Mars Trip Proposed for Space Shuttles

Space.com ^ | Tue Jan 6, 2009 | Tariq Malik

[BenLurkin]

A one-way trek to Mars?

Who do FReepers think should crew that mission?

[FroggyTheGremlim]

"one way trek"

Any volunteers?

[AU72]

Any volunteers for a 1-way trip to Mars?

[presidio9]

This one might not even WANT to come back. All we're doing is sending her home anyway.

[KarlInOhio]

It’s cruel to post her NASA centrifuge picture with her face pulled back and her eyes bugged out like that.

[screaminsunshine]

Those old things? I tell ya they barely make orbit and back much less Mars. I am amazed every time they get up and down.

[Red Badger]

[theDentist]

I’ll do it. $10 Billion tax free. Cash, now.

[The_Victor]

in a thought exercise designed to encourage unconventional thinking for future human spaceflight.

Unconventional stupidity perhaps.

[KingSnorky]

Gee, I don’t know about SanFranNan....my guess is, if she pulls more than 1g, her eyes will pop out.

[DBrow]

Steven Baxter did this in a science fiction novel. The goal was Titan, not Mars, but it was a cheap one-way ride using a surplused shuttle, a couple of Apollo capsules, and assorted stuff like a couple Russian space reactors from their ocean radar program.

They grew most of their food, which gave them extra O2 as well.

[DonaldC]

With NASA, it will be a miracle if we ever get back to the moon, let alone another planet. Their unmanned stuff is pretty interesting, but their manned program has stank for decades. I knew in the 5th grade (mid 70’s) that the shuttle idea was a terrible move and I have not seen much better since.

[Brett66]

If they’re going to take a space shuttle to Mars, it’s a good bet it will be a one-way trip, maybe even a 1/4 trip.

[TSgt]

This is great news for Sheila Jackson Lee who would like to see the U.S. flags on Mars that were planted by our astronauts in the 60's!

[Larry Lucido]

This sounds crazy enough to work.

(Oh, and I, um, have plans that weekend).

[DonaldC]

ION propulsion... hehe