. The economics of mining and recovering it are likely to be poor except for large scale use to support a moonbase or an outer planets launch facility. You need long term commitment to such projects to justify them.

3) Other nebulous economic projects pop up frequently with similar lack of reality checks.

The one economic argument for the Moon I agree with is as a potential tourist destination. I strongly believe however that that should be a private enterprise not a government one.

I don't believe we have a sound economic justification for Mars either, but I do believe a self supporting Martian colony would eventually find an industry of value to Earth. It has many more possibilities than the Moon as a true planet with an active geologic past as compared to a recombined burnt out piece of Earth's mantle. Similar to the tourism issue I don't believe the government should fund a true colony anywhere. It should simply pursue the science on Mars using as much self sufficient technology as possible to reduce cost therebye enabling private efforts at colonization. Research stations similar to antarctica are legitimate government efforts on both the Moon and Mars, we just have to rationally determine where limited funds are best spent.

Regards,
Mark

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