4Frontiers, a new company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, wants to settle Mars. That's right, I said settle Mars.
All companies set goals, but newly formed 4Frontiers Corp. is eyeing some expansive horizons. The company's mission: to open a small human settlement on Mars within 20 years or so.
Sure, it may sound far-fetched. And the company's initial plans are a lot more terrestrial than ethereal, like developing a 25,000-square-foot replica of a Mars settlement here on Earth, then charging tourists admission.
If I'm any judge of horseflesh, I'd say the tourist admission fees are the likely endpoint. How many billions of dollars would something like this take? And, other than the satisfaction of accomplishing it, what would investers hope to get out of it.
But the people behind the venture are quite serious as serious as the $25 million they want to raise from investors.
That'll get you as far as Poughkeepsie. They're going to need a lot more money than that. They're also going to need a "Rocket Man".
Mars ain’t the kind of place to raise your kids
In fact it’s cold as hell
And there’s no one there to raise them if you did
And all this science I don’t understand
It’s just my job five days a week
A rocket man, a rocket man
And I think it’s gonna be a long long time...
9/17/05 0840: Wizbang's COTT XXIX.
I'm thinking: they can use sub-standard materials, charge admission, pocket the proceeds, then hook up with the Raelians the next time the mother ship comes by and thumb a free ride. (Proceeds used to buy Mars bars for the long trip.)
All at once brilliant and conniving.
Posted by: The MaryHunter | Sep 17, 2005 at 09:40 AM