Quote:
Originally Posted by Locke
From another standpoint this whole concept is pretty morbid. These people arent going to start a long-term colony, they arent establishing a society or anything, they're just going there to struggle by until they die.
Really, thats all this is, watching hopeless people die on TV. I think the only thing that makes this legal would be the fact that its happening on Mars and as such it wouldnt be bound by any laws.
Again, another really good reason to send the cast of the Jersey Shore.
|
The same could be said of early explorers of North America.
The people will know the risks associated going in, first of all.
Secondly, assuming they choose only younger people for this, which is logical, and assuming life expectancy is not what it is on Earth which is also logical. You can expect someone to survive (assuming nothing goes horribly awry) for probably 30-40 years. The colony by 30 years in will consist of 64 individuals (assuming they continue sending 4 people every 2 years as is the plan). After 40 years it is 84 people. That's not much a community on Earth but for a colony on another planet, that is getting to be a significant number.
In terms of radiation, one of the first plans once on Mars is for the astronauts to begin manufacturing bricks (supplies for this ability will be sent). They will then build a much larger habitat out of brick, sealed with plastic sheeting and several feet of soil. This habitat will have a few advantages, not only will it be bigger but it will deal with most of the radiation exposure.
Just going by what I read.
Also, the $6 billion is for everything up to and including the first 4 astronauts landing on Mars. They are only using existing technologies so it is possible they can do it.
As for testing everything first, they will be setting up a "colony" identical to the one going to Mars, in a very harsh environment on Earth (likely the far North) to test equipment and more importantly to test the people involved.
I am not at all certain they can do it, I just think it would be very interesting if they did.