When watching the construction process of the Starbase at Boca Chica, I always think about what it would take to accomplish a similar project on Mars. Conceptually, the construction infrastructure on Mars is similar to what we see in the videos. The habitats will have to essentially be pressurized containers, with similar plumbing, electrical wiring, scaffolding, tanks, reservoirs, foundations, prefabricated components, steel, concrete, insulation materials, etc. Refueling starships on the Martian surface for the return trips will probably require almost identical plumbing and tanks with the addition of in-situ fuel production machinery. When we look at the busy assembly crews, cranes, forklifts, digging equipment, welding, we can see the complexities of construction activities. Unless we re-think the construction management entirely, the Mars infrastructure will require similar equipment, maintenance, and construction workers wearing full zero-pressure spacesuits.
Is it possible to transition the construction processes to more-or-less
automated, robotics-based technology?
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