The fact that something so totally irrational even requires debunking is depressing...but thanks for making an excellent contribution to that sadly necessary work!
The idea of moving people offworld and restoring the Earth to its natural state didn't originate with Jeff Bezos. I wrote a paper on it as a freshman engineering student in 1983. But back then, it was being pitched as a positive thing - a way to move pollution-heavy industry someplace where it wouldn't be a problem, a way to give a growing population more living space, and a way that all humans would have a natural world to enjoy. But the ISS and the Russian space stations before it have shown us living in space is a lot harder than we thought it would be, and as you said, the dream of space colonization has been hijacked by the pathologically greedy.
Thanks for sharing, Robert. Indeed, nothing new under the Sun, except the insistence on using science-fiction, not science, as the blueprint for space programs. What could go wrong...
The von Braun tale was a new reference for me. I hadn’t heard of it. Very helpful, as I had always hypothesized the Mars phantasm with David Lane’s obsession with the god of war as more of a meme gone wild, not realizing he was named after a science fiction anti-hero. Pretty rich stuff. Here’s a place it can be accessed for free.
I haven't read all of his books but Red Mars is absolutely fascinating and insightful. I also have read Red Moon and Ministry for the Future. I think you'll enjoy Red Mars particularly because, in my opinion, the conclusion one can draw is exactly the same as yours!
Beautifully written. The insanity of this is beyond belief, and the money being wasted on these doomed programs is a crime against humanity.
Yes... We need to debunk the space mirage, and fast!
The fact that something so totally irrational even requires debunking is depressing...but thanks for making an excellent contribution to that sadly necessary work!
The fun part - Musk is escalating, making ever more bizarre promises. When will his following catch on? And dump their Tesla shares?
The idea of moving people offworld and restoring the Earth to its natural state didn't originate with Jeff Bezos. I wrote a paper on it as a freshman engineering student in 1983. But back then, it was being pitched as a positive thing - a way to move pollution-heavy industry someplace where it wouldn't be a problem, a way to give a growing population more living space, and a way that all humans would have a natural world to enjoy. But the ISS and the Russian space stations before it have shown us living in space is a lot harder than we thought it would be, and as you said, the dream of space colonization has been hijacked by the pathologically greedy.
Thanks for sharing, Robert. Indeed, nothing new under the Sun, except the insistence on using science-fiction, not science, as the blueprint for space programs. What could go wrong...
Excellent. Thank you!
🙏
Let the world know!
We can't afford this much hopium, and we have a beautiful, very breathable, very real planet to tend to.
The von Braun tale was a new reference for me. I hadn’t heard of it. Very helpful, as I had always hypothesized the Mars phantasm with David Lane’s obsession with the god of war as more of a meme gone wild, not realizing he was named after a science fiction anti-hero. Pretty rich stuff. Here’s a place it can be accessed for free.
https://archive.org/details/marsproject0000vonb/page/94/mode/1up
Brilliant piece! Have you read Kim Stanley Robinson?
Thank you Chaitanya!
I have not, and looking him up, it's quite the oversight...
I haven't read all of his books but Red Mars is absolutely fascinating and insightful. I also have read Red Moon and Ministry for the Future. I think you'll enjoy Red Mars particularly because, in my opinion, the conclusion one can draw is exactly the same as yours!