Hi Everyone.

A question for you:

Do you think that we will have a base on the Moon & travel to Mars in our lifetimes?

Comments please.

It would take a lot of resources and research to make it in our lifetime.
Not very likely,but we gonna see.

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Scorpions - Wind Of Change

Hi,

There is funding for Mars:

HERE

16.5 billion!!

With that sort of funding it should be happening. When though is anyones guess.

NASA are supposedly having money troubles and are paying Russia for space services!

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Click below to see my werewolf

Depends on how old you are and how much of your lifetime is left :o)

Having said that, I think that Mankind is certainly capable of exponential technological advance to go planet hoping to Mars within 50 years. Within 20 years, if there was a will to do so, we could be colonizing and shuttling to the Moon with a regular bus service. Within 120 years there is no reason why anyone with the money could not book passage to any planet or dwarf planet out as far as Pluto.

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flaming balloons

Lets see, 1903 first engine powered flight that worked, then 1928 and solo across the Atlantic without a fuel stop, then 1939 and jets. Men on the moon in 1969. Sounds like rather rapid progress. But look at the jump to get to Mars. Tens of million miles radially, but the true path with puny rockets would take a large fraction of a year. Sky lab gets food, air and change of crew frequently. No way on a trip to Mars.

Just a suggestion that it would require more of technology than is on the horizon. So did the others. Unless some form of thrust with impulse at least an order of magnitude greater than chemical fuels we would have to invest decades of very expensive flight hardware.

Could it be done? Yes. Should it be done? Doubtful. Continue unmanned probes? Of course.

My fifty cents worth. (That is 2 cents adjusted for inflation.)

duke

Lets see, 1903 first engine powered flight that worked, then 1928 and solo across the Atlantic without a fuel stop, then 1939 and jets. Men on the moon in 1969. Sounds like rather rapid progress. But look at the jump to get to Mars. Tens of million miles radially, but the true path with puny rockets would take a large fraction of a year. Sky lab gets food, air and change of crew frequently. No way on a trip to Mars.

Just a suggestion that it would require more of technology than is on the horizon. So did the others. Unless some form of thrust with impulse at least an order of magnitude greater than chemical fuels we would have to invest decades of very expensive flight hardware.

Could it be done? Yes. Should it be done? Doubtful. Continue unmanned probes? Of course.

My fifty cents worth. (That is 2 cents adjusted for inflation.)

duke

Thanks Duke.

But what about a Moonbase? Any thoughts?

Hi Everyone.

A question for you:

Do you think that we will have a base on the Moon & travel to Mars in our lifetimes?

Comments please.

The only things we loose in an ecconomic cycle are the few grains of wheat that are turned into bread, our labour, or the chemicals we use and burn as fuel.

A loaf of bread costs us 1 or 2 dollars but only a fraction of that cost is truely lost. 90 percent is recovered through tax, jobs, benefits or otherwise.

If we spent 16 billion trying to reach Mars then 15.9 billion will pay for jobs.

If I had the choice between being rich or extending our will out to the planets I would rather send people exploring.

If someone was making a list of people willing to venture out across our solar system I would happily add my name.

If someone asked me if I would prefer going to Mars or feeding the poor in this world I would prefer feeding the hungry.


I doubt in my lifetime we will see a base upon either the moon or on Mars.

I would love it if we could but I think we have a lot to sort out at home here on earth first.

Lets see, 1903 first engine powered flight that worked, then 1928 and solo across the Atlantic without a fuel stop, then 1939 and jets. Men on the moon in 1969. Sounds like rather rapid progress. But look at the jump to get to Mars. Tens of million miles radially, but the true path with puny rockets would take a large fraction of a year. Sky lab gets food, air and change of crew frequently. No way on a trip to Mars.

Just a suggestion that it would require more of technology than is on the horizon. So did the others. Unless some form of thrust with impulse at least an order of magnitude greater than chemical fuels we would have to invest decades of very expensive flight hardware.

Could it be done? Yes. Should it be done? Doubtful. Continue unmanned probes? Of course.

My fifty cents worth. (That is 2 cents adjusted for inflation.)

duke

Thanks Duke.

