XPost: sci.space.policy, sci.physics   
   From: fjmccall@gmail.com   
      
   jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com wrote:   
      
   >   
   >I was talking about 50 MW of electrical power, not heat power.   
   >   
   >That is the sort of power you need to run things like industries   
   >synthesizing complex chemicals and making thngs like steel.   
   >   
      
   Why?  What quantities are you assuming are needed?   
      
   >> Note that a Mars plant would need to produce heat to make electricity   
   >> and also heat for other purposes, such as heating dwellings.   
   >   
   >Sure you can use the waste heat for other purposes assuming a heat   
   >transport mechanism, which is usually water. However that there is   
   >sufficient available water is currentyl conjecture; only traces of   
   >water have been found anywhere near where one would set up.   
   >   
   >> To give you some idea of the present state of the art, NASA has done   
   >> development work on a 40 KW unit.  Here is an excellent rundown of the   
   >> present state-of-the-art in space nukes.   
   >> http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/non-power-nu   
   lear-applications/transport/nuclear-reactors-for-space.aspx   
   >   
   >So the present state of the art is sufficient to support a research   
   >station on Mars but nowhere capable of supporting a colony and industry.   
   >   
   >QED.   
   >   
      
   Send more than one.  Dumbass.   
      
      
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    territory."   
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