Review by angorarabbit - A City on Mars: Can We Settle Space, Should We Settle Space, and Have We Really Thought This Through?

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angorarabbit 's review for:

A City on Mars: Can We Settle Space, Should We Settle Space, and Have We Really Thought This Through? by Zach Weinersmith, Kelly Weinersmith

3.25

funny informative slow-paced

Context: I heard about this book on one of Frasier Cain’s podcasts. I am a science fiction reader and a space settlement skeptic.I

TLDR: A very readable and through discussion on the subject.

have noticed that I argue with non-fiction books while reading them which wouldn’t be a problem if that didn’t interfere with with my understanding what the author is trying to say. Which it does. I do it even when I agree with most of the authors points. I need to work on this.

Ms and Mr Weinersmith lay out their arguments against human habitation off Earth in a readable manner for a non nerdy readership. They also keep it interesting and not too dumbed down for the nerds.They have done their research and there is a very long partial bibliography in the back of the book for those who want to pursue further reading. True believers may find the book to much of a reality check to stomach but I think in the light of Mr Musk wanting to colonise Mars this is an important read.

About 60% of the book is discussing the legal aspect. The authors lay out their arguments for more robust and defined laws regarding space settlement. I find this to be hasty. As the first 40% of the book points out there is huge unknowns including if humans can even survive in low gravity high radiation environments and the unknown costs and profits of resource extraction to pay for the off earth settlements.

The one thought that I have on the subject that the authors didn’t cover is the cost to space exploration if the first or second of SpaceX colonists to Mars has an O-ring failure or a hydrogen leak. The loss of so many lives could sour the always fickle US taxpayer on any space exploration. See the budget cuts that happened to NASA following the Challenger and then Columbia disasters. (Yes I can tell you exactly where I was when I heard the news for both.)

Space is very big and we are very small. We can explore space with orbiters, landers, and rovers. We can even take samples of other planets and bring them back to Earth. While we do that we can also find solutions for an Earth with a changing climate. And maybe, when we know more we can build rotating habitats with a reasonable time back to the home world if quick evacuation is required.

Also, my speed in reading this book was due to the library’s checkout time being 7 days and a wait list for the book.I hate rushing my reading.

Content Warnings