Posted by
michael
on from the NASA-will-fake-this-one-too dept.
nerdygeek writes "According to this article from the BBC, NASA chief Daniel Goldin has predicted there will be astronauts on Mars by 2020. We've heard things like this before, but not as strongly worded, especially when he speaks of robots and people heading for other stars."
Actually, here is a possible schedule for a good Mars mission (from rev.3 of the NASA DRM):
6 month outbound journey
~560 day stay on Mars
6 month return journey
That's damn near 3 years for either 4 or 6 astronauts (rev.1 and 2 had 6 people on the mission, but I don't remember about rev.3). Of course, if we are spending $60 billion US on this mission then they are going to be doing some science work during the outbound journey and ALL science during the stay on Mars. They won't get much chance to get bored. On the way home, they won't have a damn thing to do except relax, read, watch movies, and talk.
Russia has had cosmonauts up on Mir all alone for between 9 months and 1.5 years (I don't remember exactly, but that long by yourself has to be hard). They have also had full crews up there for long periods of time (again around 9 mos. and 1.5 years). NASA has also been putting crews into big isolated facilities with full resource recycling for 3 months at a time to simulate Mars journeys. They haven't had any mental breakdowns yet.
I totally agree that the mental aspect will be one of the toughest obstacles the crew will face, but I know that I could do it (and luckily I'll be qualified to do it in about 3 years so maybe I'll be selected for the crew, woohoo!) and others, too.
I also know that the "constant horror that a small accident means instant death every single day" won't even bother the astronauts. Think how many people skydive and extreme ski and do other dangerous sports.
The last point you brought up was about the commander being required to land them after a long mission. This isn't the case; the landing will be completely automated for that reason among other technical issues.
My senior design course was a mission to Mars so I know the feasibility of this mission. The crew survivability rate will be about 85-90% and the mission success rate is going to be about 80%. For something as momentous as this, I think these numbers are pretty good.
-- IANAL, but I play one on/.
Only psychologically difficult for nerdy astronaut
by
sean23007
·
· Score: 2
Come on, people! Years on a tiny tin can with several other people wouldn't be bad at all. Especially if you got to hang out with astronauts! I guarantee I could do it, and I could do it better than any astronaut and with less training and complaining. Anyway, just give each astronaut a Powerbook and pop an Airport in there, and let them play Unreal Tournament against each other. And other games too. Networked video games would keep them focused and aware, and it would also help them get used to using controls so the pilot could land the rig more easily anyway.
In summary, send ME up on the rocket, I can handle 3 solitary years no problem!
--
Lack of eloquence does not denote lack of intelligence, though they often coincide.
The biggest problem I forsee is the astronauts psycology. It'll be, basically, a 9 month trip in something a little less comfortable than a school bus:
Probably not as much room as a school bus.
And seeing the same people, in close proximity, every morning/afternoon/evening/night for the next 9 months with very little privacy.
The constant horror that a small accident means instant death every single day.
Plus the trip to Mars is long, drawn out, and boring (not exactly sure how long it'll take. Like 2-months?) then the commander will need to be completely focused to land. Mir had a cosmonaut that was up for several weeks and couldn't dock an unmanned satelite to Mir (the cause was most likely that he was just bored for so long he lost his focus)
They'll need to stock up on coffee and try not to kill themselves, or let the environment get to them. Easy task, right? I think not!
Actually, it's more like 2 1\2 year trip. It takes at least 6 months to get to Mars, then more than a year on the surface (waiting for Mars to get into the right position for launch), then another six months to get home.
As for comfort, I'd say it would be worse than a bus. Spending six months eating, drinking, and going to the bathroom in O G can't be fun.
And boredom isn't exactly the biggest problem on the trip.
Food supply for 2+ years
Efficient recycling of water
Radidation from solar wind
Bone and muscle loss. By the time they get to Mars they will be too weak to stand up. It will take a little time before they can do anything.
On another note, if the crew is made up of men and women, will NASA provide condoms? (How likely is it that this 2+ year mission will end without a little bada-bing going on?) Or will the crew come back with an extra member? An idea for the bordeom...maybe they can get a special deal with DirceTV to get free HBO.
-- --
If any of the above made sense, I assure it was purely by accident.
Of course the biggest question that has not got answered here is why? Is there actually any purpose to sending a man to mars?
