Mars: Should we or shouldn't we?

[KingVoyeur]

Cashing in on Mars

To land humans on the Red Planet, NASA will need new equipment, fresh thinking, and advanced technology. These companies are preparing for mankind's next giant leap.
By Michael Behar, Business 2.0 Magazine
March 9, 2006: 10:13 AM EST

(Business 2.0 Magazine) - Attention, people of Earth: We are going to Mars. This is no sci-fi fantasy; for the past two years, NASA has been gearing up to meet the Bush administration's goal of landing humans on Mars by around 2030. The agency plans to set up a base on the Moon by 2020 to act as a staging area; that effort alone is projected to cost at least $104 billion. Throw in the round-trip voyage to Mars, and John Edwards, space systems analyst at Forecast International, estimates that the total cost of the program will top $400 billion--making it history's largest government-backed science project.

Full Story at CNNMoney.com (http://money.cnn.com/2006/03/09/magazines/business2/cashinginmars/index.htm?cnn=yes)

I know I'm just dreaming, but I wish countries would just forego the money thing and work together to get us to that damn planet. Instead, I fear that things are gonna turn out like they do in Total Recall or Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars Trilogy (Red Mars, Green Mars, Blue Mars) with corporations fighting over pieces of Mars instead of humanity going there as one. I'd rather we work out our problems here than just continuing our problems on another planet. Mars should be a place to start with a clean slate.

[Bokchoi Cowboy]

Full Story at CNNMoney.com (http://money.cnn.com/2006/03/09/magazines/business2/cashinginmars/index.htm?cnn=yes)

I know I'm just dreaming, but I wish countries would just forego the money thing and work together to get us to that damn planet. Instead, I fear that things are gonna turn out like they do in Total Recall or Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars Trilogy (Red Mars, Green Mars, Blue Mars) with corporations fighting over pieces of Mars instead of humanity going there as one. I'd rather we work out our problems here than just continuing our problems on another planet. Mars should be a place to start with a clean slate.


Clean slate....yeah right! Exploration into space may be done with an eye on altruism and "voyaging forth for mankind" and all that stuff, but the minute someone makes a discovery that can be exploited by commercial interest and produces a profit that far outweighs the costs, that noble journeying will be over.

To the victors go the spoils.





(I myself am very interested in seeing space exploration move forward...it pays my bills right now....)

*

[Space Tycoon]

Full Story at CNNMoney.com (http://money.cnn.com/2006/03/09/magazines/business2/cashinginmars/index.htm?cnn=yes)

I know I'm just dreaming, but I wish countries would just forego the money thing and work together to get us to that damn planet. Instead, I fear that things are gonna turn out like they do in Total Recall or Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars Trilogy (Red Mars, Green Mars, Blue Mars) with corporations fighting over pieces of Mars instead of humanity going there as one. I'd rather we work out our problems here than just continuing our problems on another planet. Mars should be a place to start with a clean slate.

I feel exactly the opposite. I'd sooner root for "the corporations," or rather, true free enterprise, getting us to Earth orbit, the Moon, the asteroids, Mars, Outer Solar System, and finally the stars--rather than some vast global socialist space program.

Still, If Bush's space initiative bears fruit, I'll be up watching it at 4:00 am like everyone else.




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[Asonokirk V 2.0]

There are a lot of technical issues involved that have yet to be resolved, and in some cases even addressed, regarding both a moon base and a Mars mission. The ONLY reason we even went to the moon in the first place was because we were spurred on by the Cold War and the Soviet's early space successes.

There is no expedient reason to go to all the trouble to go to Mars right now, but it is something that needs to be done eventually. The Earth is only capable of supporting X amount of human life, and at some point we will HAVE TO start thinking very seriously about colonizing other places in this solar system.

[tstone]

Clean slate....yeah right! Exploration into space may be done with an eye on altruism and "voyaging forth for mankind" and all that stuff, but the minute someone makes a discovery that can be exploited by commercial interest and produces a profit that far outweighs the costs, that noble journeying will be over.

To the victors go the spoils.





(I myself am very interested in seeing space exploration move forward...it pays my bills right now....)

*


Well, as much of a liberal as I am, I'm realistic enough to admit that part of what will drive humanity's expansion into space is economic opportunity/opportunism. As long as it's done with responsibility, it could be a good thing.

[Space Tycoon]

Well, Mars' reputation as the Solar System's "Bermuda Triangle" is on hold for awhile.

Robotic NASA Craft Begins Orbiting Mars for Most-Detailed Exam
(http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/MRO/news/mro-20060310.html)



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[Bill_the_Pony]

Now, let's add religion to the mix. :)

[Intelligent_Design]

I think Mars exploration would be awesome!! I just want to know whats up with that Face on Mars. Or the Pyramids.

[Space Tycoon]

As would I.



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[Space Tycoon]

The real action of scientific interest on Mars is under the surface. Subterranean--or rather, submartian, as it were.

As with Enceledus and Europa, we need probes to drill into the surface to get to the really valuable stuff.




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[Intelligent_Design]

The real action of scientific interest on Mars is under the surface. Subterranean--or rather, submartian, as it were.

As with Enceledus and Europa, we need probes to drill into the surface to get to the really valuable stuff.




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If we find evidence of a lost civilization There, we better have colonies ready because the religious nuts Will burn this mutha down I tell ya!!

Which begs the Question do Gods rules apply on other planets? Or is it just like a lease agreement we sign on earth? And When Jesus comes back is he gonna stop off at the Mars colonies to pick up the chosen souls there on Judgement Day? And lastly I'm gonna open up thousands of apartments on Mars because If revelations comes true, The left behind are gonna want off earth big time So time for Rent gouging, Baby !!!!!!

[Intelligent_Design]

The real action of scientific interest on Mars is under the surface. Subterranean--or rather, submartian, as it were.





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True. I'm curious if there maybe be new Compounds or even elements below the surface.

[Space Tycoon]

Well, there are no new elements to be found in this universe. But organic compounds, or at least the residue of such, may yet be waiting for us to find under the surface.

What we may find is anyone's guess.

Black oil may be a long shot. But maybe not! :eek:




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[sickness]

Actually, there are always new elements to be found, they'll just be found in a lab and only for tens of nanoseconds. Compounds are something I'm definitely looking forward to. If, in some primative form, life did exist on Mars at some time, such compounds could tell us a lot about the origin of life and how special we are (or aren't).

[Space Tycoon]

Actually, there are always new elements to be found, they'll just be found in a lab and only for tens of nanoseconds.


Yeah, that's what I meant to say. There's no dilithium crystals to be found, unfortunately.



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[sickness]

Crystals are rarely elemental. :)

[Space Tycoon]

Yeah, but what I meant was...



...oh forget it.


:ohwell:


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[Intelligent_Design]

ot: I just read the first John Carter of Mars book. Its a great read and it holds up well for being 80 years old.