Scientists: Let’s Send You to Mars, But Don’t Plan on Coming Back
- Posted on November 15, 2010 at 11:53am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) — Invoking the spirit of “Star Trek” in a scholarly article entitled “To Boldly Go,” two scientists contend human travel to Mars could happen much more quickly and cheaply if the missions are made one-way. They argue that it would be little different from early settlers to North America, who left Europe with little expectation of return.
“The main point is to get Mars exploration moving,” said Dirk Schulze-Makuch of Washington State University, who wrote the article in the latest “Journal of Cosmology” with Paul Davies of Arizona State University. The colleagues state — in one of 55 articles in the issue devoted to exploring Mars — that humans must begin colonizing another planet as a hedge against a catastrophe on Earth.
Mars is a six-month flight away, possesses surface gravity, an atmosphere, abundant water, carbon dioxide and essential minerals. They propose the missions start by sending two two-person teams, in separate ships, to Mars. More colonists and regular supply ships would follow.
The technology already exists, or is within easy reach, they wrote.
An official for NASA said the space agency envisions manned missions to Mars in the next few decades, but that the planning decidedly involves round trips.
President Obama informed NASA last April that he “‘believed by the mid-2030s that we could send humans to orbit Mars and safely return them to Earth. And that a landing would soon follow,’” said agency spokesman Michael Braukus.
No where did Obama suggest the astronauts be left behind.
“We want our people back,” Braukus said.
Retired Apollo 14 astronaut Ed Mitchell, who walked on the Moon, was also critical of the one-way idea.
“This is premature,” Mitchell wrote in an e-mail. “We aren’t ready for this yet.”
Davies and Schulze-Makuch say it‘s important to realize they’re not proposing a “suicide mission.”
“The astronauts would go to Mars with the intention of staying for the rest of their lives, as trailblazers of a permanent human Mars colony,” they wrote, while acknowledging the proposal is a tough sell for NASA, with its intense focus on safety.
They think the private sector might be a better place to try their plan.
“What we would need is an eccentric billionaire,” Schulze-Makuch said. “There are people who have the money to put this into reality.”
Indeed, British tycoon Richard Branson, PayPal founder Elon Musk and Amazon.com Inc. CEO Jeff Bezos are among the rich who are involved in private space ventures.
Isolated humans in space have long been a staple of science fiction movies, from “Robinson Crusoe on Mars” to “2001: A Space Odyssey“ to a flurry of recent movies such as ”Solaris“ and ”Moon.” In many of the plots, the lonely astronauts fall victim to computers, madness or aliens.
Psychological profiling and training of the astronauts, plus constant communication with Earth, will reduce debilitating mental strains, the two scientists said.
“They would in fact feel more connected to home than the early Antarctic explorers,” according to the article.
But the mental health of humans who spent time in space has been extensively studied. Depression can set in, people become irritated with each other, and sleep can be disrupted, the studies have found. The knowledge that there is no quick return to Earth would likely make that worse.
Davies is a physicist whose research focuses on cosmology, quantum field theory, and astrobiology. He was an early proponent of the theory that life on Earth may have come from Mars in rocks ejected by asteroid and comet impacts.
Schulze-Makuch works in the Earth Sciences department at WSU and is the author of two books about life on other planets. His focus is eco-hydrogeology, which includes the study of water on planets and moons of our solar system and how those could serve as a potential habitat for microbial life.
The peer-reviewed Journal of Cosmology covers astronomy, astrobiology, Earth sciences and life.
Schulze-Makuch and Davies contend that Mars has abundant resources to help the colonists become self-sufficient over time. The colony should be next to a large ice cave, to provide shelter from radiation, plus water and oxygen, they wrote.
They believe the one-way trips could start in two decades.
“You would send a little bit older folks, around 60 or something like that,” Schulze-Makuch said, bringing to mind the aging heroes who save the day in “Space Cowboys.”
That‘s because the mission would undoubtedly reduce a person’s lifespan, from a lack of medical care and exposure to radiation. That radiation would also damage human reproductive organs, so sending people of childbearing age is not a good idea, he said.
There have been seniors in space, including John Glenn, who was 77 when he flew on the space shuttle in 1998.
Still, Schulze-Makuch believes many people would be willing to make the sacrifice.
The Mars base would offer humanity a “lifeboat” in the event Earth becomes uninhabitable, they said.
“We are on a vulnerable planet,” Schulze-Makuch said. “Asteroid impact can threaten us, or a supernova explosion. If we want to survive as a species, we have to expand into the solar system and likely beyond.”
___________
Online:
http://journalofcosmology.com/Mars108.html
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Comments (75)
senah
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:06pm“They argue that it would be little different from early settlers to North America, who left Europe with little expectation of return.”
One minor point, …. at least the settlers had a reasonable expectation to live a full life after the arrived. Besides, they never wanted to go back to England anyway, why the fck you think they left in the first place.
