Habitat on Mars a load of bunk?

Question

The way I see it, there is all this brouhaha surrounding the need to transform a barren, lifeless, toxic planet in response to the suggested annihilation of the bountiful, lustrous Mother Earth. I would think, however, that it is quite irrational to believe it would be easier to transform Mars, or any other planet, rather than save our own. Think of the delicate balances at play here, our seas, our rainforests, our tectonic plates, haha. I say if people want to invest, they should invest in their families, children and neighbors of the importance of maintaining our gift. If we can think big enough, and have enough hope to believe we can live in an environment like mars, why can't we think big about our own atmosphere? Broken yes, but it's like saying we are willing to move out of the beachfront property because of some hurricane damage, over to the trash heap next to a toxic waste dump and try and make that work. Does anyone agree this doesn't make sense?

Answer 1

ridiculous idea

our forefathers abandoned Mars because of a cosmic collision that destroyed the place and came here and initiated colonizing Earth

now some are considering returning

insane codswallop.

looking for a place with an atmosphere and water makes  a lot more sense than returning to an ecological disaster with out  an Environment to support even a cockroach.

Answer 2

I agree with your main pooint--we need to take care of our home planet.

But colonizing other planets--or space itself--isn't bunk.  Granted, we aren't going to see anything but the bare beginnings in our lifetimes.  Humanity can--and will--expand beyond Earth.    But that is NOT an excuse for ruining our home.

BTW--don't assume the real estate up there is inherantly worthless.  In the 1600s, most people thought North America was virtually unhabitable (and that the Pilgrims and early Jamestown colonists were headed to an early death).  And they were right!  Our nice, well managed Eastern Seaboard was so vicious it killed half the colonists the first years (and that was before the natives got mad at the settlers).  Deadly, without muchh in the way of useful resources, disease ridden. . .sensible people wouldn't go near the place!

So don't assume Mars, etc. isn't worthwhile--some places up there won't be--but others will.

Answer 3

Like climbing a mountain; we do it because it is there!

Answer 4

I have a loose working planetary theory for our solar system that eliminates any reason to visit Mars. Essentially Mars will come to us, in the next solar system shift. When Mercury falls into the sun and each planet steps up into the orbit of it's next closest to the sun neighbor. Or it could be the other way round.  The sun spits out a new Mercurial glob and Venus slips outward to claim our orbit and Earth moves to it's next desolate stage occupying Mars location. Then Venus, or Mars whichever way the shudder slips, will begin anew the next game of Earth.

Answer 5

I agree with you that it is easier to repair our own environment but you never know what the future holds, some day we may live on mars and owe it all to nanobots, we will just have to wait and see.

Answer 6

I agree that your rant does not make sense.  First off, our atmosphere is not broken.  It is much the same as it has been for eons.  At this point in time we may be able to both colonize the Moon and Mars AND repair any environmental problems.  I for one hope that my progeny will have near neighbors to assist when Yellowstone erupts or a meteor strikes the earth, because either event will result in the destruction of civilization as we have come to know it in the last 6,000 years of recorded history.