Colonization begins a transplanted civilization and requires more than an eight-person scientific survey. Difficult science does not change the need for people, institutions, tools, and recurring support. Governments and financiers may prefer projects they can control closely and present through a strong national or commercial brand. That preference encourages isolated voyages resembling Columbus or Drake setting out with only a few ships. Such missions can be brave and spectacular while losing trained people and scarce skills at a rate a durable transport system would reduce.
Notable Point · 53:18-56:32
Permanent settlement is a systems project
Colonization means transplanting a functioning society, while tightly controlled prestige voyages repeat an early age-of-sail model that spends scarce people and skills wastefully.