[Torplexed]

Originally Posted by Blacklight

What makes Titan so interesting is that it has an atmosphere and is covered in organic molecules. Despite the fact that it's so cold that methane runs like water and ice is as solid as rock up there, it's actually pretty Earthlike in it's compositions. The same can be said for Venus, but that planet just doesn't have the abundance of organic molecules that Titan has.

Maybe we can talk Saturn into a swap. Their promising moon for our dead and airless one.

Once transport matters have been brought to a reasonable level of reliability, colonization of Mars is simply a matter of critical mass on site. Get enough material and people in the right spot with the ability to function with some level of self sufficiency, and matters take care of themselves.

The biggest hurdle in the long run is going to be to create something more there than a glorified Antarctic research outpost. Colonization doesn't do anyone any good if it's a constant money drain. The people on the colony will eventually need to dabble in more than meteorology and geology to grow and justify the expensive supply line from Earth. I do think future taxpayers would eventually get weary of throwing people into space just to create an extraterrestrial welfare state. The flow has to be both ways, so wherever we go, sooner or later something we find there needs to be of value back home. Mining has been mentioned for the Moon, maybe some minerals that can't be found commonly on Earth. I personally put money on the first economically viable mining operations on asteroids will be for iridium. Its a pretty useful metal, and its rarity on Earth limits its applications.

Putting footprints on other worlds will happen again in our lifetimes. Putting down roots and raising families, I can see that taking another century or so.