NASA Contest Wants Your Ideas to Keep Astronauts Safe on Mars

Space.com ^ | Elizabeth Howell

[dp0622]

Make them face away from Uranus.

[LambSlave]

No Muslims?

[WKUHilltopper]

Issue them 1911 .45 ACPs and not those wimpy 9mms.

[Paladin2]

Use virtual reality.

[dr_lew]

How about “Build a moon base first.”

[AlmaKing]

Sweet tea instead of Tang

[rabidralph]

Shoot the whole thing in the Utah desert.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

When my Dad ran space programs at GE, he and his colleagues laughed uproariously when they received a letter from a woman proposing a “Human Turd Battery.” Seems the woman had somehow touched her tongue to her infant’s excrement and gotten a tingle which prompted her to write. Maybe I should try to dig up and dust off the letter — I could the extra money.

Yes, it’s a true story. I remember it like it happened yesterday even though it’s been about 45 years now.

[Delta 21]

Activate the turbinium reactor ASAP.

[NormsRevenge]

Bring lots of industrial sized rolls of tinfoil.

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

Bingo!

[OK Sun]

Inject a gigantic molten iron mass into the planet's core to generate a magnetic field so they won't die after a few months due to cosmic rays.

[9thLife]

I guess if I asked about your tagline I’d immediately disqualify myself from every being able to get it, right?

[Sasparilla]

Make sure their Interrossiter is in good working order.

[cripplecreek]

Yeah that would be the way I would go.

The moon is a far tougher environment but its much closer.

[Covenantor]

Send kudzu cuttings

[smokingfrog]

Heavy duty sunscreen.

[mass55th]

Send them up with the food Moochie serves to school kids.

[fieldmarshaldj]

A project that will cost, what, hundreds of billions (if not almost a trillion) and they’re dangling a prize of $5,000 to pitch ideas ? Whut ?