Getting to MARS

[LiveFreeX]

I'm hearing about a big push here to get to the MOON... yeah apparently China has plans to setup on the moon. Helium 3 or something.

I was reading some stuff about Richard Branson and his goal of setting up space mining. I really think this could revitalize the failing global economy. Russia and China are aiming for MARS and some of my wealthier students are talking about buying property on the moon and the availability of MARS in the future...

MARS ONE - I have a feeling that little rover is digging up more than soil samples.. I would bet they've found mineral deposits out there or something. There is never world-wide interest in anything till money is involved. I was reading something about an engine called VASMIR in development that would propel us to Mars in about 2 weeks. If thats true, how far off are we really from intersolar travel, 100 years? A lot of challenges ahead but I believe we could be a star faring culture within a couple hundred years if we started pushing for it now. I'm promoting this a lot in my classrooms and tell the new Chinese kids going to America to study Engineering and join up to the Space Program. As far as I'm concerned Space is a race independent sphere and would go a long way to unifying us as a species.

Anyway I do a lot of English corners on this subject now. The Energy and Mining sector is a hot topic in my classrooms right now, does anyone have any knowledge they could add?

 

[twentee]

it's a one way trip,dude,10 years to get to Mars {along with and sort of mining /conatainment- abilty) I doubt if we have the ability to lift enough stuff there to be able to again lift off again. If Branson,said that, he's an idiot

 

[Fatal Jay]

That **** is too far away for these rich basta*d to get there. Have anyone ever thought they we wasn't mean't to go that far in space, there is no life on the planet, yet these rich people want to live there, since they already ruined this planet.

 

[LiveFreeX]

Someone is always doing what someone else said could not be done.

 

[Dust 2 Dust]

As someone else said it would take at least 10 years to travel back and forth from Mars safely. The ship would have to be self sustaining and the crew capable of growing crops, raising and caring for livestock, creating water, harnessing sunlight for vitamin D, and most likely powered by nuclear power. It would basically need to be a flying bio-dome. The Mars Orbiter took 7 months to reach Mars, but the human body cannot handle traveling at rocket speed for long distances.

 

[Deep Dish]

LiveFreeX:
I was reading something about an engine called VASMIR in development that would propel us to Mars in about 2 weeks. If thats true, how far off are we really from intersolar travel, 100 years? A lot of challenges ahead but I believe we could be a star faring culture within a couple hundred years if we started pushing for it now.

It's closer to 40 days, but that would still be double digit days. The feasibility of a plasma engine like VASIMR is still within the realm of science fiction, so it's really too early to even speculate. For every new invention, there are 10,000 ideas which flop.

Dust 2 Dust:
The Mars Orbiter took 7 months to reach Mars, but the human body cannot handle traveling at rocket speed for long distances.

...in an atmosphere. In space, with no resistance, you just need a gradual acceleration. VASIMR would take three weeks to achieve top speed. Traveling at 123,000 MPH would create artificial gravity, which would help the astronauts prevent muscular atrophy.

 

[LiveFreeX]

Hmmm I guess we need a new type of engine then... Warp Drive or some sort of Gravity Bending Device... I think its a very exciting time because we have a goal in mind and now we need to come up with some new ideas to help solve the problems. I was just reading an article about some kid at TED who build a nuclear fission reactor in his garage that apprarently runs for 30 years without needing to change the rods.

I think in the next 10 to 20 years we are going to see lots of new devices come out as a result of the new space races...

exciting times indeed.

 

[Desdinova]

some of my wealthier students are talking about buying property on the moon

That kinda gets my feathers ruffled a bit. Who are we to claim property on another planet to sell (even if it is the moon?) We don't own the universe, therefore gaining property on a moon or a different planet should be free unless an acual government is set up there. Planets shouldn't be linked by one government. If people started living on the moon or Mars, I couldn't give a damn what they do there

 

[LiveFreeX]

I don't think they care what people do either, as long as they pay their rent on time. I look at it kind of like the gold rush... I mean, wouldn't you like to invest in some property that your children's children can use?

Who are we to claim property on another planet to sell (even if it is the moon?)

Who are we to claim the property on Earth which no one lives on... such as the Arctic? Who owns that? I'm sure we'll find out soon when oil reserves are discovered there. Whenever money is involved, so is ownership. Whomever gets there first, stakes the claim, I'm guessing. Also rich influential people will push to get us there if they think there is money to be made somewhere. Besides, I think its pretty important to claim the land for future generations, we might discover something like a jump drive by accident that makes everything suddenly highly accessible.

 

[twentee]

there will never be such a thing, it's a pipe dream. The world's resources will collapse under the strain of overpopulation soon, or Nature will kill off at least half of us with a pandemic. Either way, we won't have the money and time to waste on bs like space travel.

 

[LiveFreeX]

I don't believe that. Just cause you are holed up in your bomb shelter with all your guns and ammo doesn't mean the world is coming to an end. America's resources might collapse but the world will be just fine.