Report Post »Ronko
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:03pmI‘m not a big fan of this the Astronauts should be able to come back and if theirs a problem out on Mars they’re screwed. What we should be doing is going to the moon and setting up a permanent base their. Mars is 45 Million miles away the Moon is 240,000 miles away it would be easier to send them to the moon and establish a base their before we even think about going to Mars. The way things are going the Chinese will beat us to the moon and settle there before we even make a decision.
Report Post »komponist-ZAH
Posted on November 16, 2010 at 12:34amI agree, the moon would be far easier to colonize, and could serve as a base for a Mars mission. That and, if it were done in the next 10-20 years, then perhaps the average person could afford to go there in a generation or two, maybe sooner. Depends on whether the government does it, or the private sector. I would very much rather be a moon tourists than Mars tourist.
Report Post »New-American-Saviors
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 1:54pmWhat time do we leave ?…Keep all the Anti-Americans here and they can finally have their own Country. They should last about 6 month’s without someone to Support them.
Report Post »NHABE64
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 1:50pmOh man, let’s see who would make perfect candidates for such an adventure:
Report Post »Here’s my top picks:
George Soros
Barack El Supremo Cockroach” Obama
Joe Biden
Nancy “airhead” Pelosi
Harry “cockroach” Reid
Charley Rangel
Jeremiah Wright
Al Sharpton
Jesse Jackson
William Ayers
This is all for the first trip, but there are many more fitting candidates waiting.
ohmyhec
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 1:44pmI say if there are volunteers who want to go and don’t mind not coming back – cool.
Report Post »Squ33
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 1:40pmAt the rate our economy is going…no one is going to Mars.
Report Post »FreedomIQ
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 1:33pmI’m all for it. Let’s exile all progressive leftists on the one-way trip to Mars…where they belong. We can’t co-exist with these mentally ill collectivists here on earth so why not? ;)
Report Post »krenshau
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 1:27pmI’d go. I would love to see mars.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 1:11pmMy list is already made.. SOROS is at top of the list along with the entire families of Obama, including illegal aunts and other relatives, Pelosi, Reid, Charlie, Maxine, Rachel, Keith…. should I go on? hahahahaha Cleanse the earth of liberal socialists! I love this idea.. OH, and don’t forget to write! :)
Report Post »Sledgehammer
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:57pmI’d vote for all the tree huggers, but then some ET would find them, and be corrupted by their (lack) of belief. Then we’d have a tree hugger religion going through out the universe! Solution is to load all the ships to the max and then, about half way their blow em up. Very sad! We’ll have a memorial, beer and pizza! Very sad!
Report Post »eteme
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:49pmAre you kidding me, the govt. is too busy trying to keep you where you are to let alone send people off the planet, besides..Doesn’t matter at this rate..America will have no money to get there and the world will be to busy plotting war with each other…Face it we will never go to mars, we have a better chance of mars coming to us…stupid talk by a bunch of blow-hards..
Report Post »Disabledvet
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:46pmi would go just ot get away from the idiots here on this planet.
Report Post »sawman
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:43pmWonder if they will have to go through a “feel me up” security check before they board the vehicle?
Report Post »free2bme1961
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:24pmWhoa! Does this mean what I had read, a few weeks ago is true? That mars has already been colonized, and the moon too? Kinda scarey, considering that senior citizens have been suggested as the first to go…. :-(
Report Post »LLATPOH
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:19pmThere’s a big difference between Mars and Antarctica… First, there’s life in Antarctica (penguins, seals, and the like). Second, even though it’s cold, you can still breathe the air in Antarctica.
And, yes, you can always fly home.
It would take an extraordinary person to stay on Mars. Think about it… You’re stuck in your house, with nothing out the window but rocks. For the rest of your life.
Eh, no. :)
Report Post »tobywil2
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:18pmI recommend Mr. Obama and Mr. Reid for the first trip. http://commonsense21c.com/
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 1:26pmOOH and those code pink chicks too!
Report Post »neversaynever
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:17pmI’d be more than willing to do it. I‘m under 30 so maybe wouldn’t qualify under their vision but I think it would be n amzing oppurtunity. The first human on Mars!
Report Post »Okpulot Taha
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:31pmNEVER SAY NEVER is an astronut, “I’d be more than willing to do it…The first human on Mars!”
I would rather go to Orion. Those green slave girls on Orion are hot and bisexual!
Okpulot Taha
Report Post »Choctaw Nation
moriarty70
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:58pm@Neversaynever
Reading the comments, I thought I was the only one. I always thought this was the best way to get a mission to other planets to work.
Report Post »seanpatriot
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:15pmThey’re gonna need Propane and Propane accessories
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MrButcher
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:19pmbwhahahaha!!
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:33pmThat was kinda cool!
Report Post »Sledgehammer
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:40pmWay to COOL! Do Homer
Report Post »BetterDays
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 1:46pmlots of practice on huff-n-puff post?
Report Post »seanpatriot
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 3:12pmAHAHAH yeah @ BetterDays
Report Post »RodT82721
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:12pmGreat idea!
