[lbryce]

The US Space Program, the original seven astronauts emerged from a select specialized group of hardened professionals with years of experience on the cutting edge of aeronautical excellence who in a sense were ahead of their time in flying aircraft that were experimental in that at any moment they just might very well break up disintegrate, die. Space beckoned only after proving they were the best in mere terrestrial environment. They were cocky, brash and adventurous, a characteristic without which they could never succeed. They succeeded because they were the best, they were the best because they had the Right Stuff.
They had all sorts of experience in the classroom with multiple degrees and in the cockpit flying at multiple MACH speeds. Fortunately for them, the timing and destiny offered them they only way they could go which was up. That's how good they were. And despite it all, flying into the reaches of the unknown they had distinct advantage. Especially in the early days if they were in any trouble, being in low Earth orbit does wonders for your sense of security. Well, the era of 'Big Space' is over. done in by Democratic profligacy and a particular sick sense of underachievement by groups other than the flyboys that made space the realm of the white man.

Now, picture this. In this newfangled age of space travel where the objective, destination is many times more dangerous, hazardous, untested, technologically as well as crew capability by a factor of multiple unknowns, the money scarcer than water on Mars, they've got this plan to finance a trip to Mars by selling the promotional rights by saving money on the confetti when no returnee ticker-tape parade is part of the budget. Certainly these sign-up volunteer guys have neither the cowboy bravado, the Hollywood star quality, the expertise, even the knowledge whether they could even manage to being together more than a weekend or so without a problem. I don't much about the technology, the training. What I do know from the tests going on at the Space Station is that Man can not withstand long terms in space without serious consequences on their capacity to perform either mentally or physically.

Even knowing you won't ever be coming back, you at least want the payoff of spending a few months on Mars to make it worthwhile. And even that happening, surviving, what is it? a six month trip, landing is always tricky, then finding yourself in some deserted desert town, and after the excitement dies down having covered the maximum circle of distance, reality sets in, and that's if everything holds up technologically as well as socially. Man is not destined to thrive in low Earth gravity, Mars only one sixth of Earth. Muscles atrophy even with 10 hours of vigorous exercise a day, blood chemistry changes, white blood cells go way high. And that's all only if everyone stays relatively healthy eating the canned spam and drinking water recycled from your urine. You know what? Count me out and let these suicidal Marstronauts get what they deserve.

[Yo-Yo]

Can we nominate others?

[Hardastarboard]

Um, Dude - there's like no air on Mars, so the doob's won't burn very well. Naauugghhh - I don' wanna go.

Your post was good, BTW.

[bmwcyle]

Send Congress.

[TexasCajun]

"I'm gonna put another flag on mars!... A Texas flag this time!"

[FlingWingFlyer]

Where’s Curley Bill Brocious?

[rjsimmon]

While I was deployed to Italy, I used to read the message board from JPL and, aside from a rather lengthy discussion amongst the 50-pound head guys on the issues of buttered bread landing butter side down (that evolved into one buttering a cat and a hairless one at that to reduce friction and eventually solve perpetual motion) their two primary stopping blocks were gravity and the atrophy problem the lack of it caused, and shielding against cosmic radiation.

The human body is not meant to live in a gravity-free environment and long missions have proven this repeatedly. The worst is cosmic radiation. It destroys DNA.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Mother, Kids Hope Dad Won’t Leave Them Forever for Permanent Mars Mission

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/01/15/mother-kids-hope-dad-wont-leave-them-forever-for-permanent-mars-mission/#

[Cruz_West_Paul2016]

is Senator Waxman on the waiting list?

[WorkingClassFilth]

Send ‘em as soon as possible. Take some more with them. Maybe send a free ticket to the Obama klan.

[I want the USA back]

Man is not adapted to life on other planets. Physically or emotionally. He will be miserable within 6 months.