But what about a Moonbase? Any thoughts?

Moon Base, a viable proposition but it holds quite a few thorns. Everything has to be "shipped/bussed" up from earth (unless we find water hidden in some deep craters (very very unlikely due to low gravity/pressure and evaporation rate/pressure of water) This one holds a "possible" rating but it is more likely to be a VERY-BIG space station in earth orbit being the main contender for development in the next 100 years. After that , who knows, its likely. A space station/complex can be spun up to earth like G levels, the moon cant. Mankind has evolved with 1G and the serious consequences of partial G are not looking good for long term human habitation. (unless the "space colony" is prepared to spend life never walking on any planet again, from what we hear the health impacts of low G is simply a form of slow death).(If you subscribe to the "hidden space city on the dark side of the moon" theory then you will already be convinced that someone has a presence there... I am not, and anyway this particular ufo buff theory will be closed in the next 18 months by the drone)

Mars is a different matter entirely. "IF" water is found it makes a vast difference to the viability of the planet ( better G levels). Water is the key to survival, but this in itself is also a two edged sword, if water is "mixed" with martian soil do we suddenly get an explosion of martian microbes and bacterial activity that has the possibility to kill off any earth based life form (or not??). We may have a neighbour that appears devoid of life but the life may be microscopic?? simply awaiting moisture to "activate". Do you wonder if water has already been taken up there and soil added to see what results??, if so this raises another set of issues with possible arid/cooked/ bacteria less portions of soil being used due to its exposure to the surface sun/radiation/??.

The previous comment made by CRUNCHY about thrust levels is all too true, we need better technology and MUCH MUCH MUCH MORE of if.

After discussions about this matter with some of the others here we think the present geo-political situation ( and this is sad to say a very common occurance) will keep the possible funds tied up in defence spending and other literal dead-end holes. I am only encouraged by the works being done by small groups of private people who have long term plans (dreams) to make space a reality. This may be the only feasible avenue as history demonstrates that the bigger a company or country the slower they are able to move, there is just not the decision power to act within a day or two timeframes, you need small autonomous units to achieve purpose and speed of action, if you then "back it" with the finance of a large dedicated country then you can make progress.

Personally the food and water issue seems to presently be a stumbling block, but it need not be, think hydroponics and also take soil with them in the hab to "grow" food, there is something about growing food in natural soil that enables it to pick up nutrients that just arent present in hydroponics, the element boron being one example, most hydroponic foods have severe lack of it.

My thoughts on who will be needed in the first "colony"
dentist (1), doctor (2), nurse (4), engineer/mechanical (4), agricultural specialist (2), biologist(1), physicist(1), engineer/computer-radio(2),
??(3)

There is also the possibility that the vehicle used to go to mars may be a "large habitation" and the crew happy to take months to get there.

Wasn't there a proposal in the 1950's to send a ship to Mars by usings small atomic bombs as a propellant?

The previous comment made by CRUNCHY about thrust levels is all too true, we need better technology and MUCH MUCH MUCH MORE of if.

I think 'jim little' made that comment. It was not me. (Though I wish I had.)

I am 18 years old, and I am confident that in my lifetime I will see regular trips to Mars and beyond (commercially).... my grandson may be begging me when Im 80 to give him some money so he can go on that Virgin Galactic flight around Mars.

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I am 18 years old, and I am confident that in my lifetime I will see regular trips to Mars and beyond (commercially).... my grandson may be begging me when Im 80 to give him some money so he can go on that Virgin Galactic flight around Mars.

Yes YOU will, but unfortunately at 62 I wont. However I am grateful to have seen the shuttle missions to build the ISS in my lifetime. Even as an avid reader of Dan Dare in the 1950's, that was something I never thought I'd see.

I am 57 so I might see the first maned mission to Mars, but I don't think I will see regular commercial flights there. If we had kept the pace that we had during the Moon missions, we might have had bases on both the Moon and Mars by now. The people on the Moon Would have to use a centrifuge to keep their bones and muscles from deteriorating, and then periodic trips back to Earth. But it could be done.

