[LibWhacker]

. . . in a way that is self-paid and self-sustaining? And not as part of a trillion dollar stunt project?

In the same way that I can get up on a hot August morning and drive out alone into the middle of Death Valley without a care in the world and only one jug of water. Technology. Technological development has made that possible. It would've been crazy to be caught out in the middle of Death Valley in August with only one jug of water 150 years ago.

But then, I have an awful lot of faith in technology! :-)

[Travis McGee]

You could walk across Death Valley with a load of water on your back 200 years ago. The rest is just gradual improvements to the technology, to where we have A/C cars and highways.

Let's see someone get to Mars on their own. Another invalid comparison.