[LibWhacker]

Ping!

[cripplecreek]

I believe it was John Glenn who came up with the idea of a "space train". It is a series of spacecraft that remain in orbit between the earth and mars like boxcars. For a trip to mars from earth or vice versa would require a launch from earth to the nearest "car".

I also have wondered about the possibility of magnetic shielding for protection from radiation like the earths magnetosphere.

[nightdriver]

"Aerospace medical experts Stanley Mohler and Mary Ann Frey, both longtime researchers in the field, identified a number of health risks future astronauts could face, from radiation poisoning to meteoroid collisions, but said NASA (news - web sites) was developing plans for every known contingency."

I suppose it's too obvious to mention, but they also need to take all their own atmosphere for breathing and pressure with them. There is none there. The Martian atmosphere is at some 96% CO₂ and at only between 4 and 8 millibars pressure. Could not sustain life even if it was 100% oxygen.

[meadsjn]

"Crew members will be isolated at great distances from Earth with long lag times in communication. They'll be crowded into close quarters. They will be in danger and their sleep will be degraded," Frey said.

No biggy -- just find a conservative who has survived several years in a liberal urban environment. Real outer-space would be a relief.

[Fitzcarraldo]

I assume drugs to alleviate sexual tension will be available to the crew.

[sphinx]

"Crew members will be isolated at great distances from Earth with long lag times in communication. They'll be crowded into close quarters. They will be in danger and their sleep will be degraded," Frey said.

Nothing that the old wooden ship navies didn't face. Just give 'em a ration of grog and enough space to sing space shanties and they'll be ok.

[microgood]

First we need to create an atmosphere. We know how to do that from Total Recall. Once we get that device running the rest will just fall into place.

[Redbob]

"The spin-offs from spaceflight research and technology have made possible our lifestyle on Earth in every area, including health," Frey said."

Spin-offs like Tang and... and... uh...