You can be first person on Mars -- if you agree to not come back

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

Instead of going, can I nominate someone?

we could send thousands of ex-wives off to colonize a new world........

I doubt this happens......

[Knut]

I nominate Tinordi to go.

[Thor]

This would be such an epic failure, the challenges for humans on Mars are still quite massive.

But damn, it would make for great TV!

[Sr. Mints]

Where do I sign up?

[pylon]

Where would you poop? Better yet, how would they keep a steady supply of TP at a transport cost of $790,000/roll?

It's a valid question.

[darklord700]

Apparently, all you needed to do is just to survive and mate. Where do I sign up?

[MarchHare]

Why are they going straight to Mars without first testing all their equipment and procedures by creating a lunar colony? That seems like it would be much easier to achieve (in a very relative sense). Not to mention it would be much faster to re-supply a moon base with transit time taking 3-4 days rather than ~2 years.

[Hanna Sniper]

I would go...

a few months later I would probably go blind, but it would be worth it

[Locke]

I nominate the entire cast of the Jersey Shore. They have reality TV experience and the rest of the world wants them gone indefinitely. Its win/win.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

We've got all our eggs in one basket being here on earth, I think any venture that helps get us off this rock and onto other ones is in the best interest of the species (from a survival standpoint).

But if all your eggs are in one basket, wouldn't it be better to make it the best and most secure basket you can, instead of hurling your eggs in a hail mary attempt and hope they land securely in another basket (one of unknown quality at that)?

[troutman]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Case_for_Mars

The Case for Mars: The Plan to Settle the Red Planet and Why We Must is a nonfiction science book by Robert Zubrin, first published in 1996, and revised and updated in 2011.

The book details Zubrin's Mars Direct plan to make the first human landing on Mars. The plan focuses on keeping costs down by making use of automated systems and available materials on Mars to manufacture the return journey's fuel in situ. The book also reveals possible Mars colony designs and weighs the prospects for a colony's material self-sufficiency and for the terraforming of Mars.

[Sopure]

Originally Posted by Locke

I nominate the entire cast of the Jersey Shore. They have reality TV experience and the rest of the world wants them gone indefinitely. Its win/win.

No bottle service on Mars.

[photon]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

Why are they going straight to Mars without first testing all their equipment and procedures by creating a lunar colony? That seems like it would be much easier to achieve (in a very relative sense). Not to mention it would be much faster to re-supply a moon base with transit time taking 3-4 days rather than ~2 years.

That kind of depends on the definition of "easy". From a pure fuel (or delta-V) perspective, Mars is easier than the moon, because you can use a transfer orbit.

The downside of that is as you say the transit time. For a few day trip for humans you don't need to worry much about radiation, muscle and bone loss, etc, where for a trip to Mars you would.

But if we're talking colony, mass is going to be huge so Mars might actually make more sense from a pure "how much fuel will we need to move all that stuff" point of view.

Sending humans at all is the silly part IMO, send robots to build/maintain everything, or if you can't, send other robots to learn how to build robots to build everything.

[photon]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

But if all your eggs are in one basket, wouldn't it be better to make it the best and most secure basket you can, instead of hurling your eggs in a hail mary attempt and hope they land securely in another basket (one of unknown quality at that)?

Or do both.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by nik-

It would have been better if the rich Dutch guy's last name was Cohaagen.

Get your ass to Mars.

[Flacker]

Originally Posted by photon

That kind of depends on the definition of "easy". From a pure fuel (or delta-V) perspective, Mars is easier than the moon, because you can use a transfer orbit.

The downside of that is as you say the transit time. For a few day trip for humans you don't need to worry much about radiation, muscle and bone loss, etc, where for a trip to Mars you would.

But if we're talking colony, mass is going to be huge so Mars might actually make more sense from a pure "how much fuel will we need to move all that stuff" point of view.

Sending humans at all is the silly part IMO, send robots to build/maintain everything, or if you can't, send other robots to learn how to build robots to build everything.

Is this where they are determining that they resupply every two years? Is that the approximate time between launch windows for a earth/mars transfer?

[4X4]

Who will be the first two people in the million mile high club?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Sopure

No bottle service on Mars.

Sacrifices must be made.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Who will be the first two people in the million mile high club?

Thinking about it rationally, knocking a chick up on route to Mars is probably the worst survival scenario imaginable.

[Sliver]

Wonder if they're going to call the colony Fata City?

How do we filter out the teases? We don't let them in. This goes for the guys, too. Because sometimes the guys are tapped out. But check your lease, man. Because you're living in Fata City!