Would You Take a One-Way Trip to Mars?

[JaredJames]

Why not just take a smaller number of people and use cloning for reproduction?

Not sure how far along we are with cloning and whether it is currently possible. I'm also not sure whether or not clones have genetic defects.

That aside, how big would the on board cloning facility have to be? What would you need in place to complete the procedure?

Instead of having 200 people capable of running the ship, reproducing and having children, you end up with the requirement to carry geneticists capable of the procedure and you'd need a whole section devoted to it.

I'm not sure what you'd save.

Regardless, I'd say genetic diversity is a good thing.

 

[Tanelorn]

Well Brainstorm I am actually living in the USA now and consider myself a citizen of the Global village - literally. I am a Welsh UK European Turkish Canadian citizen with a USA green card.. Nationalism sucks almost as bad as religion when it comes to bloodshed.

 

[brainstorm]

Well Brainstorm I am actually living in the USA now and consider myself a citizen of the Global village - literally. I am a Welsh UK European Turkish Canadian citizen with a USA green card.. Nationalism sucks almost as bad as religion when it comes to bloodshed.

Was this a response to another thread but you somehow posted it on this one? This thread is about Mars.

 

[Tanelorn]

Brainstorm you said:

Hearing people who distance themselves from USA identity seek inspiration from the USA irritates me the way it irritated me when the pope was dying and some journalist went on about how special it was when a person so close to God was on the verge of meeting him. If you think it's so great the the USA takes initiative and inspires the world, why don't you rally for the UK to do so? I hate to generalize, but it seems to be a European habit to view one's own nation as small and weak and yet still claim it with full solidarity. When are people going to start either having faith in their nation's power or abandoning it for a more powerful one?


So I replied saying I am not really big on Nationalism.. ie I am just glad when ever someone achieves something worthwhile which ever nation is responsible.
Actually I am not sure what your original message was about anyhow.

 

[brainstorm]

So I replied saying I am not really big on Nationalism.. ie I am just glad when ever someone achieves something worthwhile which ever nation is responsible.
Actually I am not sure what your original message was about anyhow.

Oh, I see. It was about the idea that the world looks to the US for leadership in innovation or some nationalistic BS like that. It's funny to me that you say you're not big on nationalism but in the next sentence you say "whichever nation is responsible," as if nations are the responsible entities for individual achievements. Either way, it would be a diversion from the thread topic to continue discussing this issue here so if you really want to get into a discussion about nationalism, you should start a new thread, imo.

 

[cesiumfrog]

Look at this measly forum, with a few score votes and despotically moderated discussion.

http://slashdot.org/pollBooth.pl?qid=2080&aid=-1

 

[Tanelorn]

Brainstorm said, "Oh, I see. It was about the idea that the world looks to the US for leadership in innovation or some nationalistic BS like that. It's funny to me that you say you're not big on nationalism but in the next sentence you say "whichever nation is responsible," as if nations are the responsible entities for individual achievements. Either way, it would be a diversion from the thread topic to continue discussing this issue here so if you really want to get into a discussion about nationalism, you should start a new thread, imo."I didn't suggest that the rest of the world looks to the US, nor do I wish to start a nationalist thread. I only meant that I personally have a lot of respect for the people that put men on the moon. I don't know where you are getting the rest from. ta ta..

 

[brainstorm]

I didn't suggest that the rest of the world looks to the US, nor do I wish to start a nationalist thread. I only meant that I personally have a lot of respect for the people that put men on the moon. I don't know where you are getting the rest from. ta ta..

Someone said that early on in the thread, as I recall, and that was the only reason I mentioned nationalism. Space exploration has be appropriated as a vehicle for promoting nationalist competition, from the so-called "space race," (although this was more of a competition between capitalist and communist economic paradigms) to recent renewed interest in the moon by multiple national governments. I think google was also named as a player, but as I recall that was the only non-governmental corporation. Ideally, space exploration would be pursued by global corporations with no dominant ethno/national identity, but the nationalists of the human race tend to re-code everything into some variant of national identity, whether it be "international," "multinational," "transnational," or just labeling everything that's not ethnically homogeneous "American." Maybe the final frontier in space exploration will be the deconstruction of nationalism in space and ultimately the universe generally. Of course, then people will probably start claiming that each nation has its own universe in "the multiverse" . . .

