Mars - One way...would you go?

[Shatnertage]

No, I couldn't conceive of leaving Glasgow because my daughter is here, let alone the whole planet.

Only if I could bring my friends and family. Otherwise, not a chance.

It ain't the kind of place to raise your kids.

So I hear.

Between it being cold as hell and not having anyone there to raise them, it would be rough.

Which is why I would decline.

Just out of curiosity, lets say one of you guys took the trip and I wanted to stay in touch. What's Earth/Mars radio contact like? I'm guessing that the time lag would vary depending on where the planets were in their respective orbits, right?

 

[MacLeod]

I think the time lag for radio communications to/from Earth would be an avg of ~4mins depending on the relative location of the planets.

 

[KJbushway]

four minutes. I thought it was 6.

I looked it up. its said anywhere from 10-20 minutes. depends on distance. but the number seems to be about 8 min ideal.

 

[O'Dib]

Hell no. What do I gain from it? For me there is zero appeal.

Yeah, you'd have to pay people a ton of money - oh, wait...

It's like with suicide bombers. Your family on Earth would get compensation.

 

[KJbushway]

Considering how America treats it veterans, I don't half the money that is supposed to go to the family actually will.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Will there be wifi?

Yeah, but I hear the latency's a bitch.

 

[KJbushway]

haha I have no idea what that is.

I wouldn't go to Mars right now, but one day I plan to get there on my own

 

[infinix]

haha I have no idea what that is.

I wouldn't go to Mars right now, but one day I plan to get there on my own

Go on your own? Good luck on that dream. With the space shuttle retiring and NASA facing huge budget cuts, plus China and EU not having any real interests in Mars, unless we discover Martians tomorrow, there is no way we'll get to Mars in the next 30 years.

 

[KJbushway]

I plan to go by what I do myself. but The NASA would be tough, 6 months there, 6 months back how many years it takes for NASA to send a return and re-supply shuttle or something like it.

 

[Finn]

I plan to go by what I do myself. but The NASA would be tough, 6 months there, 6 months back how many years it takes for NASA to send a return and re-supply shuttle or something like it.

I'm sorry but it doesn't sound like you have any clue about how this would work. What would you do there? Where would you get a spacecraft? Who would build it. Would you hire a team of engineers? Where would you get your supplies? Would you do it without help of a government? Most importantly, do you have the money? There are many people who dream of going into space and they still couldn't. There are those who actually have some money.

I suggest you get a college education first.

 

[Squiggy]

I plan to go by what I do myself. but The NASA would be tough, 6 months there, 6 months back how many years it takes for NASA to send a return and re-supply shuttle or something like it.

NASA is not your personal delivery service.

 

[Finn]

I plan to go by what I do myself. but The NASA would be tough, 6 months there, 6 months back how many years it takes for NASA to send a return and re-supply shuttle or something like it.

NASA is not your personal delivery service.

Listen to him, KJbushway. They had him fly in a commerical plane with a hole in it. That should tell you something.

 

[sojourner]

All commercial planes have holes by design at least.

 

[Finn]

All commercial planes have holes by design at least.

Yes. But my remark implies otherwise

 

[Distorted Humor]

Long run, I see private companies doing the work of Nasa, with Nasa providing funding and mission review (and perhaps training the actual astronauts and keeping them on a payroll)

However, as the OP it does not matter if it NASA or Acme Space Exploration, but if they where setting up a colony on mars that would be 90-95% self reliant, and you could go but not return, would you be willing to go...

 

[KJbushway]

I plan to go by what I do myself. but The NASA would be tough, 6 months there, 6 months back how many years it takes for NASA to send a return and re-supply shuttle or something like it.

I'm sorry but it doesn't sound like you have any clue about how this would work. What would you do there? Where would you get a spacecraft? Who would build it. Would you hire a team of engineers? Where would you get your supplies? Would you do it without help of a government? Most importantly, do you have the money? There are many people who dream of going into space and they still couldn't. There are those who actually have some money.

I suggest you get a college education first.

There is a small joke behind what I said, if you look at my signature then look at the post you will see what I mean.


