Elon Musk

[Pat Mustard]

I don't know why humans *wouldn't* be able to procreate there.

Provide a habitat, some privacy and a modicum of medical care, and have at it.

I give you, one-third Earth gravity.

We don't know how much gravity humans need to live long term without major health issues. We do know that micro-gravity is extremely bad. But development of a fetus and child is another matter entirely. We have no idea if development is even viable in that gravity. My intuitive guess is it is not. Even if it is, normal skeletal growth is sure to be well off from what it would be in normal gravity.

I believe it is completely unethical to attempt human reproduction in reduced gravity without some major research. You would need to construct a rotating space habitat with Mars gravity and see if how primates such as chimps fare for a start. I suspect it would take decades of research. Of course, that wouldn't fit in Musk's time table.

The recent discussion about Musk's delusions on Mars reminds me of a novel I read years ago about a moon colony which had been cut off from earth supplies and was slowly starving. The people of the story had thought it was because of a rebellion that occurred on the moon in their past, but it was because of an apocalypse event on earth put civilisation way back. In it the protagonist (a young woman) was sent back to earth to find out the problem and a good chunk of the book was describing her problems adjusting to proper gravity.

I wish I could remember the book's name or author because it was very interesting.