 

[dkotschessaa]

I think I can speak for my wife and I and say we'll definitely go, when we're about 85 or so... :)

-DaveKA

 

[Radrook]

Two fully equipped

Two physicians.
Two engineers able to fix equipment malfunctions.
Two geologists.

Food and oxygen and other supplies sent beforehand for two year survival and emergency situations.

To be honest, apart from satisfying curiosity, I really fail to see the urgency needed to go so far just to get to a hostile place like that. If the sun were threatening to expand soon, then OK. That definitely would be a motivator. The asteroid belt is far more enticing with it's mineral wealth. Without material motivators mankind tends to languish.


.

 

[JaredJames]

The asteroid belt is far more enticing with it's mineral wealth. Nearer as well.

The asteroid belt is nearer to us than Mars? Are you sure?

 

[brainstorm]

To be honest, apart from satisfying curiosity, I really fail to see the urgency needed to go so far just to get to a hostile place like that. If the sun were threatening to expand soon, then OK. That definitely would be a motivator. The asteroid belt is far more enticing with it's mineral wealth. Without material motivators mankind tends to languish.

Post-Marxian labor-alienated mankind, maybe. The point of Mars-settlement would be to execute the possibility from starting with as little imported resources as possible and cultivating a sustainable colony. It would be quite impressive if people could come up with a plan that uses minimum launch-payload from Earth to establish (semi)permanent viability on Mars. This could involve a basic plan for harnessing energy, establishing a foundry, fabricating and assembling an airtight structure, being able to grow enough biomass to provide sustenance to a crew, and ensuring that air and water resources remained sufficiently abundant and clean. Of course the colonists would need a bail-out plan to escape to Earth when/if problems would occur. It might take numerous tries to achieve a reliable system but once established, the system could be used as a platform for further attempts on other planets/moons. Energy is the big issue, imo, because sunlight fades as you get further away and Venus seems to be too hot to colonize.

 

[vanesch]

*I* for sure would never go. That said, I have some suggestions of people I would definitely suggest to be put on the trip

 

[Radrook]

1. Radiation danger during trip and on arrival
2. Thin atmosphere
3. Sandstorms
4. Low temperatures
5. No surface liquid water
6. Extremely long trip in crowded quarters.
7. Increased meteor strike risk.


Not an enticing experience!

 

[Phrak]

MEN WANTED: FOR HAZARDOUS JOURNEY. SMALL WAGES, BITTER COLD, LONG MONTHS OF COMPLETE DARKNESS, CONSTANT DANGER, SAFE RETURN DOUBTFUL. HONOUR AND RECOGNITION IN CASE OF SUCCESS."

- SIR ERNEST SHACKLETON

Shackleton got his men.

 

[hamster143]

MEN WANTED: FOR HAZARDOUS JOURNEY. SMALL WAGES, BITTER COLD, LONG MONTHS OF COMPLETE DARKNESS, CONSTANT DANGER, SAFE RETURN DOUBTFUL. HONOUR AND RECOGNITION IN CASE OF SUCCESS."

- SIR ERNEST SHACKLETON

Shackleton got his men.

Yep ... if Mars travel weren't so expensive that only big governments could afford it, we'd have a colony there already. One of the fifty billionaires would part with a quarter of his wealth to jump-start the project ... Finding volunteers is not a problem. Finding the willpower to make it happen is hard.

 

[hamster143]

You'll get high doses of radiation, unless the Sun stays incredibly quiet during the whole trip. Once outside of the Earth's magnetic field, Solar tantrums get really serious.

Have you heard of MARIE? The highest levels they saw in 6 months of operation were on the order of 2 rad/day, briefly for a day or two when the detector was hit by a solar proton event. And steady background levels were 20-30 mrad/day. You don't start seeing effects of radiation poisoning until 50 rad or so of whole-body exposure over a short period of time.

 

[Radrook]

The asteroid belt is nearer to us than Mars? Are you sure?

I caught the mistake almost right away and corrected it. Thanx for keeping me on my toes.
How far in the future do you see any attempt at exploiting the asteroid belt of its riches?

