Space Travel- Does it HAVE to be a round trip?

[Brekkie]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/01/opinion/01krauss.html


This article touches on something I've felt for years- if a round trip to mars is too expensive, why not just send astronauts on one way trips? There will be no shortage of volunteers...

What do you think? Would you be willing to go on a one-way, colonization mission to Mars, to live out the rest of your days in a habitat conducting experiments and gradually expanding a base?

[bldavis]

*cough*terra nova*cough*

honestly, if a plan is made and is viable for human colonization of mars, i would be happy that my tax dollars went towards that

[Dantriges]

Me personally? no thanks. Well I won´t pass the physical anyways.

A rather radical idea. I wonder if he thinks that the budget and space for the return will be redirected to radiation shielding instead? How long would they survive with radiation shielding on a budget? Would volunteers be so willing if they hear they will die in a few years from radiation sickness or some other stuff, that resuts from receiving a high dose of radiation. What will happen in a few years after the initial enthusiasm is gone and the astronauts regret their decision? Probably many of them won´t but some will grow restless.

I don´t know if they can apply the same reasons that former colonists had to leave their home. They expected to create a better life for themselves or their children. Good question if the one way program could fulfill that. Life on Mars won´t be self sufficient for a long time. Well it beats living in misery on Earth but probably every guy/gal you send there is a trained specialist, who can make quite a living on Earth. But ok, there will be quite a few explorer types who would take the trip.

[Daeren]

/random thoughts

Sooner or later, we need to find ways to colonize new planets. The round trip part is hard indeed. And that's just within the solar system. But we need to get moving. It's taking time already, and so far, there's no progress in speed, but in all the other technology there is. Even then, to be able to build something that could even get us beyond the solar system would have to be massive to support life in years upon years, and that's a definately one-way trip.

I guess to do that we need to have some colony on the moon to be able to build something without the gravity of earth.

[Jeremoot]

I would be down for a one-way trip after colonization has occured.

Before? No. Way. I'd miss too much Earth stuff. Especially food that isn't dried.

[Passionario]

Would you be willing to go on a one-way, colonization mission to Mars, to live out the rest of your days in a habitat conducting experiments and gradually expanding a base?

Not in this body. I'd prefer to get heavily augmented and biomodified before going to another planet.

[Brekkie]

FYI, Mars has an atmosphere, as evidenced by its weather patterns. It's simply not a breathable atmosphere to humans.

The point being, the radiation shielding problem only is the case during the TRIP. Once on the surface of Mars, solar radiation wouldn't be an issue.

[Daeren]

I'd sign up for it as well. Would be a bit annoying with the terraforming and stuff. Always handy to bring a physician you know.

But one thought occured to me, you people think aussies have bad internet connection with high latency and low max capacity on download? Try Mars

[bldavis]

I'd sign up for it as well. Would be a bit annoying with the terraforming and stuff. Always handy to bring a physician you know.

But one thought occured to me, you people think aussies have bad internet connection with high latency and low max capacity on download? Try Mars

you mean i wouldnt be able to raid from mars?
FUCK THAT! MISSIONS OFF!

[Daeren]

I wouldn't say that, you would have special Mars servers. And do you know what a new colony would mean? BRAND NEW NET INFRASTRUCTURE. Optical net connections for everyone! Would probably be even lower latency than now within the colony.

[Jheherrin]

Given that a colonisation mission would involve copious amounts of sex in order to create lots of small martian gold farmers, you can count me in.

[bldavis]

frozen sperm doesnt need food or air....

[Fivelives]

Even if there's a multitude of problems, there would still be plenty of volunteers, I'm sure. How many people would love to get their names in the history books, for starters?

[Zonzede]

Were I in physical shape to do it, I'd jump at the chance.

[crazyharry]

Hell, im broken and I'd still go if I didn't have a sprog.

Although I would probably try to smuggle a cat along.