Tito planning Mars flyby!

[RealSquirrels]

I think there are big parallels between the history of sea-going and space exploration. Of course the initial connection is rather an obvious one, but at a second glance the similarities are useful and instructive. One of the main differences to me seems to be a rather different attitude towards risk. I think this arises largely because during the great eras of seagoing exploration there were many different ways to die before you got old, death was commonplace and a part of life. Today we consider it very upsetting that someone should die before 'their time' (i.e. once they take up dribbling for the second time). Of course, this is a valid concern but it is rather a hindrance.

[Simpo Two]

Well PW can post as many pictures as he likes but without an incentive nothing will happen.

I presume he has a job?

[qube_TA]

I do hope this goes ahead, they'd have gone further away than anyone else ever, and with their own money.

Hopefully, whether it ends in success or failure this is not a one off and others attempt similar and more.

Would love to go.

[rhinochopig]

qube_TA said:

I do hope this goes ahead, they'd have gone further away than anyone else ever, and with their own money.

Hopefully, whether it ends in success or failure this is not a one off and others attempt similar and more.

Would love to go.

I'm not sure. What worries me about a privately funded venture (inc space tourism) is how well it will be realised. There is a very big, and very real, risk that a half arsed attempt that leads to failure will kill off the space renaissance. One only has to look at the damage that Fukushima has done to the global nuclear industry to see what could happen.

Imagine the media sensation as the couple slowly die of <insert one of the myriad failure modes here>.

IMO a Mars mission should be a international governmental effort - not private.

[Simpo Two]

rhinochopig said:

There is a very big, and very real, risk that a half arsed attempt that leads to failure will kill off the space renaissance. One only has to look at the damage that Fukushima has done to the global nuclear industry to see what could happen.

Imagine the media sensation as the couple slowly die of <insert one of the myriad failure modes here>

There is too much media. People have always died doing dangerous new things. Austria cancelled its nuclear programme because of Fukushima, forgetting they are unlikely to be hit by a tidal wave.

Ultimately you reach the point where you say 'We'd better not do this because it might go wrong' - and then you really have condemned the species to a life of TV dinners and central heating. If the return of Apollo 13 had failed, would they have cancelled 14-17?

[rhinochopig]

Simpo Two said:

rhinochopig said:

There is a very big, and very real, risk that a half arsed attempt that leads to failure will kill off the space renaissance. One only has to look at the damage that Fukushima has done to the global nuclear industry to see what could happen.

Imagine the media sensation as the couple slowly die of <insert one of the myriad failure modes here>

There is too much media. People have always died doing dangerous new things. Austria cancelled its nuclear programme because of Fukushima, forgetting they are unlikely to be hit by a tidal wave.

Ultimately you reach the point where you say 'We'd better not do this because it might go wrong' - and then you really have condemned the species to a life of TV dinners and central heating. If the return of Apollo 13 had failed, would they have cancelled 14-17?

I quite agree - policy driven by media is the bane of modern society, but it is here and here to stay unfortunately.

[Einion Yrth]

Bedazzled said:

How close to Mars will they get, on the planned trajectory?

I have seen 100 miles quoted.

[qube_TA]

rhinochopig said:

Simpo Two said:

rhinochopig said:

There is a very big, and very real, risk that a half arsed attempt that leads to failure will kill off the space renaissance. One only has to look at the damage that Fukushima has done to the global nuclear industry to see what could happen.

Imagine the media sensation as the couple slowly die of <insert one of the myriad failure modes here>

There is too much media. People have always died doing dangerous new things. Austria cancelled its nuclear programme because of Fukushima, forgetting they are unlikely to be hit by a tidal wave.

Ultimately you reach the point where you say 'We'd better not do this because it might go wrong' - and then you really have condemned the species to a life of TV dinners and central heating. If the return of Apollo 13 had failed, would they have cancelled 14-17?

I quite agree - policy driven by media is the bane of modern society, but it is here and here to stay unfortunately.

Not going to stop private enterprise and millionaire loonies.

[Dr Jekyll]

PW said:

Quite frankly I do hope the Chinese are the first to Mars, just because it will put everyone's nose out of joint.

So it's a bit inconsistent to criticise anyone else for wanting to be first in order to put their rival's nose out of joint.