 

[Radrook]

Someone said that early on in the thread, as I recall, and that was the only reason I mentioned nationalism. Space exploration has be appropriated as a vehicle for promoting nationalist competition, from the so-called "space race," (although this was more of a competition between capitalist and communist economic paradigms) to recent renewed interest in the moon by multiple national governments. I think google was also named as a player, but as I recall that was the only non-governmental corporation. Ideally, space exploration would be pursued by global corporations with no dominant ethno/national identity, but the nationalists of the human race tend to re-code everything into some variant of national identity, whether it be "international," "multinational," "transnational," or just labeling everything that's not ethnically homogeneous "American." Maybe the final frontier in space exploration will be the deconstruction of nationalism in space and ultimately the universe generally. Of course, then people will probably start claiming that each nation has its own universe in "the multiverse" . . .

Just recently on the discovery channel they were hypothesizing about how to take out moon colonies without using explosives. Kinetic energy was the suggested method. Huge rods plummeting down at enormous speed would do the trick they said. Of course this had been suggested before as a means of hitting targets on earth. But hey! who says that space is sacred when it comes to good ole moronic nationalistic bickering?

 

[brainstorm]

Just recently on the discovery channel they were hypothesizing about how to take out moon colonies without using explosives. Kinetic energy was the suggested method. Huge rods plummeting down at enormous speed would do the trick they said. Of course this had been suggested before as a means of hitting targets on earth. But hey! who says that space is sacred when it comes to good ole moronic nationalistic bickering?

Maybe UN weapons inspectors will be among the regular visitors to space colonies.

 

[Sniperman724]

For me I think it might actually depend on the time period that this ticket is offered, :) if there's already a colony there, then sure :) but if there isn't, i wouldn't want to go

 

[harp AP 2010]

I wouldn't go, I would want to go back home at some time. But I would go if it were a round trip :0

 

[Eagle9]

Would you take a one-way trip to Mars?

I would but who will fund such flight? I wonder, would be there at least one wealthy person who will spend money for such journey? Also, what do you think homework much it would cost to build one-seat spacecraft for Martian spaceflight? When doing this we could use old technologies from "Mercury-Gemini-Apolo" and/or "Soyuz" flights, no new technologies would be needed We should just think about protection from radiation

 

[Tanelorn]

Radrook, what is the point of existence?
Sit down in a field humming Om to oneself?
Or watching another bunch of executives rip the rest of us off?
Or letting some deranged politicians start another pointless war over sand?
I would rather not even have been born than to waste our existence on all that.


What better goal to unite the world in a challenge to establish a foothold on another.

 

[brainstorm]

I would but who will fund such flight? I wonder, would be there at least one wealthy person who will spend money for such journey? Also, what do you think homework much it would cost to build one-seat spacecraft for Martian spaceflight? When doing this we could use old technologies from "Mercury-Gemini-Apolo" and/or "Soyuz" flights, no new technologies would be needed We should just think about protection from radiation

Why does it have to require wealth persons to spend money? Couldn't governments simply declare access to the needed materials and resources if they thought they could get away with it?

 

[Eagle9]

Why does it have to require wealth persons to spend money? Couldn't governments simply declare access to the needed materials and resources if they thought they could get away with it?

The government of course can declare access to needed materials and technologies but for assembling the spacecraft and for launching it in space the money would be needed and I do not think that any government (American or other) would allocate money for this purpose

 

[WhoWee]

MEN WANTED: FOR HAZARDOUS JOURNEY. SMALL WAGES, BITTER COLD, LONG MONTHS OF COMPLETE DARKNESS, CONSTANT DANGER, SAFE RETURN DOUBTFUL. HONOUR AND RECOGNITION IN CASE OF SUCCESS."

- SIR ERNEST SHACKLETON

Shackleton got his men.

Does this mean there will be single women on board (some may reason).

 

[JaredJames]

Does this mean there will be single women on board (some may reason).

With my luck there'd be only the one, and she'd be a lesbian.

 

[Tanelorn]

I was lucky enough to talk to an astronaut at Cape Canaveral yesterday. She said that she had no idea what comes after Shuttle. Also that a one way trip to Mars would be suicide at the moment, the technology needs to be developed. I said I would love to make a one way trip to Mars at this time in my life, providing I would get to live several years on Mars..

 

[gb7nash]

The only way I'd take a one-way trip to Mars is if it were colonized (e.g. Total Recall). I wouldn't go there now though, there's nothing to do and I'd run out of life support!