Tito planning Mars flyby!
Discussion
nah, there are plenty of technologically achievable solutions but they are constrained by the difficulty of getting things into orbit.
there's bulky, heavy shielding, as already mentioned
there are electromagnetic shielding solutions, though they would take a bit of power. ideally you'd probably want to use superconducting electromagnets for this. this technology is well understood, of course.
there is also the possibility of drugs to limit the effects of radiation exposure
also genetic engineering of course
what about 'suspended animation' too?
lots of options
there's bulky, heavy shielding, as already mentioned
there are electromagnetic shielding solutions, though they would take a bit of power. ideally you'd probably want to use superconducting electromagnets for this. this technology is well understood, of course.
there is also the possibility of drugs to limit the effects of radiation exposure
also genetic engineering of course
what about 'suspended animation' too?
lots of options
Simpo Two said:
Well if all that is true, then interplanetary manned travel is pretty much ruled out for good.
Arse.
Here's some science. Star Trek wins again.Arse.
http://iopscience.iop.org/0741-3335/50/12/124025
PW said:
It sounds like there wouldn't be much room to take anything but supplies, so what would they actually do all day, every day for 500 days?
Easy to keep men occupied... and this is serious... sex. Women, not so.Actually, have the ship partly powered by an exercise bike (just the luxuries) and you have a work-for-reward system.
You might need some aphrodisiacs (or just select the "right"
OK... I'm just daydreaming.
Bedazzled said:
Simpo Two said:
Well if all that is true, then interplanetary manned travel is pretty much ruled out for good.
Arse.
May not be, I'm just idly speculating as a layman. I was interested to see if I could calculate the fuel required, more than anything. Maybe they only need a few mm of shielding, that would change things; hopefully one of the science bods on here may be able to clarify.Arse.
Martin Rees was quite negative about the likelihood of human space travel when he was interviewed recently on Science Club, I found it quite depressing.
Luckily, it's not astronomers they need for exploring.
If someone wants to spend their own money doing such a thing - who are we to stop them. And if they wish others to support them financially - who are we to stop them supporting such a mission either.
I don't care anymore WHY someone wants to embark on an enterprise like this. I applaud them for having a go - and hope it succeeds.
I don't care anymore WHY someone wants to embark on an enterprise like this. I applaud them for having a go - and hope it succeeds.
PW said:
I was disappointed to read some of the comments from the announcement "Inspiration Mars will be 'a purely American mission'" ... "When asked if the project was at all spurred by a desire to beat China to Mars, Tito replied: 'Wouldn't I want to do that? Wouldn't I want America to do that? Wouldn't you want America to do that?'".
I find that to be such a ridiculously outdated way of thinking. The quicker everyone stops thinking in terms of "us vs them" we might actually achieve something greater as a species.
But it gets things done. Remember it was only the 'space race' which got man on the moon. Take away competition and much of your reason for doing otherwise pointless things is gone.I find that to be such a ridiculously outdated way of thinking. The quicker everyone stops thinking in terms of "us vs them" we might actually achieve something greater as a species.
Is competition a ridiculously outdated way of thinking? Think of football - your way, both teams would have a chat before kick-off and take it in polite turns and each score 1,000 goals. It would be much easier and nobody would fall over and get muddy, but it would have no point. Man is a competitive animal.
Bedazzled said:
"the approx $1-2bn required" - Apollo cost about $100bn in today's money, $1bn budget makes me think Beagle 2 / lost in space. Then again, I didn't think Curiosity would work.
That was from a standing start. The sums are based on buying pretty much everything off the shelf. That does drop the price an awful lot. Look on it as perhaps the beginning of the "lone yachtsman" era of manned spaceflight.
300 years ago, only state backed expeditions had the resources and technology which enabled attempts to sail around the world. By the end of the 1800s, it was becoming possible for individuals to attempt the same feats using resources generated by themselves.
By the 1960s, it was well within the grasp of individuals to have a go.
300 years ago, only state backed expeditions had the resources and technology which enabled attempts to sail around the world. By the end of the 1800s, it was becoming possible for individuals to attempt the same feats using resources generated by themselves.
By the 1960s, it was well within the grasp of individuals to have a go.
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