How and why to colonize Venus

This article is from late 2018:
https://bigthink.com/surprising-science/how-to-colonize-venus

Humanity will eventually do this, I think, if valuable minerals are found to be available there. I hope we do.

Interesting, I read the linked NASA paper as well. I tend to think that most space explorations like this will initially employ drones, robots, etc., until enough infrastructure is in place. There is also the matter of travel time, I found this article about fusion rockets:

https://www.space.com/37146-nuclear-fusion-rockets-interstellar-spaceflight.html

My father was involved with the Gemini and Shuttle programs among other things, one being some fusion power plant at ORNL. He thought the various fusion programs were wastes of time and money, but that was back in the early 1980's. I found this article which outlines a new approach to fusion power:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/mar/09/nuclear-fusion-on-brink-of-being-realised-say-mit-scientists

It's a technology we really need, both here on the planet and beyond. We'll see how it plays out. In the meantime, it looks like some scientists and engineers still have job security because of the whole idea.

I hope fusion reactors for spaceflight prove workable. I endorse anything conducive to getting humans to Venus or Mars.

It's interesting how my mind has subtly evolved recently. I never used to say "Venus or Mars." I used to only say "Mars."

Apparently one of my higher selves is interested in Venus.

For the heck of it, another article.
https://www.fromspacewithlove.com/venus-colonization/

I was going to make a bunch of smart ass replies until I read the article.


But for real, how do we get a freaking 1km balloon of nitrogen-oxygen there? And even if it's rich in minerals GL getting it off the surface, if we an even really get down there in the first place.


There is a game "Space Engineers" (that unfortunately doesn't have the most realistic physics ever ) and I had a mod that put a (mostly) to scale Venus with the actual map data from NASA, just with height amplified for playability (since the max planet size in the game is 120km diameter) and dear satan it is freaky and hellish. It even simulates the acidic atmosphere and to a degree the heat, and at least cosmetically, the weather. Fun to fly around on though but extremely dangerous.


I'm just imagining what kind of challenges getting any resources outside of the clouds would be, or how these societies would sustain themselves. At least mars has soil and the surface could be mined fairly straight forwardly. Some might argue to not do this though so that the planets could be studied, and I'd agree that any colonization should be done carefully in areas of no scientific value and not excessively so, so there are still areas of interest to study.

The challenge is the money that it will take to make colonization possible. I want it to happen, but I wonder where the money will come from?