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KamaAina

(78,249 posts)

10. Mars? Why not Luna?

Reply to bananas (Reply #6)

Thu Dec 6, 2012, 12:13 AM

Dec 2012

It's an order of magnitude closer, and we now know there is water ice there. At the bottoms of craters. Which would make nice bases for tunneling into, hobbit-style, so the habitations would be shielded from the intense heat, cold, and radiation. Only the solar panels, comm gear, and spaceports would have to be on the surface.

edit: The ice-bearing craters would function much as oases do in the Sahara.

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Highlight:

SpaceX Awarded Two EELV-Class Missions from the United States Air Force [View all] bananas Dec 2012 OP

Whoa there! I thought SpaceX was going to conduct its own private exploration of space KamaAina Dec 2012 #1

Little bit of both. AtheistCrusader Dec 2012 #2

If they're going to explore space they need funding to do it. Angleae Dec 2012 #4

Satellite launches were privatized a long time ago bananas Dec 2012 #5

No, Elon Musk wants to enable thousands of people to move to Mars bananas Dec 2012 #6

As long as they're Dems KamaAina Dec 2012 #7

Mars? Why not Luna? KamaAina Dec 2012 #10

Elon Musk's reasons for going to Mars bananas Dec 2012 #12

They can walk and chew gum. Private launches have been going on awhile. (nt) Posteritatis Dec 2012 #8

Good the Earth will finally get a full length mirror, perhaps this will raise Uncle Joe Dec 2012 #3

This was meant to be launched during Gore's administration? caveat_imperator Dec 2012 #9

Great Catch. n/t littlemissmartypants Dec 2012 #11