Any volunteers to go to Mars?

lord lucan

Apparently the possibility of sending humans on a one way mission to Mars is being discussed. Figuring that a huge chunk of a missions budget is on getting the crew home,they're hoping some people might jump at the chance to experience life on another planet on the understanding they won't be coming home!

Interesting idea,any takers?

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Humans-Could-Be-Sent-One-Way-To-Mars-Without-The-Chance-Of-Returning-Home-Under-Nasa-Plans/Article/201010415781578?lpos=World_News_First_Home_Article_Teaser_Region_8&lid=ARTICLE_15781578_Humans_Could_Be_Sent_One-Way_To_Mars_Without_The_Chance_Of_Returning_Home,_Under_Nasa_Plans

Beeker

lord lucan wrote: »

Apparently the possibility of sending humans on a one way mission to Mars is being discussed. Figuring that a huge chunk of a missions budget is on getting the crew home,they're hoping some people might jump at the chance to experience life on another planet on the understanding they won't be coming home!

Interesting idea,any takers?

Sign me up!:)
Better not tell Mrs Beeker.....on second thought she might be delighted:D

namloc1980

A very interesting proposal but my own thoughts are that the budget and timescale for this are wildly optimistic. There is no launch vehicle or spacecraft in existence capable of taking humans to Mars so these would all have to be developed from scratch. Not to mention the colonists would need to provide their own food, water, air etc. and a place to call home on Mars. None of these technologies exist so would have to be developed from scratch.

Beeker

namloc1980 wrote: »

A very interesting proposal but my own thoughts are that the budget and timescale for this are wildly optimistic. There is no launch vehicle or spacecraft in existence capable of taking humans to Mars so these would all have to be developed from scratch. Not to mention the colonists would need to provide their own food, water, air etc. and a place to call home on Mars. None of these technologies exist so would have to be developed from scratch.

All true but don't forget in 1961 the vehicle and technologies need to get to the Moon did not exist, but 8 years latter, we landed there.:)
I know going to Mars is a different problem altogether but if the will is there it would be possible. Will it happen? NO:(

namloc1980

Beeker wrote: »

All true but don't forget in 1961 the vehicle and technologies need to get to the Moon did not exist, but 8 years latter, we landed there.:)
I know going to Mars is a different problem altogether but if the will is there it would be possible. Will it happen? NO:(

Yes you are correct but of course there was massive political will to get the trip to the Moon done because of the Soviets etc. and there was nothing spared in terms of budget for Apollo. I'd imagine there would be a very lukewarm reception to this proposal from the budget makers. Also there would of course be ethical issues around sending people on a one-way trip to another planet.

Don't get me wrong I would love to see this type of mission happen...I think human exploration has been dented in recent decades because of budgets and politics and unfortunately I can't see that changing.

Conor108

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZ5sWfhkpE0

China want to have their own space station in orbit by 2020 (Link) so maybe they'll try and push something like this along in years to come. Great bunch of lads.

Only about a year anyway until Curiosity launches and should land on Mars August 2012.

Plug

OK lets cut to the chase, Im young enough. Will I see people on Mars or the moon in my life time? Cancelling constellation pee'd me off:mad:

lord lucan

Plug wrote: »

OK lets cut to the chase, Im young enough. Will I see people on Mars or the moon in my life time? Cancelling constellation pee'd me off:mad:

Hard to know tbh. I'm 36 and reckon i won't see man on Mars in my lifetime. With politicians concerned about they're positions and the backlash they feel they'll get for sanctioning funds that would enable a manned Mars mission i can't see it happening for a very long time. The public would see it as money wasted on a vanity project whilst many lose their jobs/homes etc.

the_syco

If they find fuel that we can use on Mars, I can see the time it takes to get there vastly reduced. It's not a case of when, it's a case of what do we get out of it, that will get people to go.

djhaxman

I'll go. Can't be much worse than living in Ireland these days anyway.

Sykk

Would any of you actually go? So exciting but very risky, I'm sure the lifestyle would be awful too.


Hmmm

Cú Giobach

If given the chance to go to Mars and return, no matter how risky, yes, without a second thought.
To go knowing would never come back, no.
Knowing would never get the chance to stand outside in the open air and feel the wind again would be too much.
Living a life under a dome or in a cave and only going outside in a spacesuit wouldn't be an option for me.
I'd say although the initial "buzz" would be incredible, once it becomes the norm and the buzz wears off, life could become very dreary.
Imagine moving from the paradise that Earth is, to a dusty rock.

namloc1980

Lack of 2-way communication with Earth would be very difficult. Because of the delay in communications it wouldn't be possible to have a chat with someone on earth ever again....just watch regular video logs. That would be very hard to handle.