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Mice Headed for Mars?

MarsOrBust writes: "The Mars Society today announced their next project, called TransLife, will be to send an Apollo size spacecraft manned by mice into earth orbit rotating at Mars gravity. This will be the first time anyone has done research at Martian gravity. The purpose of the experiments is to prove that the transit to Mars, which would take about six months, should be done at Martian gravity. The project would cost about $10 million. In a related article SpaceRef talks about how millionaires are now starting to fund these type of private missions and speculates whether billionaires might fund further space projects." MSNBC has a story.

196 comments

  1. Sounds like a by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    waste of $10 million.

  2. Planet of Mices by synsent · · Score: 1

    That would be like Planet of the Apes ;-)
    The mices will land on the Planet, and will populate mars.
    An then they will start to invade to Planet Earth!!

    1. Re:Planet of Mices by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It would be more like Biker Mice from Mars.

  3. These mice want to go home, by Chris+Hind · · Score: 1

    Yeah, right, we're running an experiment on these mice. Sounds like they're taking a progress report back to somewhere beyond the tenth dimension.

    --
    nal 11
    1. Re:These mice want to go home, by ellesar1 · · Score: 1

      So True!
      Either that, or they are distributing some of their work to mars, earth doesn't have enough computing power

  4. Pinky And The Brain: Red Planet Madness by Self+Bias+Resistor · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yes, I can see it now:

    "What are we going to do tonight, Brain?"
    "The same thing we do every night, Pinky. Try to take over Mars!"

    Or maybe I just need more sleep...

    --

    ----------
    When the pin is pulled, Mr. Grenade is no longer our friend.

    1. Re:Pinky And The Brain: Red Planet Madness by Alien54 · · Score: 3
      I thought they were going to try to recruit the martians to try to take over the earth.

      or maybe re-engineer the probe to disrupt the satellite pron distribution, blackmailing the techies who run the world. (somehow that idea has potential as an episode.)

      you get the idea.

      - - -
      Radio Free Nation
      "If You have a Story, We have a Soap Box"

      --
      "It is a greater offense to steal men's labor, than their clothes"
    2. Re:Pinky And The Brain: Red Planet Madness by Bonker · · Score: 5, Funny

      "Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Pinky?"

      "I think so, Brain, but how on earth are we ever going to convince a parrot to perch on a man's penis?"

      "You need to turn the thermostat of your brain back up, Pinky. I was *reffering* to the fact that Mars is composed almost entirely of iron oxide, hence its bright red color. Using this coil of cheesewire, three Slashdot first-posters in a giant hamster wheel, the army of fleas that infest your mangy coat, and my Bill Gates automaton, we will turn the planet Mars into a giant, computer-controlled electromagnet!"

      "POIT! But will it run Linux, Brain?"

      "Hushup, you. Once the magnet is ready, we'll use it to pull the Earth out of its orbit, changing the seasons and altering the climate... That is unless the governments of Earth succumb to my demands and elect me GLOBAL RULER!!!"

      "Oooohhh... That's really neat, Brain! But how are we ever going to get to Mars?"

      "I have an idea..."

      --
      The next Slashdot story will be ready soon, but subscribers can beat the rush and slashdot the links early!
  5. Funded by Bill Gates? by bjb · · Score: 1

    Hmm, so does that mean that NASA would get an icon on the Windows desktop?

    --
    Never hit your grandmother with a shovel, for it leaves a bad impression on her mind...
    1. Re:Funded by Bill Gates? by gadders · · Score: 1

      If Bill Gates wants to send himself to Mars, I'd chip in.

  6. Mice? by BillyGoatThree · · Score: 1

    Are these the superintelligent ones from last year? I hope so, because it seems like regular mice wouldn't be smart enough to perform experiments in microgravity.

    Animals of a porcine persuasion, though, are much more intelligent. Plus, we'd get to say piiiiigssssss iiiiinnnnnn spaaaaaaaacccccce

    --
    324006
    1. Re:Mice? by JimPooley · · Score: 1

      Yeah, but would you want to muck out the spaceship if pigs had been in it?

      --

      "Information wants to be paid"
    2. Re:Mice? by ethereal · · Score: 2, Funny

      C3P0: "Doesn't look like the princess to me."

      Miss Piggy: "Watch it, hardware."

      [humor courtesy of http://moviescript.scriptmania.com/starwars/muppet .html]

      --

      Your right to not believe: Americans United for Separation of Church and

  7. "Space craft Manned by Mice" by popeyethesailor · · Score: 1

    I'm sure the mice are going to feel insulted by that comment.

    1. Re:"Space craft Manned by Mice" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why do advanced pandimensional beings even need a space ship?

    2. Re:"Space craft Manned by Mice" by windi · · Score: 1

      Well, what should we say :
      "miced by mice"
      or
      "crewed by mice"

      :-)

    3. Re:"Space craft Manned by Mice" by alnapp · · Score: 1

      On linguistic grounds if no other
      Surely "Space craft miced by Mice"

    4. Re:"Space craft Manned by Mice" by ShavenYak · · Score: 1

      I would say "moused by mice" mice-elf.

      --

      Hey kids, there's only 5 days left 'til Yak Shaving Day!
    5. Re:"Space craft Manned by Mice" by SIGFPE · · Score: 2

      Miced by mice is a tautology. You simply want to say "a miced spacecraft". Or better still "a moused spacecraft".

      --
      -- SIGFPE
    6. Re:"Space craft Manned by Mice" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Clearly, it should be "moused by mice".

    7. Re:"Space craft Manned by Mice" by mons · · Score: 1

      AND if the mice does something wrong they could control the spacecraft through a moused PC.

  8. Interesting by The_Jazzman · · Score: 2, Interesting

    It will be truly interesting to observe the effects of mars gravity on mice.

