[AntiKev]

Not hard to do, just need a big mylar sheet. That will have a two-fold effect. First it will release CO2 sequestered in the regolith, and it will begin to melt the ice. I forget the exact numbers, but very shortly we begin to get very close to 1/3 of an atmosphere of pressure, and at the bottom of the largest valleys, we're approaching shirt-sleeve environment (minus breathing equipment).

Even more importantly, this should hasten the efforts for a manned mission. Having water there means that we DON'T need to bring hydrogen to create methane for propellant, or oxygen. That means that we can launch a mission TODAY with current technology. Build Orion, and get it on top of an Atlas V of Delta IV Heavy.

They have a ridiculous amount of excess production capacity in Alabama. They can build 40 common booster cores per year. That's 10 Delta IV heavies, enough to launch a manned mission to Mars. 10 DIV's are approximately 250 tonnes to LEO. Then there are 10 DIV regulars to launch another 100 tonnes to LEO.

Ugh...why aren't we funding NASA more?

[SampleMan]

Not hard to do, just need a big mylar sheet.

I thought my Suburban would do it?

[theFIRMbss]

>why aren't we funding NASA more?

Because for every mission that goes correctly, there are three or four massive scale f*ck #ps. Oh, and they've got some problems with their personnel . . .

[Lokibob]

2 problems hit me right away with your "simple solution.
#1- How heavy is a mylar sheet the size of Texas? OK, so you say 1/10 the size of Texas? Thats gonna take a lot of delta rockets, and a lot of people sewing the mylar together.
and #2- (this is the big one), How do you get 1/3 of the atmospheric pressure of earth, when Mars is only 1/6th the size of Earth. Remember, atmospheric pressure is determined by the the gravity of the planet.