29 replies to this topic

[TRC]

The new Mars rover is almost there, should be landing in August. Maybe we'll find out.

http://mars.jpl.nasa...ews&NewsID=1141

[DocM]

The other day Musk tweeted that within 5 years they will be flying civilians to orbit, and by 2022 they will be taking them beyond Earth orbit. How far beyond Earth orbit he didn't say, but the Red Dragon proposal to land a robotic Dragon on Mars has advanced another level with a 2018 launch target.

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

DocM, on 06 May 2012 - 20:29, said:

The other day Musk tweeted that within 5 years they will be flying civilians to orbit, and by 2022 they will be taking them beyond Earth orbit. How far beyond Earth orbit he didn't say, but the Red Dragon proposal to land a robotic Dragon on Mars has advanced another level with a 2018 launch target.

Hopefully, it will remain within the earth's magnetosphere....unless it has radiation protection of some sort....either way, it's awesome!

[DocM]

Radiation protection and exposure treatments have advanced significantly the last few years, including the development** of a 2 drug mixture that looks like it can treat many cases of radiation sickness. Interesting times in radiobiology.

** by the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Children’s Hospital Boston. A mix of a Cipro-like antibiotic and rBPI21, an engineered version of the human bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI).

[neoadorable]

simon, we've had the tech to get people to Mars since the 50's...so you are absolutely right in saying that it's the fact that we've entrusted space programs to goverments which has screwed us over. but as TRC pointed out, Curio is almost there and we will begin getting much closer looks at Mars over the next year or so, though i don't think she's supposed to visit any really deep or low-lying areas.

Thanks for posting that Doc, i really hope Elon can do this, if Red Dragon proves a success then there's really no reason why we can't have people working on Mars by 2022.

[arachnoid]

We are more likely to get life like human droids on to far distant planet given speedy innovations in this field.They would take the form of near live interactive feedback from an android body coupled with highly sophisticated sensors.Thus a two way trip would no longer be a neccesity, the overall payload could be reduced i.e.no food,reduced fuel requirements,less sophisticated planning requirements etc.
Just think of a "Data" [Star Trek] like mass produced robot that you could drop off at several planets during one launch and collect data remotely from an orbiting satalite.

[BillyJack]

With governments struggling I doubt there is room to spend money on space and if we do then we are stupid. We need to pay off our debts then spend. By the way I am all for research and space exploration.

If you think about it the government spending on space is not to make money. But if a private company decides to explore space it would be for money. Which means they have the better chance of funding.

[Hum]

neoadorable, on 07 May 2012 - 14:03, said:

... if Red Dragon proves a success then there's really no reason why we can't have people working on Mars by 2022.

2 reasons:

Money and will.

[DocM]

Musk has money, the means (SpaceX), and he is a driven man when it comes to getting to Mars.

He has already announced that late in 2012 or in 2013 a new family of rockets is going to be announced, and you can bet the top model will make Falcon Heavy and NASA's Space Launch System look tame.

In the past he's said he wants to be able to land about 50 metic tons on Mars per launch, which indicates an ability to loft about 200 metric tons (+/- depending on the transfer engine type - less for electric drive). A monster.

[SirEvan]

hooko22, on 30 April 2012 - 11:12, said:

Yea we have a large interstellar fleet ready to engage the nazis that are hiding on the moon! hehehe

Silly human, everyone knows they're at the center of the Earth
http://www.imdb.com/...35232/tt2130142

[arachnoid]

DocM, on 08 May 2012 - 14:26, said:

In the past he's said he wants to be able to land about 50 metic tons on Mars per launch, which indicates an ability to loft about 200 metric tons (+/- depending on the transfer engine type - less for electric drive). A monster.

In theory they could multi stage the rocket to the Earth orbiting station and build an intertellar unit in sections up there.Thus negating the need for one large launch from Earth land based stations.

[DocM]

Fuel depots and on-orbit assembly are hot topics right now, but to do them you need to get lots of stuff up there at the lowest possible cost / pound. That requires an affordable super-heavy launcher. NASA's upcoming SLS is a super-heavy, but far from affordable. SpaceX has the edge right now on how to do both.

[hooko22]

SirEvan, on 08 May 2012 - 15:24, said:

Silly human, everyone knows they're at the center of the Earth
http://www.imdb.com/...35232/tt2130142

natcofe.png

Ahahah brilliant!

[neoadorable]

arachnoid is quite correct in many ways. read this book, best Mars exploration book i've ever read, and i think i read most of them:

http://www.amazon.co...37962819&sr=8-1

the key points of this book are that corporate power is more likely to get space done right, and that advanced AI will do most of the work...

[Hum]

^ I think we should just send you up, with a pick & shovel.