Independence from Earth - Revision history

Michel Lamontagne: /* Technological */

2024-08-01T18:42:06Z

Technological

Michel Lamontagne: /* Political */

2024-08-01T18:40:54Z

Political

Michel Lamontagne at 18:38, 1 August 2024

2024-08-01T18:38:02Z

Michel Lamontagne: /* Political */

2024-08-01T18:33:03Z

Political

Michel Lamontagne: /* Sociological */

2024-08-01T18:32:16Z

Sociological

Michel Lamontagne: /* Political */

2024-08-01T18:28:42Z

Political

Michel Lamontagne at 18:26, 1 August 2024

2024-08-01T18:26:33Z

Michel Lamontagne at 18:26, 1 August 2024

2024-08-01T18:26:23Z

Michel Lamontagne: /* Financial */

2024-08-01T18:25:56Z

Financial

Michel Lamontagne: /* Financial */

2024-08-01T18:25:39Z

Financial

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 ==Technological==
-There is a technological risk of [[fail-safe|failure]] in the transport from Earth to Mars. In case the colony is not independent the logistics chain is vital for survival of the settlers. Any failure during transport can lead to a fatal shortage on food.
+There is a technological risk of [[fail-safe|failure]] in the transport from Earth to Mars. In case the colony is not independent the logistics chain is vital for survival of the settlers. Any failure during transport can lead to a fatal shortage on food, energy or critical elements in production chains.
-Energy is hard to store, and hence can not be brought to Mars in large amounts, except perhaps as nuclear fuel.
+Energy is hard to store, and hence can not be brought to Mars in large amounts, except perhaps as nuclear fuel.  As energy is at the base of all production, local production of energy on Mars is essential.
 ==Political==

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 ==Political==
 Only a few people on Earth are really interested in space travel. Hence, the state's budget for space projects is small. If support from Earth stops some day due to political issues, the settlers might be completely on their own.  So it is better to be independent, and at the same time reduce costs so these are politically more acceptable on Earth.  So independence is a Win-win process.
 ==Sociological and personnal==

@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 ==Sociological and personnal==
 Some people like the idea to have their fate in their own hands. The [[motivation]] to set up a settlement with the ability to thrive indefinitely is great.  Where there is significant growth, there are often significant new opportunities.  This can be contrasted with older societies that may be stratified, rigid and compartmentalized, giving less opportunities to change one's situation in the society.
 ==See also==

@@ Line 18: / Line 18: @@
 ==Political==
-Only a few people on Earth are really interested in space travel. Hence, the state's budget for space projects is small. In case the support from Earth stops some day due to political issues, the settlers might be completely on their own.  So it is better to be independent, and at the same time reduce costs so these are politically acceptable on Earth.  So independence is a Win-win process.
+Only a few people on Earth are really interested in space travel. Hence, the state's budget for space projects is small. If support from Earth stops some day due to political issues, the settlers might be completely on their own.  So it is better to be independent, and at the same time reduce costs so these are politically more acceptable on Earth.  So independence is a Win-win process.
 ==Sociological and personnal==

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 Only a few people on Earth are really interested in space travel. Hence, the state's budget for space projects is small. In case the support from Earth stops some day due to political issues, the settlers might be completely on their own.  So it is better to be independent, and at the same time reduce costs so these are politically acceptable on Earth.  So independence is a Win-win process.
-==Sociological==
+==Sociological and personnal==
-People like the idea to have their fate in their own hands. The [[motivation]] to set up a settlement with the ability to thrive indefinitely is great.
+Some people like the idea to have their fate in their own hands. The [[motivation]] to set up a settlement with the ability to thrive indefinitely is great.  Where there is significant growth, there are often significant new opportunities.  This can be contrasted with older societies that may be stratified, rigid and compartmentalized, giving less opportunities to change one's situation in the society.
 ==See also==

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 *The [[Cost of energy on Mars]] for an early settlement might range widely, depending on technology.  For a average cost of 100$/GJ, or 0,1$ per MJ, the [[Embodied energy]] tables can serve to calculate costs for local production of goods.  These need to be corrected using suitable multipliers for work and distribution.
-A multiplier of 3 is suggested here.  With such a multiplier:
+*A multiplier of 3 is suggested here.  With such a multiplier:
 ** Water on Mars might cost 0,5 x 3 x 0,1 = 0,15$/kg, air might be in the range of 0,3$ per kg.
 ** Steel might be 10$ per kg

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 ==Financial==
 *Transportation from [[Earth]] to Mars is very [[financial effort estimation|expensive]]. Unless new technologies come along, transportation costs will remain in the order of a minimum of 140$/kg, and may well be anywhere up to 500$ per kg if volumes are low.
 *The [[Cost of energy on Mars]] for an early settlement might range widely, depending on technology.  For a average cost of 100$/GJ, or 0,1$ per MJ, the [[Embodied energy]] tables can serve to calculate costs for local production of goods.  These need to be corrected using suitable multipliers for work and distribution.
 A multiplier of 3 is suggested here.  With such a multiplier:
-**Water on Mars might cost 0,5 x 3 x 0,1 = 0,15$/kg, air might be in the range of 0,3$ per kg.
+** Water on Mars might cost 0,5 x 3 x 0,1 = 0,15$/kg, air might be in the range of 0,3$ per kg.
-**Steel might be 10$ per kg
+** Steel might be 10$ per kg
-**Food might be 1300 x 3 x 0,1 = 390$/kg.  This would be one of the most expensive large volume items on Mars, and for short stays, it's probably cheaper to bring the food than to produce it on site.  However, for longer term stays, the investment of means to produce food from Martian [[local resources|resources]] is cheaper for a settlement.
+** Food might be 1300 x 3 x 0,1 = 390$/kg.  This would be one of the most expensive large volume items on Mars, and for short stays, it's probably cheaper to bring the food than to produce it on site.  However, for longer term stays, the investment of means to produce food from Martian [[local resources|resources]] is cheaper for a settlement.
 ==Technological==