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Robert Zubrin himself has written profusely about the need for nuclear power on Mars but I think there might be a better way to go. Why not instead put a ring of solar arrays in orbit around Mars? These wouldn't have to be huge, we are not talking about powering an Earthlike civilization after all but merely a little base. We would only have to make sure that enough solar panels stay in sunlight to power the little Mars base. With the efficiency of experimental solar technology skyrocketing into the 50-70 percent range it might be possible to go this route if we use solar concentrators. An orbital power system would elimate any problems with dust and light absorbtion from the atmosphere. It would also spare astronauts the pain of dealing with the dangerous pitfalls of nuclear power.
I'll be the curator and live in it. Since there won't be any nukes laying around we'll power up the airconditioner, fridge, and other creature comforts with renewables like solar and wind and grow food in it's vicinity. We'll make it completely self-sufficient and environmentally friendly the way a starship should be. Any curator caught visiting the grocery store will be fired and replaced. And I don't know why a government would necessarily oppose it since you couldn't get bombs for it anyway.
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