Quote:
Originally Posted by chris lindberg
Seriously, I wonder how long until we put a person on Mars?
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First we have to figure out how to do it.. as far as I know they currently have no clue as to how to put a person on the surface of Mars.
The problem is payload size; small probes are ok because they're small, but no one knows how to get a large payload (the size needed for people to stay there for any amount of time) down to the surface. The atmosphere is too thin to provide enough aerobraking to slow down enough to land softly, but too thick (in combination with the higher gravity) to allow for a type of landing like they did on the moon, at least easily.
http://www.universetoday.com/2007/07...he-red-planet/