https://radiofarside.substack.com/p/the-gingers
The Gingers — “Martians” sounds so retro
Radio Far Side
Mar 09, 2025
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Donald Trump’s recent address to the joint session of Congress (emphasis on “joint” and “con”), while entertaining at times, offered no real updates on anything of substance. He’s a showman, and it was a show, which the Democrats unwittingly participated in. However, like no-alcohol beer, it was all bubbles and no buzz.
Trump made one quick reference to his administration’s ambitions in space that got the old brain juice flowing. His exact statement was, “We are going to lead humanity into space and plant the American flag on the planet Mars, and even far beyond.”
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Here’s just some of them:
- Spacecraft Reliability & Transport
- Radiation Protection
- Life Support Systems
- Habitat Construction
- Energy Generation Storage
- Communications Delay
- Autonomous Operations
- Resource Utilization
- Medical Capabilities
- Extreme Cold
- Thin Atmosphere
- Low Gravity
- Toxic Soil & Dust
- Global Dust Storms
- Lack of Liquid Water
- Planetary Protection
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Here’s just some of the changes they would undergo:
- Lower Bone Density & Muscle Mass
- Taller, Leaner Bodies
- Altered Cardiovascular System
- Radiation Resistance
- Oxygen Adaptations
- Increased Isolation Resilience
- Cognitive Divergence from Earth
- Different Circadian Rhythms
- Martian Identity & Independence
- New Social Structures
- Technology-Driven Lifestyle
- New Ethical & Legal Systems
- Speciation Possibility
- Reduced Immune Function
- Vision Changes
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“People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.” George Bernard Shaw
That’s the first time I’ve see a comprehensive list of the “technical” and “human” problems that need to be overcome.
May not happen in my lifetime, but it will in someone’s.
As an afficiando of Sci Fi, especially Heinlein, I believe it can be done.
I remember JFK promising a man on the moon. Impossible some said.
“Everything is theoretically impossible, until it is done.” — Robert A. Heinlein
—30—
Reinke Faces Life 