XPost: sci.space.policy, sci.physics   
   From: fjmccall@gmail.com   
      
   jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com wrote:   
      
   >In sci.physics Jeff Findley  wrote:   
   >> In article , jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com   
   >> says...   
   >>>   
   >>> In sci.physics Jeff Findley  wrote:   
   >>> > In article <57fdbe2c$0$34569$c3e8da3$dbd57e7@news.astraweb.com>,   
   >>> > jfmezei.spamnot@vaxination.ca says...   
   >>> >>   
   >>> >> On 2016-10-11 19:10, Jeff Findley wrote:   
   >>> >>   
   >>> >> > False, Mars has a mostly CO2 atmosphere, albeit a very thin one.   
   >>> >>   
   >>> >> From a plant life point of view,  it si doubtful you could get plants to   
   >>> >> grow "outdoors". And if your plants are indoors, the CO2 they will get   
   >>> >> will come from humans, not outside air (since the indoor habitat will do   
   >>> >> everyuthing to keep that nasty CO2 out).   
   >>> >   
   >>> > So it's not a problem to grow plants if you build a pressurized   
   >>> > greenhouse.  Pretty much everyone knows that.  It was even in book and   
   >>> > movie "The Maritain".   
   >>> >   
   >>> >> The problem with Mars is that initial settlers will be dependent on   
   >>> >> Earth for ALL their supplies for a long time, and it will be even longer   
   >>> >> time before they start to have ability to manufacture goods locally from   
   >>> >> locally mined iron/aluminium/coal etc.   
   >>> >   
   >>> > So, just like the base at the South Pole.  Note how long it's been   
   >>> > permanently staffed!   
   >>> >   
   >>> > Jeff   
   >>>   
   >>> There are no colonies at the South Pole and the research stations   
   >>> cost a lot of money to maintain but nowhere near what a research   
   >>> station on Mars would cost.   
   >>   
   >> We also had a nuclear power plant at Antartica in the past:   
   >>   
   >> Plaque Dedicated To Former McMurdo Nuclear Plant Marks Significant   
   >> Moment In Antarctic History   
   >>   
   >> BY PETER REJCEK, ANTARCTIC SUN EDITOR   
   >> Posted June 25, 2010   
   >> https://antarcticsun.usap.gov/features/contenthandler.cfm?id=2175   
   >>   
   >   
   >So how much to put about 25 of these on Mars so you can convert dirt   
   >to structural steel?   
   >   
      
   Why in the hell would you need 32 MW of power to make steel?  Total   
   power required to make a ton of steel from ore is around 5 MW-hrs.   
   You'd size your operation based on the power you had available and how   
   much steel you need.   
      
      
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