Obama wants Mars mission by 2030's

Sykk

Sky News

US President Barack Obama has revealed plans to send American astronauts to orbit Mars within the next three decades.


He spoke amid a storm of outrage over his decision to drop the costly Constellation project, which had aimed to put Americans back on the Moon.
But Mr Obama, at Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, vowed before Nasa staff that he was "100% committed" to their mission and the US space agency's future.
"As president, I believe that space exploration is not a luxury, it's not an afterthought in America's quest for a brighter future. It is an essential part of that quest," he said.

By the mid-2030s, I believe we can send humans to orbit Mars and return them safely to Earth.

President Obama

Mr Obama, accompanied by astronaut Buzz Aldrin - the second man to set foot on the Moon - said his administration would pump an extra $6bn (£3.9bn) into Nasa's budget over the next five years.
But he had specific ideas about how it should be spent.
"We should attempt a return to the surface of the Moon first, as previously planned. But I just have to say, pretty bluntly here, we've been there before. Buzz has been there," Mr Obama said.
"There's a lot more of space to explore and a lot more to learn when we do.
"By 2025, we expect new spacecraft designed for long journeys to allow us to begin the first ever crew missions beyond the Moon into deep space.


Hubble Telescope view of Mars in 2001



"So, we'll start by sending astronauts to an asteroid for the first time in history. By the mid-2030s, I believe we can send humans to orbit Mars and return them safely to Earth, and a landing on Mars will follow."
Critics, including the first man on the Moon Neil Armstrong, were angered by Mr Obama's decision earlier this year to scrap the behind-schedule Constellation programme.
The ageing US space shuttle fleet, which carries astronauts to the International Space Station, is due to be grounded at the end of the year.
America will have to hitch rides on Russian spacecraft to the orbiting facility until a replacement is developed.
"Without the skill and experience that actual spacecraft operation provides, the USA is far too likely to be on a long downhill slide to mediocrity," Mr Armstrong wrote in a letter.

Some We'll probably hit another recession by then and whoever is running the country will have to drop the Mars mission too..

Beeker

Sykk wrote: »

Sky News



Some We'll probably hit another recession by then and whoever is running the country will have to drop the Mars mission too..

Saying he wants a Mars mission by the 2030's means nothing...its just words without any real commitment.

I want €20million by 2011. I want naked women to provide me with mugs of tea at work every day by next July. I want, I want, I want......
I can want all day long but it wont happen for me unless I make decisions that will at the very least lead to a chance of these things comming to pass.......well now for a cup of tea............"Julie where are you!":D:D:DAhhhhh happy Beeker!:D:D:D

Sykk

Ha, it's a real pity..

I'd love another moon landing, especially since photography has draaaaaaaaastically improved since the last one.. /cry

lord lucan

Beeker wrote: »

Saying he wants a Mars mission by the 2030's means nothing...its just words without any real commitment.

I want €20million by 2011. I want naked women to provide me with mugs of tea at work every day by next July. I want, I want, I want......
I can want all day long but it wont happen for me unless I make decisions that will at the very least lead to a chance of these things comming to pass.......well now for a cup of tea............"Julie where are you!":D:D:DAhhhhh happy Beeker!:D:D:D

Go on Beeker ya good thing!:D:D

Flying Abruptly

The article about it on the BBC news website is a good read.

Mr Obama also pledged to begin development of a new heavy-lift rocket no later than 2015, but he said it must contain new propulsion technologies. Mimicking the rockets of the past was not an option, he explained.

I'm personally very happy with this bit as I thought the idea of going back to the technology of the 60's was a bit mad. Granted it might have worked but surely we've moved on enough that we can come up with a new, innovative and better designs.

Wibbs

Yea but new propulsion tech is a throwaway line in a way. What kinda tech? Ion drives etc fine for when you've time and in space itself. Unless someone is sitting on anti grav drives(heads to the CT forum ) or wants to go the nuclear blast route, what other options are there? For heavy lifting into orbit anyway.

It was brilliant we got to the moon in the 60's but it also knocked us back in the rush to do so. Von Brauns original idea for the moon launch was based around building a space station first and going from there. That way we would have had a scalable system in place to go keep going back or going further, but they went for the one shot deal(brilliantly though) The winged x projects lost funding in favour of the roman candle approach too. It came back with the shuttle, but with that now about to go into mothballs ...... More winged vehicles FTW.

sponsoredwalk

Where does nasa get off taking orders from a man who doesn't work there and clearly isn't expert in anything they do telling them to make technical improvements? :rolleyes:


I mean, if I say "you need to make a big laser ship to bring us to Mercury but it has to do 360' loops every milliparsec", would you be impressed?

I wish somebody had asked him a technical question on the spot where his que cards would be of no use, we'd of heard a lot more empty promises a lot quicker

lord lucan

sponsoredwalk wrote: »

Where does nasa get off taking orders from a man who doesn't work there and clearly isn't expert in anything they do telling them to make technical improvements? :rolleyes:


I mean, if I say "you need to make a big laser ship to bring us to Mercury but it has to do 360' loops every milliparsec", would you be impressed?

I wish somebody had asked him a technical question on the spot where his que cards would be of no use, we'd of heard a lot more empty promises a lot quicker

That's why Obama had the Augustine Commision set up to advise on the future direction of US human spaceflight. Get all the experts onboard and take your direction from them. Much the same way as he is Commander In Chief of US armed forces,he doesn't direct the army what to do personally but takes direction from the Joint Chiefs and Senior Generals.

Flying Abruptly

Wibbs wrote: »

It was brilliant we got to the moon in the 60's but it also knocked us back in the rush to do so. Von Brauns original idea for the moon launch was based around building a space station first and going from there. That way we would have had a scalable system in place to go keep going back or going further, but they went for the one shot deal(brilliantly though) The winged x projects lost funding in favour of the roman candle approach too. It came back with the shuttle, but with that now about to go into mothballs ...... More winged vehicles FTW.

Building an off-planet station in orbit capable of launching missions to comets, the moon or mars is definitely the way forward alright.