CLARKEVILLE - The first prototype Martian settlement

Scott G. Beach · 2002-09-07 17:59:41

During the Steering Committee meeting of August 10, 2002, Bruce McKenzie proposed that the Mars Society construct a prototype Martian settlement in order "to publicly demonstrate the feasibility of living beyond the Earth and its advantages to everyone."

I like Bruce's proposal and I suggest that the Mars Society name its prototype Martian settlement Clarkeville. Furthermore, the entrance road to the settlement should be marked by a black, stone monument that is 1 foot thick, 4 feet high, and 9 feet wide, with the name "CLARKEVILLE" chiseled into the stone.

Scott G. Beach

Phobos · 2002-09-07 22:29:12

Furthermore, the entrance road to the settlement should be marked by a black, stone monument that is 1 foot thick, 4 feet high, and 9 feet wide, with the name "CLARKEVILLE" chiseled into the stone.

lol! I remember that blackstone at the end of 2010 or whatever that movie was giving me the creeps. I was only like 9 if that when I saw it but I think that's the movie/novel your talking about. If this town is going to be on Earth I think it might be better to name it something that more bluntly gives away its function, something like "Mars City." I think we should save Clarkeville for the first real Martian town.

Josh Cryer · 2002-09-08 00:44:55

Ahh, great idea! But I hope it's more functional than other prototypes they've made. I hope that it is completely self contained.

I don't want it to just look like a Martian settlement, I want actual technologies to be used to literally simulate a Martian settlement. Can this be dooable? I hope that's what Bruce is actually proposing...

Scott G. Beach · 2002-09-08 13:04:35

I don't want it to just look like a Martian settlement, I want actual technologies to be used to literally simulate a Martian settlement.

Josh:

Building a prototype Martian settlement is a very complex task and it should probably be done in several stages. For example, the initial prototype (Prototype 1) might be a group of family residences surrounded by agricultural land that is farmed in the traditional way. Then, Prototype 2 might have food production done all in greenhouses. And Prototype 3 could have all food production operations contained in underground bunkers with artificial sunlight.

Food production is the easy part. Working out a social system that is compatible with Martian ecology will be the difficult part. Social design takes us into the realm of politics and values and it will take us a long time to generate a consensus about how Martian society should be organized.

Scott

Phobos · 2002-09-12 19:16:43

Food production is the easy part. Working out a social system that is compatible with Martian ecology will be the difficult part. Social design takes us into the realm of politics and values and it will take us a long time to generate a consensus about how Martian society should be organized.

I think the cultural and social aspects of a Mars colony will just develop on their own over time, especially if multiple independent colonies come to be established on Mars. I think we're operating under the assumption that all of the colonies that develop on Mars will be governed by the same body, and I don't think that necessarily will be the case. If the technology to travel to and live on Mars ever becomes substantially low (who knows, it might early in the 22nd century or maybe earlier) you could end up with a quiltwork of different governments and societies on Mars. You might have anarchic Libertarians living at one pole and authoritarian fascists nesting at the opposite pole, who knows.

Scott G. Beach · 2002-09-26 00:48:00

Phobos:

You wrote, "I think the cultural and social aspects of a Mars colony will just develop on their own over time, especially if multiple independent colonies come to be established." I agree that cultural and social evolution will take place in Martian colonies; however, we must recognize that this evolution will be an extension of the cultural and social evolution that is occurring every day all over this planet. The first Martian settlers will be taking their genes and behavioral repertoires and their technologies to Mars. The first settlers will be extensively trained in how to survive on Mars.

After the first few settlements of specially trained settlers are operating successfully, groups of "ordinary" people who share a particular culture and world view will undertake to establish settlements. There will be a Libertarian settlement here and a Hutterite settlement there and we will have, as you have written, "a quiltwork of different governments and societies on Mars."

You wrote, "I think we're operating under the assumption that all of the colonies that develop on Mars will be governed by the same body, and I don't think that necessarily will be the case." I disagree with your assumption. I believe that each colony should have its own "local" government and that there should only be regional and/or planetary governmental structures if the colonies join together to form those superior governmental structures.

Scott

Phobos · 2002-09-26 18:40:34

You wrote, "I think we're operating under the assumption that all of the colonies that develop on Mars will be governed by the same body, and I don't think that necessarily will be the case." I disagree with your assumption. I believe that each colony should have its own "local" government and that there should only be regional and/or planetary governmental structures if the colonies join together to form those superior governmental structures.
Scott

I think we're getting into territory where there are too many variables involved to really make a case one way or the other. I think the most important variable that could influence the way government evolves on Mars is how accessible space becomes to people. If we develop the technology where people can just fling themselves to the red planet without a lot of government interference it's perfectly conceivable that a quiltwork of vastly different political systems will form on Mars. But on the other hand, if governments continue to hold a near absolute monopoly on space and dictate who and who may not go to Mars and where on Mars they may go, I think your scenario will be more likely to be played out since in that case Mars colonies will likely spread out from a "mother colony" rather than a lot of little colonies being formed independent of each other. It just depends on how government policy and technology evolves.

Number04 · 2002-09-26 19:59:44

That's scary. Who is to say that they won't war with each other, just like on earth? I think that there has to be allot of work done socially before any of this will work. I am not as worried about the individual bases as I am base VS base, or even corporations spreading their evil. I think some kind of lose social structure should be laid out. People need structure. You have to know where you are and what you have to do. Especially since there is no way you can survive on your own. You need your team, and you need it to work. Having a colony break down at the social level would just suck.

Scott G. Beach · 2002-09-27 11:24:38

Who is to say that they won't war with each other, just like on earth?

In general, warfare results from population pressures. In the beginning stage of Martian colonization, the population density on Mars will be extremely low and the probability of intersettlement warfare will also be low.

Scott

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#1 2002-09-07 17:59:41

Re: CLARKEVILLE - The first prototype Martian settlement

#2 2002-09-07 22:29:12

Re: CLARKEVILLE - The first prototype Martian settlement

#3 2002-09-08 00:44:55

Re: CLARKEVILLE - The first prototype Martian settlement

#4 2002-09-08 13:04:35

Re: CLARKEVILLE - The first prototype Martian settlement

#5 2002-09-12 19:16:43

Re: CLARKEVILLE - The first prototype Martian settlement

#6 2002-09-26 00:48:00

Re: CLARKEVILLE - The first prototype Martian settlement

#7 2002-09-26 18:40:34

Re: CLARKEVILLE - The first prototype Martian settlement

#8 2002-09-26 19:59:44

Re: CLARKEVILLE - The first prototype Martian settlement

#9 2002-09-27 11:24:38

Re: CLARKEVILLE - The first prototype Martian settlement

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