[ExI] Why no space colonies or lunar bases? was Mooon.

[Adrian Tymes]

2011/7/23 Stefano Vaj <stefano.vaj at gmail.com>:
> Let us say for instance that they can be used for once

Not happening.

If a thing is developed and used once, it will, inevitably, be used again.

This is true even of nuclear weapons.  Testing aside, they were used
twice - and aside from their direct use, their threat (which requires
enough development and testing to convince people that they will
probably work) has been used over and over and over again.

Even if you disagree, enough other people believe this that any
development effort for nuclear bomb propulsion will have to proceed
as if this is inevitable.  Otherwise, the developers will be thrown in
jail if they get the materials to build this and start bending metal.
(More likely, they'll make plans and noises and provide endless
distraction but be completely unable to actually get the nuclear
materials.)

Put another way: you have to solve this problem in order to get the
materials to make the bombs, and you can not convince the
gatekeepers that this will be once only.  Find another solution.