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Five Questions about Mars Colonization as "backup" for Earth (for people who think it's an obviously good idea but maybe haven't thought it all the way through) …Permalink On twitter.com
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0. Are we talking about "backing up" the biosphere or human life here?Permalink On twitter.com
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1. What is your threat model for things that "take down" Earth? Do any of them actually leave, for example, Antarctica less habitable than Mars?Permalink On twitter.com
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2. Is there an "existential threat" to Earth that actually leaves the planet with fewer than 1 million people somewhere on Earth? If not, isn't Earth itself a superior backup than even the most wildly optimistic Mars colony?Permalink On twitter.com
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3. What share of living humans / species constitute a "backup" that is independently viable? What is the level of industrial, agricultural, and medical infrastructure required to survive without Earth?Permalink On twitter.com
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[Side question] 3a. Would creating and transporting said infrastructure meaningfully tip the balance towards ecological catastrophe here on Earth?Permalink On twitter.com
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4. What share of living humans / species would have to be saved to meaningfully mitigate the loss of our home planet?On twitter.com
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5. What would a "restore from backup" strategy look like? And how would Mars be a better staging ground than say McMurdo Station plus seed banks and zoological parks? Better than the moon? In other words, why backup to Mars?Permalink On twitter.com
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I obviously have opinions on these, but I'm more interested in listening than arguing… @Robotbeat @OmanReagan @leashless @elonmusk @luismen1991Permalink On twitter.com
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The implicit theory behind my questions: There are many ways to envision a back up for planetary catastrophe. But...Permalink On twitter.com
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Most circumstances will push you to design one that is closer, even on the planet.Permalink On twitter.com
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Two motives won't: selling rockets and a cultural imperative for expansion.Permalink On twitter.com