One Way trip to mars?

[azeth]

Originally Posted by Rhalous [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Send self replicating autonomous robots to terraform it instead of humans. Technology grows exponentially, so it won't take that long to get the tech to do it. Waiting for the terraform to complete is the longest part.

We ought to just upload our consciousness into surrogates and getr dun.

[Smyd]

Depends... would there be internet on Mars?

[fastboy21]

personally, i wouldn't go. there are lots of folks though that would do so, however.

i am a little envious of the type of person who has so little tie to anything on this planet that it would actually make sense for them to colonize Mars knowing the would never likely return to Earth.

How many of the original colonists to North America were able to return to Europe? The analogy isn't perfect because at least in the 15th century the technology existed to get them home, but how many could actually set out with the mentality of "if things don't work out i'll be back in a year"? I would think most left their friends and families behind thinking that they would most likely never ever see them or the place they were born again.

Is that the human spirit of exploration or just desperation to escape the misery of where they were?

[Japan]

Originally Posted by fastboy21 [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Is that the human spirit of exploration or just desperation to escape the misery of where they were?

one and the same

[stormlord]

Originally Posted by fastboy21 [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

personally, i wouldn't go. there are lots of folks though that would do so, however.

i am a little envious of the type of person who has so little tie to anything on this planet that it would actually make sense for them to colonize Mars knowing the would never likely return to Earth.

How many of the original colonists to North America were able to return to Europe? The analogy isn't perfect because at least in the 15th century the technology existed to get them home, but how many could actually set out with the mentality of "if things don't work out i'll be back in a year"? I would think most left their friends and families behind thinking that they would most likely never ever see them or the place they were born again.

Is that the human spirit of exploration or just desperation to escape the misery of where they were?

This occurred to me after I made my first reply. It reminded me of my great grandfather. When he came here it was a leap of faith and he came with very little money. He felt he would never return again when he left but he said goodbye like it was a normal day on that day when he left. But it was not just a game to get opportunity or jobs, it was an adventure too. Everything was new to him and he had to learn a lot. It was hard, but it was new. It was tough at first; lot of moving around. He even jumped trains - got rides for free by sneaking onboard. Mining jobs were tough. He liked doing farms and working in cities because of the stability. He eventually settled down and established himself. Ironically, at the completion of his journeys and his life he wrote that the rough and tumble life of someone who travels is not easy and that once he settled down after a few years he was much more satisfied. The whole idea of it goes against exploration and travel, doesn't it?

And he never went back to finland either. He stayed here. So I think it's very similar.

[stormlord]

No because I don't think I'm strong enough physically or mentally and do not know what I could offer them. I feel that only the most able and most ambitious would be suited for it. I'll be on earth draining healthcare funds in the welfare state or dead before they get things moving on mars.

[Greyhands]

Ummmm no, if the scientists think its such a great idea why dont they go.....

[stormlord]

Ok so I finally read a small section of what's referred to here in the OP's post and I think it's great, but maybe premature. It has merit. Sending the older generation(s) is ok in my mind because you don't want to ruin your reproductive potential as a species by exposing it to suboptimal conditions. I've read that having a baby in space would not be wise because of the radiation levels and the vast unknowns. It makes sense to have our babies where we know things will work out for them: here on earth. Evolution teaches us that we evolved in this earth environment and changing that radically by having a baby in space is very irresponsible. So I think that whatever happens it'll probably be strictly controlled by a governing space agency. This proposal also reminds me of the early explorers that came to north america. It's an invigorating idea. Exploring was often a dangerous affair. This is no less risky sending the best of our older generation on a journey that will kill them. The key difference I see between then and now are the expenses. I don't think we're quite at the stage where space travel is affordable enough to send exploration parties unless you limit it to the scale of space probes. We can and have sent space probes and, at least for now, they're the explorers. I fully expect that when prices come down we will begin to launch manned missions both to the moon and to other planets in this solar system.

One of the potential propulsion systems is linked here:
Travel to Mars in 39 Days?
Another:
VASIMR, Uranium Hydride Reactor, Direct Conversion of Heat or Radiation to Electricity