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What you do today you will have to live with tonight

Wasn't there a proposal in the 1950's to send a ship to Mars by usings small atomic bombs as a propellant?

The previous comment made by CRUNCHY about thrust levels is all too true, we need better technology and MUCH MUCH MUCH MORE of if.

I think 'jim little' made that comment. It was not me. (Though I wish I had.)

You should have been there in 1982 when I got to see Carl Sagan shoot down some crazy audience member's idea of a "space butterfly" and another's idea of nuking some moon of Jupiter or Saturn to warm it up for human habitation.

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Capitalize on this good fortune, one word can bring you round ... changes.

Wasn't there a proposal in the 1950's to send a ship to Mars by usings small atomic bombs as a propellant?

Project Orion is described by physicist Freeman J.Dyson in his book "Disturbing the universe". The project was killed by the agreement between USA and URSS to stop all nuclear tests in the atmosphere.
Tullio

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I think we'll see a moon base within the next 20 years...China is now challenging the US with their space program...The US will respond with more funding for things like a moon base to retain leadership in this vital arena...The Chinese space program is the best news NASA could get...It means that the space race is on again.

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PROUD TO BE TFFE!

I think we'll see a moon base within the next 20 years...China is now challenging the US with their space program...The US will respond with more funding for things like a moon base to retain leadership in this vital arena...The Chinese space program is the best news NASA could get...It means that the space race is on again.

That'll probably be the kick in the pants for the US.

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Capitalize on this good fortune, one word can bring you round ... changes.

Wasn't there a proposal in the 1950's to send a ship to Mars by usings small atomic bombs as a propellant?

The previous comment made by CRUNCHY about thrust levels is all too true, we need better technology and MUCH MUCH MUCH MORE of if.

I think 'jim little' made that comment. It was not me. (Though I wish I had.)

You should have been there in 1982 when I got to see Carl Sagan shoot down some crazy audience member's idea of a "space butterfly" and another's idea of nuking some moon of Jupiter or Saturn to warm it up for human habitation.

If you look at some of the science newsletters from the Planetary Society, They have been trying a craft with Solar wind sails, this would take a while to get up to speed, but the velocity Would be greater than anything other than the ion drive they (NASA) are testing at this time.

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What you do today you will have to live with tonight

I think we'll see a moon base within the next 20 years...China is now challenging the US with their space program...The US will respond with more funding for things like a moon base to retain leadership in this vital arena...The Chinese space program is the best news NASA could get...It means that the space race is on again.

That'll probably be the kick in the pants for the US.

Well it took the Sputnik to force the US to concentrate on Space.

I'll never forget JFK's speech on "Landing on the moon in this decade" (I hope I got the words right)

Maybe the Chinese will force the issue for them.

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In my opinion, we will not see a permanently inhabited Moonbase within my lifetime (I'm 36) - let alone a Mars base.

Why?

Because in the absence of overriding political necessity, technological advances ONLY happen when some huckster can make a quick buck out of them.

This is why we see great technological leaps happening in times of War (or Cold War).

Of course, if we start to see global conflagration because the planet starts to undeniably run out of oil (or water), then I could see the wealthier Govts (e.g. China) funding Space projects to demonstrate their Power and Might.

Or if someone at SETI proves the existence of ETI, then we MIGHT see Space exploration become more of a priority to our species than Profit.

I know which trigger scenario I find more palatable....

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Veni, Vidi, Bibi.

In my opinion, we will not see a permanently inhabited Moonbase within my lifetime (I'm 36) - let alone a Mars base.

Why?

Because in the absence of overriding political necessity, technological advances ONLY happen when some huckster can make a quick buck out of them.

This is why we see great technological leaps happening in times of War (or Cold War).

Of course, if we start to see global conflagration because the planet starts to undeniably run out of oil (or water), then I could see the wealthier Govts (e.g. China) funding Space projects to demonstrate their Power and Might.

Or if someone at SETI proves the existence of ETI, then we MIGHT see Space exploration become more of a priority to our species than Profit.

I know which trigger scenario I find more palatable....

I agree.

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What you do today you will have to live with tonight

I agree.

...Totally.

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