I think the weakest part is this concept is so fonking complex. Here's a safer and easier idea. Dig some tunnels in the ground. Put in an airlock every so often. Done. Then maybe in ten years or...
I think the weakest part is this concept is so fonking complex.
Here's a safer and easier idea. Dig some tunnels in the ground. Put in an airlock every so often. Done.
Then maybe in ten years or so, expand onto the surface after you've grown the underground base much more.
Yeah, it completely lost me with the insanely complicated, semi-autonomous, multi-role robots (that can seemingly do it all!). The sheer amount of engineering and expense it would require to...
Yeah, it completely lost me with the insanely complicated, semi-autonomous, multi-role robots (that can seemingly do it all!). The sheer amount of engineering and expense it would require to develop something like that is mind-boggling and IMO far beyond our current capabilities, at least to make reliable enough for use in something so critical as building our vital extraterrestrial infrastructure. And, as you said, dig some tunnels + airlock them, is easier, cheaper, safer, more reliable and thus a far more realistic proposition.
I think the weakest part is this concept is so fonking complex.
Here's a safer and easier idea. Dig some tunnels in the ground. Put in an airlock every so often. Done.
Then maybe in ten years or so, expand onto the surface after you've grown the underground base much more.
Yeah, it completely lost me with the insanely complicated, semi-autonomous, multi-role robots (that can seemingly do it all!). The sheer amount of engineering and expense it would require to develop something like that is mind-boggling and IMO far beyond our current capabilities, at least to make reliable enough for use in something so critical as building our vital extraterrestrial infrastructure. And, as you said, dig some tunnels + airlock them, is easier, cheaper, safer, more reliable and thus a far more realistic proposition.
Far less appealing, though, which is in part the point of the mental gymnastics.