How Do We Colonize Mercury?

universetoday.com ^ | 08/05/2016 | Matt Williams

[catbertz]

I think Venus would be s better candidate.

I read a breakdown from some scientist addressing every suggested challenge to colonizing Venus, as compared to Mars and the Moon. He went step by step, detailing the advantages that Venus offered, from water to energy to building materials. He also went through all the acid/atmospheric pressure concerns.

The core of his theory was that using nearly present day technology, we could colonize with floating/elevated settlements above the dense portion of the atmosphere that contains the biggest threats. those dangerous regions also offer great value in chemicals and minerals to exploit via robotics. I believe he suggested that the sulfuric acid was much less of a problem than people imagine, and can be very useful for a variety of purposes.

I'm not a scientist, so I can't accurately relate the details from his analysis , but I found it really interesting. Oh and his assessment of the Moon..close, but fairly useless compared to Venus. Mars was too far for the benefits it offers near term. After writing all this, I found a somewhat similar breakdown at this link, with lots of similarly interesting details:

https://www.quora.com/Why-are-we-thinking-about-a-Mars-colony-when-a-Venus-colony-would-be-more-technically-feasible

[DouglasKC]

The big question is why?

[Arlis]

Stupid people. Radiation of all kinds would kill any life as Mercury is so much closer to the sun......

[freedomjusticeruleoflaw]

My first thought also. The approach would take time, and the Sun would be blazing, unrelenting, and unreliable.

[Windflier]

Venus? It’s something like 900 degrees Fahrenheit at the surface. The Russians once landed a probe there that transmitted exactly one picture before it melted.

[Popman]

Thanks...

[Crucial]

Why the rush to leave Earth. All of man’s weaknesses and corruption will follow wherever he goes. It’s a massively expensive way to end up in the same place.