Difference between revisions of "Interplanetary commerce"

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A successful business model will be the key to a thriving colony, so that more people and resources can be afforded.
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[[Image:SpaceShips.jpg|thumb|right|300px|A child's fantasy of rockets to Mars]]
  
Initial business models could resemble those similar to the ones used by many small nations, such as the Vatican, Monaco, San Marino, and some Pacific islands. Like the first Martian [[settlement|settlements]], these nations cannot rely on large pools of labor, infrastructure, or abundant [[natural resources]].
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'''Interplanetary commerce''' offers unique benefits and challenges compared to [[inter-settlement commerce]] and [[intra-settlement commerce]]. For the purpose of this article, interplanetary commerce includes moons like [[Moon|Luna]] and dwarf planets like [[Ceres]].
  
==Information Services==
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Business ideas including a Martian  [[settlement]] may help to involve terrestrial companies in the process of making such a settlement [[financial effort estimation|financially affordable]]. While terrestrial government budgets are usually spent for terrestrial expenditures, private companies may be able to spent large amounts of money in a Martian commercial project if large revenues can be expected. The entertainment industry, for example, finances blockbuster movies with  more than 100 million US dollars ("The Lord of the Rings" from Peter Jackson: 190,000,000 US dollars). So, with a proper business idea, the private industry is a good focus for fund raising.
===Offworld Backup===
 
Offsite backup is a vital aspect of [[data security]] for any business. It ensures data backup in the event of [[natural disasters]]. No location could be more offsite than Mars!
 
===Internet Domain Sale===
 
People could buy the .mars domain.
 
===Consultancy===
 
Established colonies can advise governments and corporations in their own exploration/colonization efforts.
 
  
==Financial Services==
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==Benefits==
{{expandsec}}
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Interplanetary commerce allows for the introduction of ideas, goods and resources that may be unavailable or prohibitively expensive from a native source.
===Offworld Banking===
 
===Tax Shelter===
 
===Investment===
 
  
==Science==
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==Challenges==
===Scientific Lease===
 
A settlement can lease space and sell resources to governments or institutions that want to send their scientists to Mars. Alternately,
 
===Research for Hire===
 
Skilled settlers could be paid to do scientific research.
 
===Hazardous Research Facility===
 
An irradiated near-vacuum environment is a near-perfect biological barrier . Any facility would necessarily be isolated from the colony, of course. It would be the perfect location for biotechnology research without the risk to terrestrial life.
 
  
==Consumer Goods and Services==
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===Cost of Transportation===
===Tourism===
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The cost to transport an item will be many times the cost on earth of most items, often orders of magnitude greater. At least initially, only the smaller and more vital goods will be shipped: those that have the highest value per the lowest mass. Non-physical things, such as information, incur only the cost of a [[radio link]].
Certain people with a lot of money have historically been interested in [[Space Tourism]], even when there are significant risks.
 
===Licensed Merchandise===
 
While Mars itself cannot be trademarked, likenesses of the [[settlement]]/settlers could be. Possibilities include stamps, coins, playsets, etc. First colonists would likely gain celebrity status. These goods would be manufactured on [[Earth]], due to the cost savings.
 
===Commercial Sponsorship===
 
Companies may pay to place a logo on a wall, use "the official << ''insert commercial product here'' >> of Mars" in advertising.
 
===Genetic Legacy===
 
Ensure your genetic legacy by sending your sperm/eggs/embryos to Mars. Having descendants on two worlds is more secure.
 
