“Fearless” Felix Baumgartner: Mars is a waste of money

Daily Telegraph (UK) ^ | 6:59PM BST 26 Oct 2012 | Mark Hughes

[Olog-hai]

Given the way in which he achieved his fame, it is perhaps not unreasonable to assume that Felix Baumgartner would be a champion of space exploration.

But the Austrian daredevil, who traveled to the edge of space before jumping back to Earth, has branded NASA’s aim to discover whether there is life on Mars a waste of money.

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Mr. Baumgartner, who became the first man to break the sound barrier after leaping from 128,100 feet above the Earth almost two weeks ago, urged the US Government to divert the money it spends on Mars to environmental projects on Earth. …

[Olog-hai]

Guess Herr Baumgartner experienced some oxygen deprivation on the way down . . .

[FlingWingFlyer]

Another “environmental” loon. Great.

[Moltke]

urged the US Government to divert the money it spends on Mars to...

...buy truckloads of Red Bull energy drinks.

[adorno]

Guess Herr Baumgartner experienced some oxygen deprivation on the way down . . .

Either that, or a few concussions while his head was being tossed around inside his helmet during his descent.

It seems that, some people (many?), only perform certain feats in order to gain attention for their agendas.

[dfwgator]

Earth First!

_{We'll mine the other planets later.}

[Oztrich Boy]

Actually considering his day job, it perhaps not unreasonable to assume that Felix Baumgartner is totally unsuited to judge what is, and what is not, a waste of money.

[Lou Budvis]

Mars is a waste of money. It’s lack of a magnetic core render it uninhabitable.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

I’m very big on our next missions to the Moon and Mars being robotic missions, and not just any robots, but nuclear powered tunnel mining robots.

Once they make tunnels, the future logistics of going to both the Moon and Mars become a lot easier, and more importantly, the missions become cumulative, not just “one shots”. It gets the eventual astronauts out of the vacuum, cosmic and enhanced radiation, extremes of heat and cold, and they can bring more supplies and equipment other than living quarters every time.

And the robot continues its work when there are no people around, in between manned missions, as well as providing a lot of nuclear energy when they are there, for heat, light, air, water and fuel.

[AntiKev]

Not true. Read “The Case for Mars” by Bob Zubrin.

[bravo whiskey]

excellent book. going to mars in a “tuna can.” we already spend too much money on the environment, welfare, foreign aid, and education.

liberalism delenda est.

[zeestephen]

Here’s something new...

Clicked on “The Telegraph” article.

Their website blocks me from highlighting text.

No highlight means no cut & paste.

First time I’ve ever seen this on the Web.

[SunkenCiv]

[SunkenCiv]

[SunkenCiv]

Go into browers options/preferences and shut off Java and Javascript, then try it.

[SunkenCiv]

G’day, all!

[KevinDavis]

[GeronL]

Could be, hope not.

Would be worth it as a base to launch forays deeper into space though.

[Kakaze]

So Felix, goes to the edge of space and says, "I'm going home now".

He doesn't step into history, he dives back into the gravity well and then advocates staying home.

Felix, in the end you are a coward.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Kinda of interesting to see that NASA suddenly says there is no methane on Mars
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/11/no-methane-curiosity/
and now Baumgartner says we don’t need to go to Mars.

[Eaker]

who became the first man to break the sound barrier

I believe not.