[Windflier]

We should and could establish a huge lunar settlement inside a lava tube on the lunar surface

I ccouldn't agree more. Until our technology is quite a bit more advanced than it is today, trying to send humans to Mars is a very dangerous prospect, and would be prohibitively expensive.

It makes much more sense to continue human exploration of our own moon, using current technology and know-how. It's the rational first step into the wider cosmos, and a necessary proving ground for everything we'll need to successfully colonize Mars.

Besides, there's Helium-3 in them thar hills.

[SunkenCiv]

He3... heh... yeah, that may come in handy someday, or rather probably won't:

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Sun in a Bottle: The Strange History of Fusion and the Science of Wishful Thinking by Charles Seife

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