  
==Real Estate==
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===Distance===
===Land Speculation===
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Distances between the planets an Luna are always changing, requiring precise calculations for accurate transport.
While historically not the most respectable business, an actual presence on Mars lends much more credibility to the transaction.
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===Time===
===Martian Cemetery===
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People might pay to have their ashes buried on Mars.
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==Mercury-Mars Trade==
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[[Mercury]] has similar [[gravity]] to Mars, so engeneering solutions developed on Mars may be applicable to Mercurial outposts.
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==Venus-Mars Trade==
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Trade between [[Venus]] and Mars is unlikely in the forseable future. Commerce will likely be restricted to information and some vital goods.
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==Earth-Mars Trade==
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::''Main article: [[Earth-Mars Trade]]''
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Earth-Mars trade will be the first type of interplanetary commerce established by Martian [[settlement|settlements]].
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==Luna-Mars Trade==
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::''Main article: [[Luna-Mars Trade]]''
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Trade with Earth's moon could involve selling resources such as carbon, nitrogen, and other volatiles which are in short supply on Luna. The cost of transport from Mars is potentially less than from Earth, but potentially more than from Ceres and other asteroids, because of the relative sizes of the gravity fields.  However, the cost of setting up a colony on Ceres may be more than the cost of setting up one on Mars.  So the cost of obtaining exports from the raw materials and shipping them out may be less on Mars than on Ceres because of the human labor on hand to smooth out the operations.
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==Ceres-Mars Trade==
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[[Ceres]] is a [[dwarf planet]] and the largest object in the [[asteroid belt]]. It is a possible location for a human outpost. It is a possible hub for asteroid mining efforts. Ceres is thought to have significant amounts of volatiles. The escape velocity of both Mars and Ceres are favorable. Commerce between Ceres and Mars may involve information, resources, and martian manufactured goods.
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==Jovian Moon-Mars Trade==
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By the time the Jovian Moons are settled, Mars will probably be well developed, and in a prime position to supply the Jovian colonies with technology and manufactured goods.
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
 
[[lunarp:Business Plans List|Lunarpedia Business Ideas<sup><b>lunarp</b></sup>]] Many of these ideas also apply to a martian settlement.
 
[[lunarp:Business Plans List|Lunarpedia Business Ideas<sup><b>lunarp</b></sup>]] Many of these ideas also apply to a martian settlement.
  
[[category:logistics]]
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[[Category:Commerce and Economics]]
[[category:Commerce]]
 

Revision as of 14:23, 17 December 2018

A child's fantasy of rockets to Mars

Interplanetary commerce offers unique benefits and challenges compared to inter-settlement commerce and intra-settlement commerce. For the purpose of this article, interplanetary commerce includes moons like Luna and dwarf planets like Ceres.

Business ideas including a Martian settlement may help to involve terrestrial companies in the process of making such a settlement financially affordable. While terrestrial government budgets are usually spent for terrestrial expenditures, private companies may be able to spent large amounts of money in a Martian commercial project if large revenues can be expected. The entertainment industry, for example, finances blockbuster movies with more than 100 million US dollars ("The Lord of the Rings" from Peter Jackson: 190,000,000 US dollars). So, with a proper business idea, the private industry is a good focus for fund raising.

Benefits

Interplanetary commerce allows for the introduction of ideas, goods and resources that may be unavailable or prohibitively expensive from a native source.

Challenges

Cost of Transportation

The cost to transport an item will be many times the cost on earth of most items, often orders of magnitude greater. At least initially, only the smaller and more vital goods will be shipped: those that have the highest value per the lowest mass. Non-physical things, such as information, incur only the cost of a radio link.

Distance

Distances between the planets an Luna are always changing, requiring precise calculations for accurate transport.

Time

Mercury-Mars Trade

Mercury has similar gravity to Mars, so engeneering solutions developed on Mars may be applicable to Mercurial outposts.

Venus-Mars Trade

Trade between Venus and Mars is unlikely in the forseable future. Commerce will likely be restricted to information and some vital goods.

Earth-Mars Trade

Main article: Earth-Mars Trade

Earth-Mars trade will be the first type of interplanetary commerce established by Martian settlements.

Luna-Mars Trade

Main article: Luna-Mars Trade

Trade with Earth's moon could involve selling resources such as carbon, nitrogen, and other volatiles which are in short supply on Luna. The cost of transport from Mars is potentially less than from Earth, but potentially more than from Ceres and other asteroids, because of the relative sizes of the gravity fields. However, the cost of setting up a colony on Ceres may be more than the cost of setting up one on Mars. So the cost of obtaining exports from the raw materials and shipping them out may be less on Mars than on Ceres because of the human labor on hand to smooth out the operations.

Ceres-Mars Trade

Ceres is a dwarf planet and the largest object in the asteroid belt. It is a possible location for a human outpost. It is a possible hub for asteroid mining efforts. Ceres is thought to have significant amounts of volatiles. The escape velocity of both Mars and Ceres are favorable. Commerce between Ceres and Mars may involve information, resources, and martian manufactured goods.

Jovian Moon-Mars Trade

By the time the Jovian Moons are settled, Mars will probably be well developed, and in a prime position to supply the Jovian colonies with technology and manufactured goods.

See Also

Lunarpedia Business Ideaslunarp Many of these ideas also apply to a martian settlement.