[danm]

Just watched the presentation by Elon Musk about his vision for a colony on Mars. The big question has to be though: is there any gritstone on Mars? Pretty pointless moving there if not?

[Will Hunt]

I saw this Martian crag in National Geographic and thought there was at least one good line on it. Splitter!

[tomtom]

Seeing as gravity is about 1/3 what it is on earth....

[Duma]

I once read a Sci fi short story about rock climbing on Mars, can't remember if it was in a climbing mag or somewhere else.  Anyone else happen to remember? The MCT seems pretty far fetched, but tbh I'm so blown away by them landing the falcon first stage back on the barges that I wouldn't put much past space X.

[r-man]

I once read a Sci fi short story about rock climbing on Mars, can't remember if it was in a climbing mag or somewhere else.  Anyone else happen to remember? The MCT seems pretty far fetched, but tbh I'm so blown away by them landing the falcon first stage back on the barges that I wouldn't put much past space X.

This?

[tomtom]

Didnt Olympus feature in that classic Mars documentary (starring Arnold Schwarzenegger) Turtle Recall (as they say in East Yerkshire)?

[slackline]

What could wreck Elon Musk’s plan to colonize Mars isn’t science, technology, or money—it’s ethics

[SA Chris]

Seeing as gravity is about 1/3 what it is on earth....

Less oxygen though. Be breathing out your arse. And your eyes will pop out. Our something.

[SA Chris]

This?

That freeze screen shows how far The Stone Roses have let themselves go.

[tomtom]

Thats not Remi, its BRIAN BLESSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Steve R]

I haven't read this yet but Tim Urban posted about this yesterday: http://waitbutwhy.com/2016/09/spacexs-big-fking-rocket-the-full-story.html?utm_source=List&utm_campaign=73e2e2b448-SpaceX_BFR_09_28_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5b568bad0b-73e2e2b448-52082145&mc_cid=73e2e2b448&mc_eid=07bb3f9755
Usually enjoy his writing - good blend of information and entertainment to a reasonable depth.  His extended posts on musk/space x are really good.

[Danny]

What could wreck Elon Musk’s plan to colonize Mars isn’t science, technology, or money—it’s ethics

I don't buy into the ethics argument with respect to forward transmission of microbes. Something of an unfortunate spillover from the field of invasion ecology. I mean, some support the idea of full blown terraforming. Whist I think there are huge and probably insurmountable problems with that, the principle that one functioning biosphere is better than one barely existent one is sensible enough. In any case, there are much bigger problems with the whole concept of pumping so many resources into what is, at this point in human history, a vanity project. Let's get our own house in order first Elon.

[Johnny Brown]

I don't understand how it's being funded. That article says he made 180 million $ in the dot com boom, but that must be peanuts in this context.

[tomtom]

investors... $$$

I guess with interest rates of f*ck all in most places people are looking for shit to invest in. To be fair to Elon Musk, Electric and self driving cars seems to be where its at... or going to be at...

Good friend of mine is mates with the UK Tesla head - has some interesting tales to tell about Mr Musk.

[Will Hunt]

has some interesting tales to tell about Mr Musk.

Well?

[Doylo]

Just send John Redhead and his paper mache Cock.

[Fultonius]

investors... $$$

I guess with interest rates of f*ck all in most places people are looking for shit to invest in. To be fair to Elon Musk, Electric and self driving cars seems to be where its at... or going to be at...

Good friend of mine is mates with the UK Tesla head - has some interesting tales to tell about Mr Musk.

Stayed at a mates in SF a couple of nights ago - he was relaying stories of Elon's "cannonball" approach to management - constantly over-riding decisions, changing plans etc.  Working from him must be love/hate: freedom/shifting goalposts etc. 

Whether he succeeds/fails his impact has already been world-changing in the least hyperbolic sense. Inspired nutter. I'd love to work there!

[SA Chris]

Just send John Redhead and his paper mache Cock.

Is he like Goldmember then? Machemember?