Trump Plans Mars Colony With Musk

[Revoltingest]

Yes, but New Jersey is still in Earth's gravity well.

If everyone else is in the same one, transportation is fast, convenient, & cheap.

Luna has less mass and no atmosphere. Products made on the moon can be sent into orbit with a mass driver, making it much cheaper and much more secure than anything started from Earth.

How much do you calculate shipping to be?

As @Pogo said, Luna may be not be the best option for a colony, but it is an option for a production hub (if the future need for metal hulls justifies the initial costs).

Consider caves created by lava tubes.

 

[Heyo]

If everyone else is in the same one, transportation is fast, convenient, & cheap.

We are talking about things not in Earth's gravity well, like space telescopes, interplanetary probes and space stations.

How much do you calculate shipping to be?

Orders of magnitude cheaper. No propellant, no packaging, the main operating cost would be the maintenance of the solar power plant that powers the mass driver.

Consider caves created by lava tubes.

For the initial habitat, yes. Expanded by drilled tunnels later on.

 

[Stevicus]

One thing I'm wondering about, in regard to Musk or Trump setting up some kind of colony or the Moon or Mars, what if other countries try to do the same? What if Russia or China or NK sets up a base on the Moon?

 

[Heyo]

One thing I'm wondering about, in regard to Musk or Trump setting up some kind of colony or the Moon or Mars, what if other countries try to do the same? What if Russia or China or NK sets up a base on the Moon?

There is space for many bases on the moon.

 

[Revoltingest]

We are talking about things not in Earth's gravity well, like space telescopes, interplanetary probes and space stations.

All things are on the table.
Earth-bound sensors are alternatives to those in space, & to manned missions.

Orders of magnitude cheaper. No propellant, no packaging, the main operating cost would be the maintenance of the solar power plant that powers the mass driver.

For the initial habitat, yes. Expanded by drilled tunnels later on.

You've not shown any economic or scientific benefit.

 

[Revoltingest]

One thing I'm wondering about, in regard to Musk or Trump setting up some kind of colony or the Moon or Mars, what if other countries try to do the same? What if Russia or China or NK sets up a base on the Moon?

If other countries want to pursue projects that
we find not worth doing, then let them.

 

[Heyo]

You've not shown any economic or scientific benefit.

I think I have, but I may have to repeat it in simpler words for the scientific and economical illiterate.

 

[Revoltingest]

I think I have, but I may have to repeat it in simpler words for the scientific and economical illiterate.

Economic benefit would be something more than
saying that this or that would be manufactured.
It would have to be profitable, which means
addressing investment & costs of operation.