Oolite Bulletins

Is this the only way to colonise Mars?

There would be no shortage of volunteers, that much I know.

If you want to solve a problem it's quite easy to throw your most expendable resource at it. Just as long as your most expendable resource is humans.

We've sent thousands of people to their deaths over more trivial matters. The problem will be a political one. As a survivor having constructed the self sufficient hub how will you view the "earthers" strolling on in walking on the bones of the many dead who sacrificed themselves to make the hub possible? The compound interest of the meagre supplies used during the days of dependency?

Sure lots of people will die, humans maybe made extinct on the planet several times before they get a toe hold. But I'm unsure that anyone has thought about how fresh transits will deal with the survivors. Humanities track record on this is not particularly good.

[off-topic rant]

"Explorers such as Columbus, Frobisher, Scott and Amundsen, while not embarking on their voyages with the intention of staying at their destination, nevertheless took huge personal risks to explore new lands, in the knowledge that there was a significant likelihood that they would perish in the attempt."

I'm sick and tired of Scott and Amundsen always being mentioned together. They have one thing, and one thing only, in common: They both led expeditions to the South Pole at the same time. The similarities end there.
One was slipshod outing of lads from the gentlemen's clubs, the other was a meticulously planned expedition where every possible precaution was taken.
If they have to be mentioned together, at least have the decency to say "Amundsen and Scott". The more appropriate label "Amundsen (and Scott)" is most likely too much to ask for.
[/off-topic rant]

Very true CR… Scott was a fool. Shackleton was far more deserving of recognition.

And of course any colonizers of Mars would have to kill off the alien natives with guns and disease first so they can steal their land. It does make you wonder if one day given sufficient numbers and technology whether the peoples of Mars would rise up against mother Earth and declare their own free world. Oh boy, I see Worlds War 1 in the making. :O

Darkbee wrote:

And of course any colonizers of Mars would have to kill off the alien natives with guns and disease first so they can steal their land. It does make you wonder if one day given sufficient numbers and technology whether the peoples of Mars would rise up against mother Earth and declare their own free world. Oh boy, I see Worlds War 1 in the making. :O

Obviously, the first thing they'll have to do is to ban reruns of Babylon 5 on Mars. Wouldn't want those damn colonists to get any bright ideas...

I guess Total Recall should be banned as well.

CheeseRedux wrote:

Darkbee wrote:

And of course any colonizers of Mars would have to kill off the alien natives with guns and disease first so they can steal their land. It does make you wonder if one day given sufficient numbers and technology whether the peoples of Mars would rise up against mother Earth and declare their own free world. Oh boy, I see Worlds War 1 in the making. :O

Obviously, the first thing they'll have to do is to ban reruns of Babylon 5 on Mars. Wouldn't want those damn colonists to get any bright ideas...

Don't forget the "pay double if your planet is red" tax.

Kim Stanley Robinson’s brilliant Mars trilogy covers all that pretty well.

Step 1: NASA starts colonization of Mars
Step 2: Mars Colony becomes self sufficient.
Step 3: Mars Colony declares its independence from the US. The UK supports the colonists.

Ah, the sweet irony....




Edited for spelling & grammar.

CheeseRedux wrote:

Step 1: NASA starts colonization of Mars
Step 2: Mars Colony becomes self sufficient.
Step 3: Mars Colony declares it independence from the US. The UK supports the colonists.

Ah, the sweet irony....

Yeah... one of his other novels, Antarctica, is a very good read… the continent of Antarctica declares itself independent.

El Viejo wrote:

CheeseRedux wrote:

Step 1: NASA starts colonization of Mars
Step 2: Mars Colony becomes self sufficient.
Step 3: Mars Colony declares it independence from the US. The UK supports the colonists.

Ah, the sweet irony....

Yeah... one of his other novels, Antarctica, is a very good read… the continent of Antarctica declares itself independent.

Hang on, that's actually (part of) the plot? The UK supporting a colony trying to gain independence from the US?

(I was thinking future real life when I wrote the 3 steps, not fiction.)

No, it’s not really part of the plot… could easily turn out that way in RL, though.

I see there's no mention of the French anywhere in this thread.

Darkbee wrote:

I see there's no mention of the French anywhere in this thread.

They're mentioned about 1:55 into this bit.