The fundamental question of all space colonization - whether the planet next door or the other side of the galaxy - is: why? Who on earth would want to do that, and what could possibly be a sufficient economic incentive? Space travel is so outrageously difficult, expensive, and dangerous that it would without a doubt be easier to synthesize any special space resources (which probably don't exist anyways btw). We don't need the space because even Antarctic winters are cozier than the nicest day on Mars and population growth is about to level off globally.
In terms of other planets it really doesn't make any sense outside of pure scientific exploration (frankly it's a good thing that it doesn't make economic sense) and for the strategy I described the moon is a better candidate anyways, for the reasons mentioned. That's what the Chinese moon missions have been investigating at least.
Scientific outposts are literally the only plausible reason. And we can get 90% of that value without a single human stepping foot on the given body, especially as robotics tech develops.
And we can get 90% of that value without a single human stepping foot on the given body
Considering the toll long-term low gravity takes on people it's almost certain that's going to be the case. Having human habitats there is a lot of unnecessary complexity, but maintaining healthy humans in those conditions is categorically worse.
The fundamental question of all space colonization - whether the planet next door or the other side of the galaxy - is: why? Who on earth would want to do that, and what could possibly be a sufficient economic incentive? Space travel is so outrageously difficult, expensive, and dangerous that it would without a doubt be easier to synthesize any special space resources (which probably don't exist anyways btw). We don't need the space because even Antarctic winters are cozier than the nicest day on Mars and population growth is about to level off globally.
It just doesn't make any sense.
Like, what would we gain from colonizing Mercury?
In terms of other planets it really doesn't make any sense outside of pure scientific exploration (frankly it's a good thing that it doesn't make economic sense) and for the strategy I described the moon is a better candidate anyways, for the reasons mentioned. That's what the Chinese moon missions have been investigating at least.
Scientific outposts are literally the only plausible reason. And we can get 90% of that value without a single human stepping foot on the given body, especially as robotics tech develops.
Considering the toll long-term low gravity takes on people it's almost certain that's going to be the case. Having human habitats there is a lot of unnecessary complexity, but maintaining healthy humans in those conditions is categorically worse.