What do you think? To Mars - and beyond

[Phil Spencer]

To Mars - and beyond, What do you think?

The West Australian October 29, 2010, 8:56 am




http://l.yimg.com/ea/img/-/101029/mars101029file630_16ckai9-16ckajh.jpg

A close-up of the red planet Mars. Picture: AAP



Humans could one day colonise planets such as Mars under a NASA plan to send astronauts into space knowing that they would not return.
Even with conventional technology humans could be on Mars' moons by 2030.
But NASA has a far grander plan - the Hundred Years Starship program.
NASA’s Ames Research Centre has teamed up with DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, to develop large spacecraft capable of supporting life for 100 years.
The idea is to build space craft for a one-way mission and have everything needed to sustain humans for one hundred years.
The astronauts physiology would change because of the long-distance flight, with bone structure and muscles being altered.
It could take the intrepid space explorers nine months to get to the red planet.
But NASA is hoping that the chance of becoming the founding fathers of a new colony could be enough to lure those willing to explore the final frontier, to explore strange new worlds, to boldly go where no man has gone before.

[beer is good]

I think the NASA idea is absolute bollocks. It would cost hundreds of billions of dollars even if it is feasible, just to keep NASA scientists in a job and enlarge the bank accounts of the already wealthy defence industry.

Why not spend a fraction of the cost on improving life on earth for all, particularly health and education which would have the bonus of reducing the world's population.
:toobad:

[Master Splinter]

As long as I didn't have to wear a red shirt, I'd be interested.

Anyway, NASA's budget is only 1% of US military/defence/war on terra spending and I like the idea of keeping scientists in jobs. It's not like they are highly paid, anyway.

[jimbur]

I love the idea, but we really need to send people who will be of most use by their absence. Politicians and ranting preachers spring to mind.
Cheers,
Jim

[Phil Spencer]

I love the idea, but we really need to send people who will be of most use by their absence. Politicians and ranting preachers spring to mind.
Cheers,
Jim

And Bogans and their spawn

[Christopha]

And Bogans and their spore

Don't you mean "Spawn" Phil? ( Blasted bogans can't spell!)

[Phil Spencer]

Don't you mean "Spawn" Phil? ( Blasted bogans can't spell!)
fixed

[corbs]

As long as I didn't have to wear a red shirt, I'd be interested.


I get it :wink:

[Woodwould]

I love the idea, but we really need to send people who will be of most use by their absence. Politicians and ranting preachers spring to mind.
Cheers,
Jim
I'm all for it too as long as they make it an attractive waste dump to entice bogans, druggies, sexual deviants and religious people. To that end, they could promote free drugs, free flanny shirts and trainers, free and revised religious texts to further assuage the nutters.

Without that lot we could probably survive a few more millennia.

[jimbur]

I'm all for it too as long as they make it an attractive waste dump to entice bogans, druggies, sexual deviants and religious people. To that end, they could promote free drugs, free flanny shirts and trainers, free and revised religious texts to further assuage the nutters.

Without that lot we could probably survive a few more millennia.
All it needs is a little spin:

"Mars, the galaxy's best kept secret - the holiday destination you'd die for. Laze on the beaches, cruise the canals and meet people of discrimination just like yourself.
Don't hesitate, book now for the trip you and your family deserve".

[jimbur]

Forgot to say, "it really is a breath-taking destination".

[hughie]

One wonders who would volunteer for such a mission. :? ..... and what were they thinking ??? :?

[jimbur]

One wonders who would volunteer for such a mission. :? ..... and what were they thinking ??? :?
Do you mean, "Were they thinking?"
Still look at the people who go on the 'reality tv' shows.
Joking aside, it does have an epic attraction to it and we've always had the visionaries, misfits, malcontents and just plain curious in our society.
Cheers,
Jim

[Christopha]

They will need lots and lots of missionaries on Mars. In fact they will definitely need every single one we have.....

[Phil Spencer]

They will need lots and lots of missionaries on Mars. In fact they will definitely need every single one we have.....

Wonder what their position would be on that.

[jimbur]

Wonder what their position would be on that.

In that sense, weightlessness would have great theological problems which need to be solved by direct clerical experience.

[BobL]

Anyway, NASA's budget is only 1% of US military/defence/war on terra spending and I like the idea of keeping scientists in jobs. It's not like they are highly paid, anyway.

Although I was not a direct NASA employee, during the late 80s my pittance of a salary was paid by NASA and it was tough going in an expensive Southern Californian economy. In the end I had to send SWMBO out to work for $6/hr to make ends meet.

[Rattrap]

Personally i think this is just awesome. I wish i was 20 yrs younger i'd have my hand up in a second. It would be 1 hell of a challenge & an amazing adventure. I think the cue to go would be huge. I beleive it is essential that the human race begins to expand out from our home Earth. We are at our best (and worst at times) when we are exploring & expanding. There are limited resources & limited space on Earth, we are already pushing the limits of this planet as it is - we as a people need to push out for our own survival. Plus the things we could learn from such an undertaking is enormous, & definitely worth the cost.

Space: the final frontier........

[Waldo]

[
The idea is to build space craft for a one-way mission and have everything needed to sustain humans for one hundred years.

Sounds like a premise of any of the sci-fi movies where people go bonkers and start killing each other off. :think: Could be NASA's idea of reality TV. :D

[jimbur]

In some ways I pity the poor bloody universe if it does happen. Watched Kevin Mcleod in the slums of Mumbai last night and this morning I read that clerics in Saudi Arabia have issued a fatwa against women working on checkouts - apparently because they would mix with men unrelated to them.
The idea is great but only if we could leave our mistakes and stupidities behind.
Cheers,
Jim

[Woodwould]

That's why I suggested shipping out all religious types.

[jimbur]

That's why I suggested shipping out all religious types.

That makes more sense. Send all our stupidities and mistakes away and we'll stay. Pity any poor extra-terrestrial though. However, I did read an SF story where they crucified the missionary to see if he would come back!
Cheers,
Jim