No I understand what you mean, I don't need a college education first. Corporations and Government agencies are who get to go.
But if NASA asked for volunteers it would be hard for those going. First you have to go to the planet, hope all things work the way they should and hope you don't go insane. Then you have to worry that NASA actually launches a return and re-supply shuttle on time and it works and gets there in time. I don't see people lining up for NASA, maybe a company like Spacex but not NASA.

 

[scotthm]

if they where setting up a colony on mars that would be 90-95% self reliant, and you could go but not return, would you be willing to go...

Not even if it was 100% self reliant.

---------------

 

[Squiggy]

No I understand what you mean, I don't need a college education first.

No, you don't understand what he means. You need a college education first. No one is going to let someone with a with anything less than a bachelors (most require some post-graduate degree) to get anywhere near a spacecraft.

The thing costs billions of dollars. They're not going to let you get in there and break it or get lost on the way to where ever you're going or die and give the company a bad name.

Corporations and Government agencies are who get to go.

And those are staffed with humans...humans with a college education.

But if NASA asked for volunteers...

Which they do all the time. The Astronaut Corps is 100% volunteer. No one is forced to do it.

...it would be hard for those going.

No one is saying otherwise. In fact, it is currently "impossible" to do for a number of reasons.

First you have to go to the planet, hope all things work the way they should and hope you don't go insane. Then you have to worry that NASA actually launches a return and re-supply shuttle on time and it works and gets there in time.

We're all aware that traveling at least 54 million miles isn't exactly a Sunday drive. However, your fears about a supply or return "shuttle" (a misnomer since the shuttle can and will never leave NEO) getting to Mars is unfounded. Any early mission to Mars will be fully contained; meaning that you would leave Earth with everything you need to get back. If something goes wrong however, you're fucked.

I don't see people lining up for NASA, maybe a company like Spacex but not NASA.

People line up for NASA all the time. Over 3,500 people who had a shot tried to get in to the last astronaut class in 2009, only 14 made it.

 

[KJbushway]

No I understand what you mean, I don't need a college education first.

No, you don't understand what he means. You need a college education first. No one is going to let someone with a with anything less than a bachelors (most require some post-graduate degree) to get anywhere near a spacecraft.

The thing costs billions of dollars. They're not going to let you get in there and break it or get lost on the way to where ever you're going or die and give the company a bad name.

Corporations and Government agencies are who get to go.

And those are staffed with humans...humans with a college education.


Which they do all the time. The Astronaut Corps is 100% volunteer. No one is forced to do it.


No one is saying otherwise. In fact, it is currently "impossible" to do for a number of reasons.

First you have to go to the planet, hope all things work the way they should and hope you don't go insane. Then you have to worry that NASA actually launches a return and re-supply shuttle on time and it works and gets there in time.

We're all aware that traveling at least 54 million miles isn't exactly a Sunday drive. However, your fears about a supply or return "shuttle" (a misnomer since the shuttle can and will never leave NEO) getting to Mars is unfounded. Any early mission to Mars will be fully contained; meaning that you would leave Earth with everything you need to get back. If something goes wrong however, you're fucked.

I don't see people lining up for NASA, maybe a company like Spacex but not NASA.

People line up for NASA all the time. Over 3,500 people who had a shot tried to get in to the last astronaut class in 2009, only 14 made it.

I could chew up what you said and respond to every one but it would be useless and a waste of time. I know that in order to be considered for such a job to go to mars, you need to have a college education, backgrounds in many careers and skills. Also having the frame of mind to survive in the most difficult situations. (this is what I meant by I don't need to have a college education to understand that)

I obviously know that I, some 19 year old who isn't fully in school yet, wouldn't be picked even if I had the world's richest father. One a side note, saying something is Impossible when its not really impossible is just saying that people might as well not even dream about it. its best to say that currently it would be very difficult.

yes many people line up for NASA, but in the future the majority will most likely head for Corporations like SpaceX, who have a better track record with getting shit done.

 

[Peak]

I would not hesitate a bit. Of course I would go if I got the chance.