"Brian Thorn" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 21 May 2009 03:42:56 GMT, "Alan Erskine"
wrote:

What you really want to do is... (wait for it) ... build a manufacturing
plant on Mars. Once on Mars, you can use Martian materials, so you don't
have to bring as much mass up.

Or the Moon - nearer to Earth; no atmosphere at all (compared to Mars) and
half the gravity of Mars. Also the Moon's closer to the Sun, so solar
energy can be used for smelting materials and industrial processes.

The two-week nights are the killer.

Equalled by the two-week days - it hasn't stopped Earth from becoming
industrialised by having a 12/12 day and it doesn't take very long to smelt
metals. Most of the equipment would be automated; just like the latest
smelting plants here on Earth, so it would be quite possible to do.