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In reply to the discussion: Mars?? [View all]

lapfog_1

(30,521 posts)
5. at this point we do not yet have the technology
Tue Jan 21, 2025, 12:36 PM
Jan 21

to even return to the moon.

Not reliable technology.

We lost the plans to the Saturn 5 heavy booster and, so far, neither NASA nor SpaceX nor any other effort has a reliable vehicle to get us to the moon and return back to earth with people. Yes, there are prototypes being tested... but nothing reliable yet.

SpaceX Starship... is not reliable.




We have yet to solve the issues surrounding long term space flight for humans on a interplanetary voyage. I'm talking not months of exposure to solar radiation, but years of it since a round trip will take at least 3 years at present ( with both the earth and mars orbital positions where they are right now and given the energy needed for a direct to mars flight path. Other trips could be shorter but require us to build the mars vehicle in space and fuel it with multiple LEO flights and waiting until Mars and the Earth are in more optimal positions relative to each other.

For a long duration flight, we need a huge vehicle... with a lot of shielding, something on the order of flying the ISS to Mars and back or the Jupiter mission from the movie 2001 A Space Odyssey. Presently that is out of our ability to build even if NASA or SpaceX started today. Not to mention the cost would be... in a word... astronomical.

I used to play these games ( theoretical paper what if games ) at NASA ( because they let anyone there play at creating a theoretical plan ).

Sorry MOB fans, but that is the truth. Plus, there is NO compelling reason to send PEOPLE to another planet... we can do much better sending rovers with AI. They are much cheaper, they can do almost everything a person can do, there is no risk to human life, and they have proven that they can operate on Mars for years per rover.

Recommendations

1 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Mars?? [View all] Greyhead Jan 21 OP
Hope the eggs and housing up there are super cheap. meadowlander Jan 21 #1
I would think we could cancel all space programs multigraincracker Jan 21 #2
How would that recoup the quarter billion Elon spent getting Trump reelected? meadowlander Jan 21 #3
No. Wherever and by whomever this was said (I guess Trump), it's complete bullshit. muriel_volestrangler Jan 21 #4
at this point we do not yet have the technology lapfog_1 Jan 21 #5
Over a thirty year period, the Space Shuttle flew 135 times and had 2 total losses with 14 fatalities. WarGamer Jan 21 #9
do not tell me about the Space Shuttle disasters lapfog_1 Jan 21 #12
No, no, no... I was arguing the opposite WarGamer Jan 21 #14
Challenger loss is what inspired me to work for NASA lapfog_1 Jan 21 #18
While you are 100% correct Wiz Imp Jan 21 #13
It's just another Musk scam. dalton99a Jan 21 #6
The next launch window is November 2026... WarGamer Jan 21 #7
but lets not send people. lapfog_1 Jan 21 #15
+100... robots and unmanned rovers. 8K video rolling and invite the WORLD to watch. WarGamer Jan 21 #16
Muskrat hopes to make a fortune,... magicarpet Jan 21 #8
I'm sure he's on a cost plus plan. Greyhead Jan 21 #11
If God wanted us to be on Mars he would have put us there - (Insert sarcasm thingy here) tulipsandroses Jan 21 #10
Actually God does want some of us to be trans lapfog_1 Jan 21 #17
It's a ridiculous prediction and it would be a suicide mission. Oopsie Daisy Jan 21 #19
Send them the Matt Damon movie "The Martian" milestogo Jan 21 #20
Will it be a Tesla Cybertruck? Will it have a rifle rack in the back window? Trump Stickers? Ping Tung Jan 21 #21
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