Dig We Must

Surely I missed the meeting, but since when did NASA get a mandate to start planning for mining operations on Mars?

Hey guys, aren’t you getting a little ahead of yourselves? Picking up & pocketing a few researcherly moon rocks was fine. Making little scoops, with multi-million dollar sand buckets and shovels – budget approved! One small step for man, one giant sand castle for mankind.

But all this talk about steepness of ditch sides, martian cranes, conveyor belts and hoppers…you’re starting to creep me out. Is Mars’ destiny already decided? Are we going to be looking at a big ugly quarry up there? Don't you know, they'll probably name it The John Muir Mine.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know: energy! fuel! raw materials!

...yaaaayyyyy...