Discussion Journey to Mars

[Urwumpe]

Happy if they succeed, we'll see. The first launch date announced for Falcon Heavy was 2013...

Well different company... but still, maybe they'll launch earlier than the new airport of Berlin.

 

[richfororbit]

And the cost of an orbital trip to Mars and back would be what rough estimation? How much would a single space launch system rocket cost to go into orbit, and to travel to Mars orbit as a second mission?

 

[richfororbit]

Does anyone think, a Martian orbit first, and then an orbit of Phobos?

Perhaps like another module, like a shuttle from Captain Kirk's ship, could undock, and go to Phobos, while the other crew remain in Martian orbit.

On second thoughts, may be that is a little too scifi!:rofl:

 

[richfororbit]

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-to-consider-adding-crew-to-first-flight-of-sls-and-orion

 

[Urwumpe]

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-to-consider-adding-crew-to-first-flight-of-sls-and-orion

Well, it worked for STS-1 ........... :leaving:

 

[MaverickSawyer]

:blink:
They're looking at doing WHAT?
If this really happens, I'm going to have to revise my opinion of NASA.

 

[Urwumpe]

:blink:
They're looking at doing WHAT?
If this really happens, I'm going to have to revise my opinion of NASA.

NASA = Need another seven six astronauts?

 

[richfororbit]

Apparently President Trump considering this.


A Washington post article here states the idea of having an orbital moon mission, and then a landing in the next decade. Whether or not that is crewed is another question. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/02/15/nasa-heeding-trump-considers-adding-astronauts-to-a-practice-moon-mission/?utm_term=.aa45706ee254

I suggested last year that a head of state could do a moon mission within a term and then a next term a landing.


I doubt my tweets at the time had any influence. Nor should they.

 

[MaverickSawyer]

Apparently President Trump considering this.


A Washington post article here states the idea of having an orbital moon mission, and then a landing in the next decade. Whether or not that is crewed is another question. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/02/15/nasa-heeding-trump-considers-adding-astronauts-to-a-practice-moon-mission/?utm_term=.aa45706ee254

I suggested last year that a head of state could do a moon mission within a term and then a next term a landing.


I doubt my tweets at the time had any influence. Nor should they.

Why am I not surprised that this is coming from him. :dry: NASA's going to roll with it, no doubt, as an act of self-preservation.

 

[Urwumpe]

I suggested last year that a head of state could do a moon mission within a term and then a next term a landing.

You know, that wasn't a very smart move. He wants to make America great again, no matter the consequences as you can see.

(Regarding twitter: I really hope Obama comes to visit Darmstadt ... the local football club has invited him because they discovered him among their followers)

 

[richfororbit]

I don't make policy.

We can discuss, and so on. But ultimately only the government can make the decision. Americans want to see something happen, not many.

If space exploration is to go ahead it has to happen in sporadic steps. Very little will happen in this century, meaning no crewed missions to anywhere.

What would you really suggest?

 

[Urwumpe]

What would you really suggest?

Steady, small steps. No big leaps. Especially no "sporadic steps". Ever seen something work in "sporadic steps"? Don't wait until you have gathered enough power to make a big jump forward, do the first step and be ready to let a second follow. The trick is not "Wanting to do something". The trick is beginning to do it.

 

[richfororbit]

Currently that is the plan as is, but a crewed mission isn't until the next term of who ever. What could be the objective is the plan to do this but wait for another mission to go first. Then send a crewed orbital mission to the moon.

Everyone knows that orbital flight is risky.

I'm a strong believer that space exploration can only happen with the occasional mission government funded program. The day a private company makes it happen in tiny steps, I'll reconsider.

 

[Urwumpe]

Everyone knows that orbital flight is risky.

Well, so is joining the army. Still, you learn to seek cover and train your instincts to fall flat before you realize the explosion. Only because it is risky, its no reason to stop trying to stay alive. (Some dialog from my past life: "You know, the NATO scientists only give us of mobile infantry two seconds of survival in case of a real war." - "Two seconds? I'll survive twice as long.")

History is not written by the winners, but by the survivors. Coincidentally, those are often the same.

 

[Fabri91]

At least there's the launch escape system now, should things get boomy.

I'm all for an unmanned test of SLS first, but STS-1 was much more risky.

 

[richfororbit]

I'm pleased with either a non orbital mission, crewed mission to the Moon. Perhaps a landing mission somewhere after.

May be in twenty years the orbit of Mars.