[vannrox]

Interesting.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Buzz needs a checkup.

Former Astronaut Aldrin, Purdue Engineers Planning Mars Hotels

[boris]

The cycler saves you nothing in Delta-Vee (energy). It might save hardware and infrastructure; nothing more. The real problem is putting in the delta-Vee for the mission.

--Boris

[boris]

"The cycler essentially is in orbit around the sun and makes regular flybys of Earth and Mars," said team member James Longuski, a professor of aeronautics and astronautics at Purdue. "Once you put your vehicle into a cycler orbit, it continues on its own momentum, going back and forth between Earth and Mars. You may need to carry some propellant for an occasional boost, but it's pretty much a free trip after that."

Let me expand. This statement is true for the cycler. However, nature will not be short-changed. The total Delta-Vee needed to match orbits (rendezvous) with the cycler and to return to earth from it is the same as if no cycler were used. Possibly even more.

--Boris

[RightWhale]

It's a sound idea. I would wait until the first roundtrip is complete before purchasing a couple of cruise tickets.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Buzz should concentrate on the moon. The lunar surface is relativly close at a quarter million miles, and a lot of expoloration has yet to take place.

And best of all, a large optical telescope could be built on the lunar surface for studies of the earths surfaces and deep space research. If its a Hotel they want, it would be much easier to construct on the lunar surface than Mars.

The lunar surface could then be used as a stepping stone for Mars and beyond.

[Enemy Of The State]

Bump!

Proud to be a Boliermaker!