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The reason industry likes to be on earth is that so many materials are free or very cheap, and waste can be dumped into the atmosphere or waterways.

If industry had to pay launch costs for water, air, and other basic things they need, they wouldn't be financially viable.




If we charged industry fair costs for dumping pollutants into water, land and air on Earth - we would have no uncosted externalities.

If we then pointed out that in space or on the surface of a lifeless rock there are no costs of pollutants there might be a bit of incentive to move.

But you are correct, those companies would need to be self-sufficient in gathering all resource inputs and be able to ship finished products back where they are wanted. Much more complex than renting an industrial unit in an industrial town.




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