Since it came out, I’ve been saying that the decadal needs to be completely redone, as it assumes business as usual. But there’s a new report out from academics on how to use Starship for Mars exploration, so people are finally starting to get it. Bob Zimmerman summarizes.
The report also notes a major political obstacle to this ambitious human Mars exploration, the limitations placed on human activity on other planets due to the planetary protection rules imposed by international interpretations of the Outer Space Treaty.
I sense a new movie in the Roger Corman style:
Dirty, Filthy, Meatbags on Mars…
“International interpretations” is the operative phrase. UD interpretations are the only ones that matter. After Democrats denaturalize and deport Musk, maybe Chinese interpretations?