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Man to Mars: A one-way trip?
- Thread starter EnDSchultz
- Start date
Master_Ghost_Knight
New Member
It is stupid and ethicaly wrong.
The only reason we send humans to other planets given the status quo is to say that we done it, we are capable of sending robots to do a better job with a decreased cost without the backlash of sending someone to their doom (even in the remote chance that they are able to make a self sustainable station on Mars they are still a limited number of people confined to a prison idefinitively stuck on the surface of the planet and will probably never return).
The only reason we send humans to other planets given the status quo is to say that we done it, we are capable of sending robots to do a better job with a decreased cost without the backlash of sending someone to their doom (even in the remote chance that they are able to make a self sustainable station on Mars they are still a limited number of people confined to a prison idefinitively stuck on the surface of the planet and will probably never return).
Finger
New Member
I seriously doubt the prestigiousness of this Journal, especially since the article begins with the phrase "To Boldly Go."
Anyway, I am reminded of a proposal made during the planning stages of the Apollo missions. Someone suggested that they concentrate entirely on getting astronauts to the moon before the Russians, nevermind how to bring them back. Then they just keep sending supplies to the moon until NASA could figure out how to bring the astronauts home. Needless to say, that proposal didn't go far.
But I think that paper addresses what is a substantial problem with any manned Mars mission. People generally assume that it would be similar to Apollo: A small number of astronauts traveling to the planet, setting down, planting a flag, and returning home. That may have been practical for the Moon, which takes only a few days to get there, but a trip to Mars would take 4-6 months depending on when you leave. And given that Earth and Mars are orbiting the sun at different speeds, you would only have short window where such a trip is even possible. So any return trip to Mars could require almost a year's worth of supplies for the entire crew if they only stay on the planet a few days. This is, of course, an enormous effort for very minimal gain. Like Ghost Knight said, there's no reason to do this other than to say that we did it.
What the article is apparently saying, and what I agree with, is that any manned trip to Mars should be long term. Like.. years at a time living in some sort of base. But I think the article goes too far in saying that the astronauts necessarily wouldn't be able to return. Why not? Sure, getting off the planet poses some serious challenges, but it's not impossible. There are lots of pretty creative ideas ranging from a space elevator to a giant rail-gun. I know, the technology to build such devices doesn't exactly exist yet, but we'd likely need to develop and use them on Earth in order to even build a Mars-faring spacecraft in the first place.
Anyway, I am reminded of a proposal made during the planning stages of the Apollo missions. Someone suggested that they concentrate entirely on getting astronauts to the moon before the Russians, nevermind how to bring them back. Then they just keep sending supplies to the moon until NASA could figure out how to bring the astronauts home. Needless to say, that proposal didn't go far.
But I think that paper addresses what is a substantial problem with any manned Mars mission. People generally assume that it would be similar to Apollo: A small number of astronauts traveling to the planet, setting down, planting a flag, and returning home. That may have been practical for the Moon, which takes only a few days to get there, but a trip to Mars would take 4-6 months depending on when you leave. And given that Earth and Mars are orbiting the sun at different speeds, you would only have short window where such a trip is even possible. So any return trip to Mars could require almost a year's worth of supplies for the entire crew if they only stay on the planet a few days. This is, of course, an enormous effort for very minimal gain. Like Ghost Knight said, there's no reason to do this other than to say that we did it.
What the article is apparently saying, and what I agree with, is that any manned trip to Mars should be long term. Like.. years at a time living in some sort of base. But I think the article goes too far in saying that the astronauts necessarily wouldn't be able to return. Why not? Sure, getting off the planet poses some serious challenges, but it's not impossible. There are lots of pretty creative ideas ranging from a space elevator to a giant rail-gun. I know, the technology to build such devices doesn't exactly exist yet, but we'd likely need to develop and use them on Earth in order to even build a Mars-faring spacecraft in the first place.
ImprobableJoe
New Member
It seems to me that you send the supplies FIRST. If you can drop 5 years worth of food and water and air on Mars and not wreck any of it, then feel free to send people.
SagansHeroes
New Member
I dunno, they're making pretty good strides in countering zero G and the radiation thing. A dense radiation shelter room plus the recently discovered ability of regular magnets to deflect some solar particles should help with the radiation issue hopefully.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20727701.300-shields-up-force-fields-could-protect-mars-missions.html
There is a super restrictive suit that essentially binds your extremities inwards by way of elastic and simulating the pressure of gravity on bones/joints that should help reduce bone loss.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20827843.700-superhero-suit-to-strengthen-astronauts-bones.html
Although some of those might require subscriptions.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20727701.300-shields-up-force-fields-could-protect-mars-missions.html
There is a super restrictive suit that essentially binds your extremities inwards by way of elastic and simulating the pressure of gravity on bones/joints that should help reduce bone loss.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20827843.700-superhero-suit-to-strengthen-astronauts-bones.html
Although some of those might require subscriptions.