Put these 2 pin-heads in one of those obsolete Space craft, a couple of tons of tang and spam. Then send them to mars to start the destruction of that planet. (You did note that Carbon Dioxide is present,) so they can be the first to engage in global warming on mars. I am assuming they will be breathing and exhaling, one of the big problems here on earth.
At lest the tax payers wont have to continue supporting these two clowns any longer.
Report Post »T.E.A.PARTNER
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 1:02pmI’m so ashamed of my alma mater(wazzu)!
Report Post »Deda1
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:08pmCan we put Obama, Pelosi, the Dems and all unions on a one way trip?
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:25pmHow about when it is on the flight path to mars it makes a small detour with the politicians on board, say into Jupiter or the Sun? Just a small technical malfunction.
Report Post »dcart888
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:06pmPlease let liberals go to front of the line
Report Post »seanpatriot
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:05pmJust DONT TOUCH MY JUNK on the way there
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:53pmHas someone touched you inappropriately at an airport lately? You seem preoccupied with your ‘junk’ today.
Report Post »EP46
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:04pm“What we would need is an eccentric billionaire,” Schulze-Makuch said. Oh please, please George Soros go and take your puppets with you !!!
Report Post »T.E.A.PARTNER
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:55pmIt would be a capitalism ‘free zone’. Man, if he could take all of his megalomaniacle followers(All! I say)
Report Post »with him, well, talk about Utopia.
Okpulot Taha
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:03pmOur Internal Revenue Service will be the first to arrive on Mars to setup shop.
Okpulot Taha
Report Post »Choctaw Nation
snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:14pmSend them all there, I will provide the first dollar of donated funds if all are sent and never come back.
Report Post »Okpulot Taha
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:27pmSNOW LEOPARD loves Martians, “Send them all there….”
With the IRS firmly rooted on Mars, we would have to send Home Depot up there to provide a living place for illegal aliens who will flood into Mars riding their leaf blowers.
Okpulot Taha
Report Post »Choctaw Nation
snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:57pmTrue about the IRS and such, just make sure when the IRS-KGB is on the way the ship has a sudden technical malfunction into the sun or something. Problem solved.
Report Post »C. Schwehr
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 8:03pmAnd in the spirit of the pioneers, they would be the first to be shoved out the airlock without a suit! An opportunity to build a new planet, create a new society? Let me get my shaving kit! Where do I sign?
Report Post »Maybe the GEESE Know More than the BEES Know
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 11:56ammaybe if we all pitch in a buck, we can send Pelosi to Mars
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:12pmobama gets the front seat.
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:14pmDo not forget Obama, Biden, and Reir as well as all the progressives in the nation; let them and go set up the ‘workers paradise’ and then forget to provide an air supply for them somewhere along the way or after arrival.
http://www.artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm
Psychosis
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:21pmlong haired hippy folks please apply………….(sign) or how bout service guarantees citizenship? lol
Report Post »the first ship is called the pelosi and the second ship is the reed, and the program is called the dream act lol
untameable-kate
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:32pmI thought NASA’s job was to reach out to Islamist countries these days. Will they have time to do the space missions?
Report Post »untameable-kate
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:39pmI love Starship Troopers. If the trifecta of evil won‘t go maybe I’ll sign up, the U.S. won’t be worth a fig if they get thier utopia.
Report Post »LuigiCorelli
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:44pmWhat do you mean? Where do you think she came from in the first place? :)
Report Post »Maybe the GEESE Know More than the BEES Know
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:51pmlol UntamableKate!! excellent query :)
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:55pm@LuigiCorelli
I thought she came from that Star trek DS9 area of the Dominion. One of those funky shape changing beings that eventually got the living tar blown out of them when they went to battle the earth. Hmm?
Report Post »HouseNegro
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 12:57pmHow big is that rocket? We need to put everyone who voted for Obama on it. Entitlements, unemployment, medicare and social security would be fixed soon as they left the pad.
Report Post »chuchu12
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 1:17pmi think that may be where they came from
Report Post »dalefar
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:28pmDo you really want to pollute Mars?
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:42pmAssuming that they really did send a way to set up permanent shop on Mars with me, I’d go. Hell yeah. In a New York minute.
Report Post »moonpeace
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 2:59pmThere are simply too many good options. We could send all convicted murderers and rapists, illegal aliens, democrats, the whole crew of MSNBC, the state of California, and the rest of the slum of the earth. Or we could keep all of them here and send me and my friends. Either way I would win.
Report Post »democratgirl
Posted on November 15, 2010 at 7:58pmRequirements:
Report Post »1. Must be a Democrat.
2. Must be a politician.
3. Must be at least 30 years old.
4. Must be willing to leave fortune to the homeless. If not, whoever you leave it to, must spend it on the economy within 2 years. You got it from us, so give it back.
Robert W
Posted on November 16, 2010 at 4:16amSend Obummer there.
Report Post »whamhost.info WORKS FROM HOME
Posted on November 17, 2010 at 2:32pmHaven’t they worked hard enough on ruining our planet? What has MARS done to US?
Report Post »