Irish man shortlisted for Mars mission. (one way ticket only)

Maximus Alexander · 09-01-2014 04:27PM

Plazaman wrote: »

Why can't the crew come back? It's a 210 day flight not like light years away. Go off to Mars, have a laugh for 5 years, come back, write a book and spend the rest of your life sitting rocking in restaurants drooling and mumbling "Mars was never this busy, it wasn't like this in Mars".

It's got nothing to do with the time it takes to make the trip (well it is, in a roundabout way), it's to do with how much fuel you can carry due to the rocket equation.

You need fuel to launch mass. The more mass, the more fuel you need. Fuel has mass, so the more fuel you bring, the more fuel you need to launch that fuel. It's impractical if not borderline impossible to send a manned return mission to the surface of Mars with current or near future technology.

Sending people means sending all of the very heavy gear they need to survive the 18 month round trip. This means lots of fuel just to get there, but far more if you need to get back too. Add to that the fact that Mars has is a reasonably large gravity well, so landing means bringing even more fuel to launch again.

ttoppcat · 09-01-2014 05:00PM

I'm all for space exploration but I always get depressed at the thought of space colonisation. We've done more than enough fecking damage to this planet I'd hate to see us get loose on another! The Emotional Fish line always comes to mind "a bit like what heaven must have looked like before man fingered the moon"

Maximus Alexander · 09-01-2014 05:03PM

ttoppcat wrote: »

I'm all for space exploration but I always get depressed at the thought of space colonisation. We've done more than enough fecking damage to this planet I'd hate to see us get loose on another! The Emotional Fish line always comes to mind "a bit like what heaven must have looked like before man fingered the moon"

I can understand your concerns about Earth but the Mars is only a rock falling around the sun. Why would you care what we might do to it? I don't get that at all.

Personally I'll get excited about space colonization when they figure out how to extend human lifespans considerably. There's no point being excited about something that won't happen until I'm long dead otherwise.

jimgoose · 09-01-2014 05:05PM

ttoppcat wrote: »

I'm all for space exploration but I always get depressed at the thought of space colonisation. We've done more than enough fecking damage to this planet I'd hate to see us get loose on another! The Emotional Fish line always comes to mind "a bit like what heaven must have looked like before man fingered the moon"

Jerry Fish is a wanker. You can't see any trace of the moon missions without a pretty beefy telescope.

Wurzelbert · 09-01-2014 05:07PM

ttoppcat wrote: »

I'm all for space exploration but I always get depressed at the thought of space colonisation. We've done more than enough fecking damage to this planet I'd hate to see us get loose on another! The Emotional Fish line always comes to mind "a bit like what heaven must have looked like before man fingered the moon"

come on, the earth will be all grand again in a few hundred million years if left alone after humans are gone...to a planet homo sapiens is really just like a wee rash that passes quickly...

ttoppcat · 09-01-2014 05:10PM

Maximus Alexander wrote: »

I can understand your concerns about Earth but the Mars is only a rock falling around the sun. Why would you care what we might do to it? I don't get that at all.

Personally I'll get excited about space colonization when they figure out how to extend human lifespans considerably. There's no point being excited about something that won't happen until I'm long dead otherwise.

To be honest I don't really care about Mars too much...its more the chat about moon colonisation and the selling of plots that gets on my goat...far fetched and all as it is, I hate the thought of people "owning" the moon (its my hippy side I think:o)
I do however think we've made and are continuing to make an absolute mess of the earth and would rather see us investing in trying to repair some of the damage rather than galllivanting round the universe like a plague of locusts!

Truth wins · 09-01-2014 05:10PM

I will setup an Indian take away:D:D:D:D

ttoppcat · 09-01-2014 05:14PM

jimgoose wrote: »

Jerry Fish is a wanker. You can't see any trace of the moon missions without a pretty beefy telescope.

In my younger days I thought he was the bees knees...now I just admire his moustache:pac:

Muise... · 09-01-2014 05:32PM

Wurzelbert wrote: »

come on, the earth will be all grand again in a few hundred million years if left alone after humans are gone...to a planet homo sapiens is really just like a wee rash that passes quickly...

not exactly 'grand' - just utterly different, and then gone forever - in one or more of a variety of endings.

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20140105-timeline-of-the-far-future

the_monkey · 09-01-2014 05:34PM

I think Starbucks will open there soon ...

But sure didn't they already find a dishwasher on Mars ?

Chazz Michael Michaels · 09-01-2014 05:45PM

jhegarty wrote: »

It's not going to happen.

This. I recommend people read the wiki article on this. It is almost certain to not 'lift off'.

Sorry for the pun...

Truth wins · 09-01-2014 05:50PM

I wouldnt mind running dominos or four star pizza

Adamantium · 09-01-2014 05:58PM

You know what is a fascinating notion that one day children will be born on Mars and they will see themselves not as Earthlings but Martians. That will be their identity, in a sort "but of course" way.

They'll grow taller and look different because of gravity simply because they know nothing else. They'll look at Earth as alien to them; as Mars is to us.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS0laJvgVxo

murphym7 · 09-01-2014 05:58PM

EdwardCastle wrote: »

Ehhhh....training perhaps.

10 years of training to sit on their hole and be bored for the rest of their lives?

