The Mars Delusion: A costly fantasy?

A long read questioning the Mars settlement hype. The author visits the British Interplanetary Society and finds even veteran space enthusiasts disappointed by Musk's pivot to the Moon. The post doesn't disclose specific tech or cost figures, but highlights the core tension: launch costs dropped from $54,000/kg to $1,500/kg, yet the risks, timeline, and payoff for a permanent colony remain unclear. Musk's own timeline—"uncrewed in <5 years, people in <10, city in 20, civilization secured in 30"—was recently undercut by his own "the Moon is faster" post.