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#1 2004-04-02 16:16:05
- Bill White
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- Registered: 2001-09-09
- Posts: 2,114
Re: Should the scientific study of Mars - follow AFTER settlement?
[http://www.marsinstitute.info/rd/facult … /in13.html]This link leads to comments that the scientific study of Mars should be postponed until after permanent settlement has begun.
Thoughts about that?
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#2 2004-04-02 18:37:14
- Cobra Commander
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- From: The outskirts of Detroit.
- Registered: 2002-04-09
- Posts: 3,039
Re: Should the scientific study of Mars - follow AFTER settlement?
I see no reason why the two can't proceed concurrently.
Build a man a fire and he's warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he's warm for the rest of his life.
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#3 2004-04-02 19:07:26
- ~Eternal~
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- Registered: 2003-09-25
- Posts: 211
Re: Should the scientific study of Mars - follow AFTER settlement?
Robots can only do so much.
The MiniTruth passed its first act #001, comname: PATRIOT ACT on October 26, 2001.
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#4 2004-04-02 21:04:25
Re: Should the scientific study of Mars - follow AFTER settlement?
Thanks for the reference; I'm not sure why I never saw this article before. Obviously, 100 people in pressure suits and rovers can do a lot more exploration than 4 or 6 people, so if you put this many people on Mars, scientific exploration WILL happen. And if you want your colony to be able to use the planet's resources, they'll need surface transportation and air transportation, so again exploration will happen. Maybe the author is thinking that each group has to devote nearly 100% of its resources preparing for the next wave of settlers, and that may be true. But 5% of 100 people is still a lot of exploration resources, probably more than a 6-person expedition (half the crew time will be spent in maintenance, after all).
-- RobS
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#5 2004-04-05 08:11:53
- clark
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- Registered: 2001-09-20
- Posts: 6,375
Re: Should the scientific study of Mars - follow AFTER settlement?
"Houston, we have a problem."
Imagine 100 settlers landing on Mars, getting ready to construct their habitat in a specific location due to favorable conditions. They start digging. What do they find? Life.
Now what?
Continue building, and destroy this martian ecosystem (since life indicates some type of ecosystem)? Or should they try to find another location, even though it may result in death for some of the settlers (changes in the plan require accepting certain unplanned for risks)?
I think it's a bad idea. But a great plot device. 
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#6 2004-04-05 08:16:25
- John Creighton
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- From: Nova Scotia, Canada
- Registered: 2001-09-04
- Posts: 2,401
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Re: Should the scientific study of Mars - follow AFTER settlement?
You're right. That would make a great movie.
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