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I am not pessimistic, I am a scientist that just read the literature. We have now extinction levels 1000-10000 higher than background, this more than previous mass extinctions and expected to go 10 fold worst in the next decades. Moreover we are just a few years to enter a truly non linear regime in the Earth climate dynamics. These are our life support systems on earth and they are about to fall. Swift global action on these points is therefore required for our short term survival.

These people propose solutions for the wealthy. They are BTW ruining my dream of seeing more stars than satellites in the sky. (I’m a material scientist, coatings won’t work)

Therefore I heavily disagree with you: short term survival requires protecting our life support systems here on earth, namely climate and biodiversity (the Earth-System).

I am also very disappointed that people use the word “colonisation” so often, a brief look at history support my doubts.

I don’t mind exploring the solar system when the above issues are fixed, but this has to be done in a scientific way, I.e. exploration, not for a blind colonialist purpose.



I see. Alright, I'll let you continue whatever it is you think you're doing. A lot of what you said is opinion and a lot of scientists would disagree with your assertions (which are in my eyes pessimistic)

I do believe in this goal though as do others, you should respect other people's dreams, especially when it doesn't detract from yours.

I didn't say this was for short-term survival. This is for long-term survival, we still need to and we are tackling our own planet. Elon himself has disrupted many industries that were contributing to the destruction of this planet (auto, oil & gas)

If you want to help the planet, go help it, don't neg others.


I have no problem that people follow their dreams, on the contrary, when it is done with respect to others.

The Starlink constellation, so far, is not respectful to people who want a clear sky for instance.

Regarding Mars, I don’t want to take your dreams back, I just think it has to be framed in a more global and long term context.


> The Starlink constellation, so far, is not respectful to people who want a clear sky for instance.

How do the feelings of a few astronomers trump connecting the rest of the world to the internet?

You're blowing things way out of proportion as well. You fell for all the aggressive attack campaigns. I've seen all the articles you've read, it's not a real issue.

> I just think it has to be framed in a more global and long term context.

What message from SpaceX did you take issue with exactly? I don't think anyone is suggesting we'll all be living on Mars in a few years.


Trump??? Is that a new Godwin point???

I suggest you read this article:

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2001.10952.pdf

As you can read there it will threaten our ability to detect dangerous objects. As well as other things.

We have optical fibers, common! Do you need to have Netflix in 8K on top of Kilimanjaro?

The issues I have with mars are:

1) the sheer scale of the project(s) (earth has limited ressources)

2) the lack of scientific framework

3) the arguments that it will be useful for survival

4) the very idea of people fleeing earth in time of major existential problems (climate & biodiversity)

So far it just looks to me like a holiday destination for the very rich. But glad if you can point me to some science that contradicts my view.




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