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Colonising Mars is unlikely and a bad idea

theconversation.com

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Re: Colonising Mars is unlikely and a bad idea

#5
I found this article incredibly frustrating to read. It doesn't do anything to support either of its two titular stipulations.

The best I could find as to why colonizing mars is unlikely:

> But according to a new study, published in Nature Astronomy, Mars has lost so much of its potential greenhouse gases to space over billions of years that there is now no possibility of transforming the remaining atmosphere into a breathable one with available technology.

... of course terraforming Mars would be difficult with available technology. Certainly the author doesn't imagine technological process standing still?

On the second stipulation, that colonizing Mars is a "bad idea," could we please get there first then figure out the ethical issues? Does the author really think we should have a perfectly correct ethical plan of moving off of the planet?

Re: Colonising Mars is unlikely and a bad idea

#7
Searching for life robotically would take centuries not "years or decades." And the idea that human colonization will wait until we're sure we're not disturbing nature is a non-starter. We'll go to the moon when we are technically and financially able.

And nothing in the article indicates why terraforming is unfeasible, except the caveat of "with available technology."

Re: Colonising Mars is unlikely and a bad idea

#9

I found this article incredibly frustrating to read. It doesn't do anything to support either of its two titular stipulations. The best I could find as to why colonizing mars is unlikely: > But according to a new study, published in Nature Astronomy, Mars has lost so much of its potential greenhouse gases to space over billions of years that there is now no possibility of transforming the remaining atmosphere into a…

I thought there was one clear assertion in there:

1) Previously, terraforming was thought to be possible, given there being enough trapped greenhouse gasses to establish an atmosphere

2) Recently, it was shown that there is not enough trapped greenhouse gasses to establish an atmosphere

3) Therefore, terraforming Mars is seen as far less possible (or alternatively, would require much more advanced technology) than before.

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