Orion first test flight was perfect!

[razark]

Originally Posted by mapuc

I seem to recall that these astronaut can't return at once, if I'm not remembering wrong they have to stay on Mars for some month or so

They can return at once, but it's not efficient. Making a short trip means they would be departing for Earth at a poor time, meaning more energy needed to return, and more time spent in transit. The first Mars mission needs to plan to hang out for a while before the return trip. (Or not return. One of the proposed models is Mars To Stay, where the first travelers go on long term colonization missions, and we just keep sending them supplies and more colonists.)

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by razark

They can return at once, but it's not efficient. Making a short trip means they would be departing for Earth at a poor time, meaning more energy needed to return, and more time spent in transit. The first Mars mission needs to plan to hang out for a while before the return trip. (Or not return. One of the proposed models is Mars To Stay, where the first travelers go on long term colonization missions, and we just keep sending them supplies and more colonists.)

Good point, I'd forgotten about that bit. Still, could send the equipment ahead, could even feasibly have the majority of it built before the first people get there, using clever design and robotic/automated vehicles.

[Otto Harkaman]

Send drones not people!

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by Otto Harkaman

The worst place on Earth would be a paradise to anyplace on Mars.

Send drones not people!

At the moment, but we're not going to Mars for the now, we're going for the next.

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by razark

Sending the equipment ahead of time is a great idea. I liked Robert Zubrin's idea of sending not only the supplies, but the return vehicle and an in situ fuel production system. The idea is to not commit to sending people until you know the supplies and return trip are ready.

Zubrin is fantastic, he really has a passion for the Mars mission that's quite infectious. Some of his ideas probably wouldn't stick, but a lot of them are very good and worth NASA or some space agency looking into.

Originally Posted by Otto Harkaman

I know its a great dream and I am not even qualified to say anything but the first things that come to mind is that you would have to increase the gravity, have some sort of magnetosphere, and maybe not even a breathable atmosphere but something that would burn up meteorites, seems impossible and just doomed to disaster sending people there.

Maybe an epic novel will come out of it to rival "Voyage of the James Caird"

You're as qualified as the rest of us to say something.
A breathable, thicker atmosphere can be created, just as ours was, it just takes time and effort. Until then mankind can (and will) adapt to the environment, it won't be easy and it will be heavily reliable on Earth for supplies and equipment, however in time they will be capable of self-sustainability, and then eventually they will be capable of exporting goods back to Earth, raw materials to power our gradual expansion into the solar system.

We're at a very fragile stage of our development right now, that meteor which streaked low and exploded over Russia the other year really should be a wake up call for humanity. All our eggs are in one basket, and that basket is called Earth, we get hit with a big enough rock and it's goodnight Irene. By spreading ourselves out we reduce the chances of a civilization ending event (eventually we'll create other ways to possibly kill ourselves off, but that'll be a few generations to go) as well as help spread out our burgeoning population.

Certainly the first decade of manned Mars missions will probably be little more than scientific research and prestige gathering, but after that...that's when the real work begins. I hope to see it in my lifetime.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Oberon

I hope to see it in my lifetime.

Arnie already has

[mapuc]

(Using my conspiracy glasses)

So far the aliens have lured our props with fake "picture" of Mars
How will they lure our astronauts?

(Sorry for this little off topic)

Markus

[eddie]

Here you go Oberon, a great video of yesterdays flight!



And when I hear people say China will pass the US space program, I say (after watching the successful flight test of Orion) "Eat this China!,lol"

[razark]

Originally Posted by Oberon

Good point, I'd forgotten about that bit. Still, could send the equipment ahead, could even feasibly have the majority of it built before the first people get there, using clever design and robotic/automated vehicles.

Sending the equipment ahead of time is a great idea. I liked Robert Zubrin's idea of sending not only the supplies, but the return vehicle and an in situ fuel production system. The idea is to not commit to sending people until you know the supplies and return trip are ready.

Originally Posted by Otto Harkaman

The worst place on Earth would be a paradise to anyplace on Mars.

Send drones not people!