Kim Stanley Robinson's vision to become reality?

[Platapus]

I am not likin the "one way trip" especially when the rocket systems will be built by the contractor that says "hey, I can build that cheaper!"

I wonder if the one way trip was a requirement or an acknowledgment of the limitations of NASA?

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by Platapus

I am not likin the "one way trip" especially when the rocket systems will be built by the contractor that says "hey, I can build that cheaper!"

I wonder if the one way trip was a requirement or an acknowledgment of the limitations of NASA?

Who says you need to build a rocket? At least not one to get all the way there, just send it up a little ways and let gravity do the work.

The Aldrin Cycler

It also comes back on its own for free... and goes back... and...

[razark]

Originally Posted by Platapus

I am not likin the "one way trip" especially when the rocket systems will be built by the contractor that says "hey, I can build that cheaper!"

Think of it this way, you only have to count on the rocket working for half the time of a round trip.

Originally Posted by Platapus

I wonder if the one way trip was a requirement or an acknowledgment of the limitations of NASA?

The idea has been around for 20 years.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_to_Stay

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by razark

Think of it this way, you only have to count on the rocket working for half the time of a round trip.

Not really, for a one way flight its more like having the rocket work only 75% of the effort necessary for a two way flight since Mars had 1/2 of Earth's gravity.

... assuming you launch from the Earth's surface that is. If the spacecraft just goes orbit to orbit its very easy, its the surface to orbit part that is hard especially from Earth's surface to orbit.

[razark]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

Not really, for a one way flight its more like having the rocket work only 75% of the effort necessary for a two way flight since Mars had 1/2 of Earth's gravity.

Pah! You and your sciencey facts!

I looked at a map of the solar system. It's the same distance between Mars and Earth as it is between Earth and Mars. Therefore the rocket only has to go half as far as a round trip.

Aha! But they're both moving. So we launch it when Mars is approaching Earth, and then we only have to go a tiny bit of the distance, and wait for Mars to catch up.

That, combined with the Australian model for colonization I've been pushing for and we're on our way!

Per absurdum ad astra!

[TarJak]

Originally Posted by razark

The idea has been around for 20 years.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_to_Stay

A little longer than that: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Martian_Chronicles

Bradbury wrote about it in 1950.
Dunno if he was the first or not.

I peronsally doubt it will happen though. We've got enough problems here without spending the money it would cost to send a bunch of monkeys to Mars.

[Ducimus]

Space...... the final frontier. These are the voyages of...
*cough*

It's always been my thought that this planet will eventually have more people on it then it can support. Populations keep rising, no? I personally think (guessing in a few thousand years into the future) that if we intend to survive as a species, well have to expand to new areas eventually. So, why not mars? Human expansion has to start somewhere, right?

But here's the thing, this will end any combination of 3 ways:

- You either write your name in history as one of the brave individuals to venture, and your name will be in history books (probably as a foot note) when the founding of the mars colony is discussed.

- You end up going bats**t insane being out there for one reason or another. (Humans do have pshycological needs that come from many sources)

- You die a horrible death, or Nasa calls the whole thing off and blows its last wad of cash to bring everyone home.

edit:
And yes, i would volunteer, though my Fiancee would disallow it.

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by Ducimus

- You die a horrible death...

That's a given...


If many hours of Sci Fi have taught me anything is that 9 times out of ten first colonists to a planet die (mostly with one survivor).

[Ducimus]

How wonderfully appropriate!

[razark]

Originally Posted by Ducimus

- You die a horrible death, or Nasa calls the whole thing off and blows its last wad of cash to bring everyone home.

I simply don't see NASA setting up a mission without a plan to bring them back. It would tie up resources and funds for years, and when added in, make the cost of the mission much higher and eliminating the advantage of a one-way mission.

However, if someone could set up private funding for such a venture, it could be quite interesting.