Every time I hear about people wanting to have a manned trip to Mars, I have to roll my eyes. It seems that we are just nowhere near what is needed to actually perform one, namely a long term space habitat probably needing spin gravity, minimal leakage, and propulsion, especially assuming that such things would need to be tested and the actual Mars shot would be far down the mission scale (comparable how Apollo 11 was the one that made it to the surface of the moon). Talk of a one way trip sound even sillier to me as I figure once we have the ability to actually confidently get to Mars, getting back would be fairly trivial. My question is that if we, the USA or the world, how far do you think we are away from being able to send a manned mission to Mars in terms of time, money, and technology? Second, would that manned mission be cheaper than doing the same work with robotic missions?
My question is that if we, the USA or the world, had the political will to do so, how far do you think we are away from being able to send a manned mission to Mars in terms of time, money, and technology? Second, would that manned mission be cheaper than doing the same work with robotic missions?
To expand on this for general conversation. Looking at orbital physics, it seems that a Mars mission will take about two years. 7-9 months to get to Mars, a stay of several months then another 7-9 months back at the optimal times in the Earth-Mars orbits. Leaving at other times or attempting quicker transit speeds greatly increases the distances or fuel needed as to be prohibitive. Therefore, we'll need a long term space habitat for the astronauts. How many we'll need is a questions but I would guess that t
Check out Dr. Robert Zubrin's Mars Direct reference mission for a low cost, sustainable manned Mars program that doesn't require any technological breakthroughs.
The moon is a planet just like the Earth, only it is even deader.
Manned Trip to Mars (Score:4, Interesting)
Edit: Manned Trip to Mars (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
To expand on this for general conversation. Looking at orbital physics, it seems that a Mars mission will take about two years. 7-9 months to get to Mars, a stay of several months then another 7-9 months back at the optimal times in the Earth-Mars orbits. Leaving at other times or attempting quicker transit speeds greatly increases the distances or fuel needed as to be prohibitive. Therefore, we'll need a long term space habitat for the astronauts. How many we'll need is a questions but I would guess that t
Re: Manned Trip to Mars (Score:1)
Check out Dr. Robert Zubrin's Mars Direct reference mission for a low cost, sustainable manned Mars program that doesn't require any technological breakthroughs.