BBC News: Manned Mars Misson for 2018

[d3mm]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21603490

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21608742

A team led by millionaire and former space tourist Dennis Tito plans to send a "tested couple" to Mars and back in a privately funded mission. The Inspiration Mars Foundation plans to start its one-and-a-half-year mission in January 2018.

 

[mfb]

The group still has to raise funding for their mission.

This is a nice way to say "it will not happen".
Unless some miracle occurs.

 

[phinds]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21603490

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21608742

If you really believe this is going to happen, I've got some terrific real estate in Florida that you might be interested in.

 

[Drakkith]

If you really believe this is going to happen, I've got some terrific real estate in Florida that you might be interested in.

Ocean front property in Arizona for sale...

 

[AlephZero]

The group still has to raise funding for their mission.

Don't forget that in 1972 Tito founded Wilshire Associates, whcih now provides investment management services to funds totalling of the order of $1 trillion.

$1bn a year funding is only a 0.1% management fee away

 

[phinds]

Ocean front property in Arizona for sale...

Hey, buzz off ... this is my sucker, uh, oops ... "customer"

 

[d3mm]

I find the article interesting for its science content and visionary nature.

I can't tell if it will be funded or not. 1 or 2 billion isn't that much anymore. I really think it comes down the technical feasibility of his plan.

 

[FreeMitya]

Five years? Ummm. . . .

 

[zoobyshoe]

1 or 2 billion isn't that much anymore.

Which is why anyone with an extra 1 or 2 billion should send it to me. It's not that much.

 

[DiracPool]

I think the 1000 lb gorilla in the room we all want to avoid talking about here is that any trip to Mars by any country, private firm, or international effort is likely going to be a suicide mission. Maybe not so much a flyby but a 3 year deal with a landing is going to be tough. This isn't really at all comparable to going to the moon considering the logistical issues and the number of things that have to go perfectly right over a long period of time. I don't think that's going to change by 2018, 2028, or even 2038. So might as well do it in 2018 while we still have a somewhat naive sense of the danger and a pioneering spirit. That's how our species has always done it in the past.

I just think you get a relatively older couple to go who have lived a full life and are fully aware of what the situation is. Not a bad way to go out if you think about it, and I think you'd have plenty of volunteers. And who knows, they just might make it back.

 

[Ryan_m_b]

I can't tell if it will be funded or not. 1 or 2 billion isn't that much anymore. I really think it comes down the technical feasibility of his plan.

The current budget of NASA is over $18 billion annually. If the technology to get to Mars in 5 years was developed to the point of readiness for 1 or 2 billion I'm pretty sure they would have proposed doing it

It seems to becoming more and more common for private companies and independent groups to make outlandish claims about possible imminent manned space missions.

 

[jtbell]

If you really believe this is going to happen, I've got some terrific real estate in Florida that you might be interested in.

Ocean front property in Arizona for sale...

How about a nice, slightly used bridge over the East River in New York City?

 

[Mentalist]

Doubt it. If you are awaiting donations now, there is no possible way to do this mission. The amount of time and planning would take years to accomplish. This is a pipe-dream.

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

Yet another private manned Mars mission? Ho hum.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5Ie7i6vRUM