>>12514497On Earth it's not too hard.
On Mars it will require dozen of technological technology that it count as magic.
It's not just the ore. It's every single compound we use in mundane technology, let alone the minimal biosphere needed to keep a human alive, before even getting into the effect of gravity and radiation over our bodies.
We do seem to agree.
>>12514521>all hab segments would go into lockdown for a month and it would be over,Assuming you can feed everyone for a month like that and don't require people to move.
I do agree that a colony would likely have very little population in the first place.
>As for becoming self-sufficient, what exactly does Mars have to depend on for Earth that it couldn't make by itselfA molecular omnifactory and the ability to build every single components or space-tech keeping the colony alive.
Being able to mine ore don't mean you'll be able to build component that on Earth come from 20 countries using tools made of obscure material, including organic material from 50 others.
Even if you simply you'll inevitably discovers a lot of things you didn't knew were critical.
I believe the biggest problem will be organic compound and the bioengineering needed to farm anything.
Can Mars become self-sufficient? In theory.
How long before it can actually grow on its own? Likely century longer than fans believe, assuming Earth help and do the R&D at 100%.
It won't be like fictions.
>>12514533I admit I'm making assumption that only a coalition of democratic country will be able to cooperate to set up/let other set up a colony there.
Even if we assume it's only the US doing it all, with their history with new frontier they likely won't accept anything that's not at least as democratic as the US (even if it's a very low bar).
The only reason Saudi Arabia isn't invaded is because there's other superpower than the US and no righteous cause to justify it.
Something you would have if you created the new colony from scratch.