The usual reason for using a human is that they can react quickly on their own initiative. Now by and large there is very little reason for having this. Mars has been there for billions of years. If you choose to explore it with a robot which has a ten hour response time, then this is fine. The robot can move forward a bit. Think about things. Stop, get more orders. Nothing bad is going to happen whilst its waiting. And of course you can keep the robot going for ages, whilst humans are on a very very limited time span.
Ultimately the conclusion that I have to draw from this is that its a big public relations exercise for NASA. Fair enough, but what an expensive way to increase "national pride". Why not do something meaningful like say, free medical care for the population instead?
Phil
Sending men to mars? Sure.
by
Vuarnet
·
· Score: 2
Getting them back? Now that's quite another story.
Tongue-tied and twisted, just an earth-bound misfit, I
-- Tongue-tied and twisted, just an earth-bound misfit, I Learning to fly, Pink Floyd.
Slashdot Mirror
So, when do we send women to Venus?
6 month outbound journey
~560 day stay on Mars
6 month return journey
That's damn near 3 years for either 4 or 6 astronauts (rev.1 and 2 had 6 people on the mission, but I don't remember about rev.3). Of course, if we are spending $60 billion US on this mission then they are going to be doing some science work during the outbound journey and ALL science during the stay on Mars. They won't get much chance to get bored. On the way home, they won't have a damn thing to do except relax, read, watch movies, and talk.
Russia has had cosmonauts up on Mir all alone for between 9 months and 1.5 years (I don't remember exactly, but that long by yourself has to be hard). They have also had full crews up there for long periods of time (again around 9 mos. and 1.5 years). NASA has also been putting crews into big isolated facilities with full resource recycling for 3 months at a time to simulate Mars journeys. They haven't had any mental breakdowns yet.
I totally agree that the mental aspect will be one of the toughest obstacles the crew will face, but I know that I could do it (and luckily I'll be qualified to do it in about 3 years so maybe I'll be selected for the crew, woohoo!) and others, too.
I also know that the "constant horror that a small accident means instant death every single day" won't even bother the astronauts. Think how many people skydive and extreme ski and do other dangerous sports.
The last point you brought up was about the commander being required to land them after a long mission. This isn't the case; the landing will be completely automated for that reason among other technical issues.
My senior design course was a mission to Mars so I know the feasibility of this mission. The crew survivability rate will be about 85-90% and the mission success rate is going to be about 80%. For something as momentous as this, I think these numbers are pretty good.
IANAL, but I play one on
Come on, people! Years on a tiny tin can with several other people wouldn't be bad at all. Especially if you got to hang out with astronauts! I guarantee I could do it, and I could do it better than any astronaut and with less training and complaining.
Anyway, just give each astronaut a Powerbook and pop an Airport in there, and let them play Unreal Tournament against each other. And other games too. Networked video games would keep them focused and aware, and it would also help them get used to using controls so the pilot could land the rig more easily anyway.
In summary, send ME up on the rocket, I can handle 3 solitary years no problem!
Lack of eloquence does not denote lack of intelligence, though they often coincide.
- Probably not as much room as a school bus.
- And seeing the same people, in close proximity, every morning/afternoon/evening/night for the next 9 months with very little privacy.
- The constant horror that a small accident means instant death every single day.
- Plus the trip to Mars is long, drawn out, and boring (not exactly sure how long it'll take. Like 2-months?) then the commander will need to be completely focused to land. Mir had a cosmonaut that was up for several weeks and couldn't dock an unmanned satelite to Mir (the cause was most likely that he was just bored for so long he lost his focus)
They'll need to stock up on coffee and try not to kill themselves, or let the environment get to them. Easy task, right? I think not!Good quote, too many chars. Seriously, the slashdot 120 char limit sucks!
The usual reason for using a human is that they can react quickly on their own initiative. Now by and large there is very little reason for having this. Mars has been there for billions of years. If you choose to explore it with a robot which has a ten hour response time, then this is fine. The robot can move forward a bit. Think about things. Stop, get more orders. Nothing bad is going to happen whilst its waiting. And of course you can keep the robot going for ages, whilst humans are on a very very limited time span.
Ultimately the conclusion that I have to draw from this is that its a big public relations exercise for NASA. Fair enough, but what an expensive way to increase "national pride". Why not do something meaningful like say, free medical care for the population instead?
Phil
Getting them back? Now that's quite another story.
Tongue-tied and twisted, just an earth-bound misfit, I
Tongue-tied and twisted, just an earth-bound misfit, I
Learning to fly, Pink Floyd.