The Homestead Project: Making a Mars Settlement a Reality

space.com ^ | 08/10/05 | Ker Than

[KevinDavis]

[RightWhale]

It is possible. Won't be easy.

[KevinDavis]

I agree...

[RightWhale]

But, more power to them. My own interest is mining the asteroids, and that does not include Mars.

[Alexander Rubin]

I want on the ping.

Also, on the plan: NEATO!

[Alexander Rubin]

I want on the ping.

Also, on the plan: NEATO!

[KevinDavis]

Well my interest is beyond the solar system...

[RightWhale]

It's cold out there. And dark. And sparse. Be sure to pack extra mittens. :)

[Fitzcarraldo]

[coconutt2000]

But, more power to them. My own interest is mining the asteroids, and that does not include Mars.

Mine too. I don't see much point in moving into a gravity well, unless there's guaranteed comfort, and lots of living space.

Mars doesn't have either, and won't have either for the predictable future. Asteroids can provide an abundance of raw materials, and there is no need to escape from a deep gravity well to move the materials to Earth. In fact, it would involve falling downward toward the sun, rather than boosting outward.

Robotic mining of the asteroids... next stop.

[RightWhale]

Yep. We should be launching robotic mining equipment already, except for that pesky 1967 Treaty.

[KevinDavis]

From what I understand it is a non issue.. Let me talk to a space law lawyer and ask him his opinion about the treaty....

[RightWhale]

There are a couple who are up on the Treaty. It will take a big case, the kind that go to the USSC. If it goes to the UN it will be DOA.

[KevinDavis]

Let me check it out again...

[coconutt2000]

1. (1967) The Treaty on the Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (commonly known as the Outer Space Treaty) seeks to keep outer space free for exploration by all States while protecting celestial bodies from national sovereignty. The Treaty permits private enterprises to use space for peaceful purposes if their activities and results are made public. The responsibility for all launches is borne by the State.

2. (1967) Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space (the Rescue Agreement) details assistance and retrieval procedures.

3. (1971) The Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects (the Liability Convention) attaches liability to the launching State.

4. (1974) The Convention on the Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space (the Registration Convention) requires the UN to maintain a central register of specific information for each space object, available on inquiry.

5. (1979) The controversial Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (the Moon Treaty) designates space as the "common heritage of mankind," not merely the "province of mankind" as written in the Outer Space Treaty.

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It is no surprise why the conspiracy and UFO people think that the government wants to keep humans out of space. The way the treaty is set up, it acts as an anti-incentive program. Why try to exploit asteroids if the techniques and intellectual property you use to get there becomes public domain, and ownership of the asteroid is forbidden. Who'll own the minerals you mine? Etc...

[Fitzcarraldo]

Well my interest is beyond the solar system...

Burning the Cosmic Commons: Evolutionary Strategies for Interstellar Colonization

[WorkingClassFilth]

If I were younger and this offered the chances of a real frontier instead of a socialist commune existence, I might consider packing up my trowel in my mason's bag and blasting off with them. I really hope they bring people that actually know how to do things instead of theoretically doing them...

[RightWhale]

The funny thing is that the President's Commission report on Moon, Mars and Beyond, which was done specifically for NASA's new space program says in Section 3 that the 1967 Treaty will be an impediment to private enterprise in outer space. "Will strangle the nascent industry in the cradle".

The President's campaign in 2000 also said they would look into private property rights in outer space. We're waiting.

[flashbunny]

terraform mars!