Lunar Boom Town/Data Mining/Why

Why data mine? Why not simply redesign everything from scratch using the massive available effort the internet can connect us to?

We may have to re=engineer competing solutions before existing patent holders will reduce their licensing fees to reasonable charges. However, any art which has already been developed can theoretically be used to reduce the cost and schedule of establishing viable space settlements.

Personally, I do not want to wait a century or two for open source cold fusion processes to be developed before settling the the solar system. If we can lease or purchase rocket engines cost effectively then let's do so. Otherwise we must organize volunteer teams willing to give away tested effective new designs.