Sweet, I am trained already. Maybe I should go.

michael.dublin · 09-01-2014 06:06PM

I Heart Internet wrote: »

Elaborate reality tv show - ultimately going nowhere.

true. yet to see any reality TV show go anywhere

ZiabR · 09-01-2014 06:22PM

You would be dead in a few years with radiation poisoning due to the lack of an atmosphere so no thanks.

L.Jenkins · 09-01-2014 06:33PM

I'd go. Wouldn't miss all the stupid people on this planet.

Chazz Michael Michaels · 09-01-2014 06:35PM

Assuming this actually went ahead, the isolation and confinement would drive them all mad. Furthermore, should their ability to grow food be threatened in any way, there is only one food source left. Can anyone guess what it is?

MilanPan!c · 09-01-2014 06:36PM

Before I had a wife and kids I probably would have said yes. Now I answer no.

stoneill · 09-01-2014 06:40PM

The exploration of another world is a fantastic opportunity - but a one way ticket is a silly idea.

Knasher · 09-01-2014 06:49PM

MonaPizza wrote: »

It is never going to happen.

For starters how long does it take to get to Mars? A year maybe?

It usually takes about 130 days for robots at the moment. However because we don't particularly care about bored robots, we send them in the most fuel efficient way possible, for people we would probably put more of a priority on getting them there a bit quicker, there are experimental engines like the VASIMR engine which apparently could do it in 39 days.

Its the same with trips to the moon by the way, the Apollo missions had a transit time of about 2-3 days, where as the recent Chinese rover took 14 days to reach it.

MonaPizza wrote: »

Do they plan on recycling piss back into drinking water? Is that even possible?

That is what they are drinking up on the ISS at the moment.

MilanPan!c · 09-01-2014 06:51PM

stoneill wrote: »

The exploration of another world is a fantastic opportunity - but a one way ticket is a silly idea.

It's not actually. It's sad in a way, but explorers often knew it was a one way trip. Besides, you might die, but if you make it to Mars your name and story will live for as long as humans exist.

Chazz Michael Michaels · 09-01-2014 06:55PM

MilanPan!c wrote: »

It's not actually. It's sad in a way, but explorers often knew it was a one way trip. Besides, you might die, but if you make it to Mars your name and story will live for as long as humans exist.

Especially if you are last man standing after the inevitable murder and cannibalism.

MonaPizza · 09-01-2014 06:55PM

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

You would want to be crazy to go up there with no way to return

Yeah I know, it would be a great experience to see mars, but to spend the rest of your days there? Only talking to 3 other people, missing out on the little things in life? ... Actually missing out on pretty much everything in life!

Agreed.

It would make more sense to extend the offer to those serving life without the possibility of parole. At least these guys are already mentally prepared.

The whole enterprise (no pun intended) doesn't bear thinking about. I think it's horrific.

How would you train someone to psychologically deal with this situation?

Most animals in the zoo who are removed from their natural habitat are mentally fcuked as are inmates facing perpetual detention.

Chazz Michael Michaels · 09-01-2014 06:56PM

MonaPizza wrote: »

Agreed.

It would make more sense to extend the offer to those serving life without the possibility of parole. At least these guys are already mentally prepared.

The whole enterprise (no pun intended) doesn't bear thinking about. I think it's horrific.

How would you train someone to psychologically deal with this situation?

I know. Its such a horrible concept that only naive imbeciles could believe in.

Wurzelbert · 09-01-2014 07:07PM

Chazz Michael Michaels wrote: »

I know. Its such a horrible concept that only naive imbeciles could believe in.

so it’s just perfect for today's western world…

Wurzelbert · 09-01-2014 07:09PM

Muise... wrote: »

not exactly 'grand' - just utterly different, and then gone forever - in one or more of a variety of endings.

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20140105-timeline-of-the-far-future

yes i know…what i meant is pollution by humans and homo sapiens in general will no longer be an issue for the planet… interesting graph, lots of speculation involved - especially regarding the fate of humanity - apart from some scientific facts like a certain end to earth and sun and some comets and all that…

09-01-2014 07:14PM

Well it is only supposed to be 4 people for the start, if it was successful they could send more.

Plus they will also have a serious amount of scientific work to do once they get there, so if they were serious I'd say it would only be limited to field scientists and engineers I'd guess

09-01-2014 07:16PM

Chazz Michael Michaels wrote: »

I know. Its such a horrible concept that only naive imbeciles could believe in.

He does have a phd in astrophysics you know, naive possibly, but he's no imbecile

Chazz Michael Michaels · 09-01-2014 07:30PM

riffmongous wrote: »

He does have a phd in astrophysics you know, naive possibly, but he's no imbecile

I mean lack of common sense. Seriously, this expedition is almost guaranteed to break your mind. The monotony of the martian landscape, being confined to quarters, same people all the time, isolation from Earth/nature, the reality of all of this will truly set in once enough time is spent there and finally realizing that there really is no way out. Depression and suicides are a very real possibility. This doesn't even factor in having to live in a 20 person society, and the problems that brings. And food security is such a huge risk. If it fails, they will face eating each other and/or starving to death.

I would strongly advise this guy not to go. It could go very badly, quite unlike the dream of skipping around the Martian surface, smiling, playing astronaut. It's like Christopher McCandless all over again.

Irish man shortlisted for Mars mission. (one way ticket only)

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