Re: Backflow of Colonists

Life support is not negligible.
Take a look at what it costs to take a boat across the Pacific as
opposed to an airplane...  food! 
(or in space, food, air, water).

Alan E Brain wrote:
> 

> But assuming the colony transports aren't designed for a 1-way voyage,
they'd be in ballast on the way back. Costs would be negligible. Now of
course, the colonial administration might want to put a 10,000,000%
surcharge on the fares.. or at least require returnees to pay back their
(subsidised) fare there, plus admistration costs, plus handling fees,
plus landing tax, plus emigration tax, plus... But the cost to the
shipping company would be negligible, just life-support costs.
> Of course the colony transports might well be designed for just a
single voyage, with the materials recycled at the other end. In which
case all bets are off.

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