The Economic Viability Of Mars Colonization

R. Zubrin. (1995), JBIS, 48, pp.407-414

Refcode: 1995.48.407

Abstract:

A frequent objection raised against scenarios for the human settlement and terraforming of Mars is that while such projects may be technologically feasible, there is no possible way that they can be paid for. On the surface, the arguments given supporting this position appear to many to be cogent, in that Mars is distant, difficult to access, possesses a hostile environment and has no apparent resources of economic value to export. These arguments appear to be ironclad, yet it must be pointed out that they were also presented in the pas t as convincing reasons for the utter impracticality of the European settlement of North America and Australia.