So, when are we going to put people on Mars?

[K1052]

My favorite part of that movie was the luxury cruise liner space ship they traveled in. The real thing will have people trapped in a tin can, on top of each other for months. Psychologically unbearable, if you ask me.

I mean conceptually you could build something similar if we wanted to spend the bucks. None of the technology involved is fictitious even if it would probably look a little different.

 

[sdifox]

Why? Nothing over there but those people, the ones with the weird names and the funny-looking hats.

What? People crossed oceans cuz they wanted to buy shit from China.

 

[Fritzo]

I'm following the tech development pretty closely.

Currently the most efficient way to get humans to Mars will be the "layover" method- Astronauts would go from a space station to the moon, then from the moon to Mars. The main issue right now is shielding technology- any astronauts in deep space for 7-12 months would be exposed to radiation that would give them cancer in the best case and kill them in the worst case. Watch for developments in propellant and shielding to determine how close we are. I'm betting mid-2030's at this stage.

 

[nakedfrog]

I'm following the tech development pretty closely.

Currently the most efficient way to get humans to Mars will be the "layover" method- Astronauts would go from a space station to the moon, then from the moon to Mars. The main issue right now is shielding technology- any astronauts in deep space for 7-12 months would be exposed to radiation that would give them cancer in the best case and kill them in the worst case. Watch for developments in propellant and shielding to determine how close we are. I'm betting mid-2030's at this stage.

Yeah, if it were an option, I'd probably have voted for 2036.

 

[Red Squirrel]

My favorite part of that movie was the luxury cruise liner space ship they traveled in. The real thing will have people trapped in a tin can, on top of each other for months. Psychologically unbearable, if you ask me.

Yeah while we COULD build something bigger and super nice, I think it will be cost optimized, like everything is. They will figure out what is a scientifically reasonable space between people (ex: to make sure the air recycler can perform fast enough and that people can move around in an emergency) and that's it. As much as the idea of being in space would be cool, you could not pay me enough to be crammed with many people for that long. The lack of nature or ability to have your own privacy would have a serious toll on mental health. I could see people start to go crazy in there after a month. Chances are they will need to take lot of antidepressants and other drugs just to stay sane.

And when you finally do get to Mars, things won't really be any better. Even if it is terraformed, it will take decades for any resemblance of nature to spread far enough. I do wonder what the lower gravity would do to trees though, if they would grow faster and taller or what not.

 

[nakedfrog]

They should just microdose LSD instead of taking antidepressants.

 

[snoopy7548]

They should just microdose LSD instead of taking antidepressants.

Nah, a larger dose would definitely get you to Jupiter and back!

 

[nakedfrog]

Nah, a larger dose would definitely get you to Jupiter and back!

Just steer clear of Europa and we'll be alright.

 

[dasherHampton]

Interesting.

Can Magnets Protect Against Cosmic Radiation? | Apex Magnets Blog

Many people claim the first person to walk on the surface of Mars has already been born. But there are still several things to consider before we send an astronaut to Mars. The reality of prolonged space travel includes various dangers and challenges we have to overcome, not the least of which...

www.apexmagnets.com

 

[Ajay]

Going to Mars anytime soon is a freaking fools errand. Look how expensive it is just to get the JWST into space (eventually).
There is just no payoff right now, or probably for the next couple hundred years. Send probes.

This makes me think of ITER; another scientific boondoggle. Freaking useless pipe dreams.

There are plenty of need for basic and applied scientific research that needs to be done today.
We can spend all the money we have efforts to more fully understand climate change an create better technologies to slow the rate of progress and build resiliency into our infrastructure.
I have a BS in Physics, I'm pro science, but no pro giant 'science toys'.