    A while back I remember reading about the changes that would happen to man were we to habitate Mars. Such changes would include, but were not limited to:

    1) Growth. People nowadays are tall, but it's not inconceivable that we would grow more than ten feet tall. This is due to the lack of gravity, thus our bodies having much less force against them growing skywards.
    2) Chest size. Some people like bigs tits / pecs. Well, were we to live on mars, another size effect of the lack of gravity would be a massive swelling of the chest area to immense proportions. This would accomodate a much greater lung capacity as well.

    I for one can't wait to see qute what happens to the mice.

    1. Re:Interesting by Sc00ter · · Score: 2
      of course a person like that would not beable to come back to earth.. or if they did, they would be extreamly uncomfortable. Just like we would if we went to a planet with a greater gravity.

    2. Re:Interesting by TWR · · Score: 2
      So what you're saying is that the Sweedish Bikini Team is from Mars?


      -jon

      --

      Remember Amalek.

  9. Finally.. by OblongPlatypus · · Score: 4, Funny

    ..someone's realized who's the most intelligent species on the planet.

    (Please don't tell me you didn't get *that* cultural reference...)

    --
    -- If no truths are spoken then no lies can hide --
    1. Re:Finally.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Someone got it about eight posts ago, I think you'll find. (-1, Redundant).

    2. Re:Finally.. by OblongPlatypus · · Score: 2

      This just goes to show, if you want to make a cultural reference around here, you can't be subtle :)

      --
      -- If no truths are spoken then no lies can hide --
    3. Re:Finally.. by Vuarnet · · Score: 2

      Obviously! You can't just drop random cultural references (FNORD) in one of your comments, and hope that the Force will guide their minds (with all of their assorted engrams) towards Illumination. It just not logical.

      Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll go make me a Protoculture / Spice martini (shaken, not stirred) at Moe's. Maybe a whole Beowulf cluster of them. Hmm... better not, after all it could be made OUT OF PEOPLE!! Damn them to Hell! (Being dragged away by agents Daggett and Scully)

      (Did I miss anything?)

      --
      Tongue-tied and twisted, just an earth-bound misfit, I
      Learning to fly, Pink Floyd.
    4. Re:Finally.. by Winged+Cat · · Score: 1

      Pretty easy to get, when it's posted in the "dept" of the article itself...

  10. Manned? by the_olo · · Score: 2, Insightful

    manned by mice
    Shouldn't that be miced?

    1. Re:Manned? by ElPresidente1972 · · Score: 2, Funny

      No, it should be moused.

      Manned : moused :: menned : miced. Got it?

      I hope I got that right. If not, rats.

    2. Re:Manned? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      READ THE STORY!!! Rats aren't involved anywhere. You people really can be stupid sometim... uuh no wait...

  11. Hmmm... by turbine216 · · Score: 1

    I wonder if the mice had to pay $20 million like that Tito guy...

  12. Idiots. by Monkeychunks · · Score: 1

    This is plain idiocy. The supposed point of the "mission" is to test the feasibility of mammals inhabiting Mars. So, the results will show how well mice might fare.

    Mind you, If I were a mouse, I wouldn't want to share a planet with an arrogant species that thinks I exist for the purpose of it's experiments, so I'd probably view this as a very handy escape option for my species.

    --
    "We kill to cure, with cures that kill" - Skinny Puppy
  13. And the ship's computers will be running: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Microsoft (R) Mouse Driver Version 8.20a
    Copyright (C) Microsoft Corp. 1983-1992. All rights reserved.

  14. I hope they send motorcycles too. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Send motorcycles too, so when they come back we get Biker Mice from Mars.

    1. Re:I hope they send motorcycles too. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Dammit, *I* was gonna post a BMFM comment. :)

  15. Earth 2? by MagicM · · Score: 1

    Does this mean the mice are moving away to build a new Earth?

    I do hope they make more countries with those lovely frilly edges.

    What's this space ship doing hovering over my house?

  16. Mars Needs Mice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I've started to build a mouse-ark in my back yard. You see, the planet is made of red cheese....

  17. Haven't we... by The_Messenger · · Score: 1
    ...seen this before? Chu Chu Rocket! w00t!

    C'mon, everyone post their fun links in honor of Friday afternoon. I want to make this a habit.

    --

    --
    I like to watch.

    1. Re:Haven't we... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      wow. all this money spent so people can play chu chu rocket with real chu chus and kapu kapus.

    2. Re:Haven't we... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      YES!!! We need a Friday afternoon stupidity forum on Slashdot.

    3. Re:Haven't we... by The_Messenger · · Score: 0

      I'd be willing to head such a forum. It'd be like Slashback, but worth reading. Return of the Quickies, the Quickies Strike Back. If Taco doesn't email me about this, I'll be forced to create my own, competing site on GeoCities, and steal all of Slashdot's traffic. Mwahahaha.

      --

      --
      I like to watch.

    4. Re:Haven't we... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think I have to agree. I am so damn bored I was reading your user info...

  18. The answer by 1010011010 · · Score: 5, Funny

    The mice just want to get the answer off the planet before the Vogons destroy it.

    --
    Napster-to-go says "Fill and refill your compatible MP3 player", which is a lie. It's not MP3. It's WMA with DRM.
    1. Re:The answer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      so
      long,
      and thanks
      for
      the
      cheese.

      so
      long, and
      thanks
      for
      the
      cheese.

    2. Re:The answer by Saeger · · Score: 1

      This is for the three people in the back who didn't get the joke.

      --
      Power to the Peaceful
  19. How would they eat their Cheese? by Brownstar · · Score: 4, Funny

    Wouldn't all the mice starve to death when their teeth fall out?

    (I would link to previous article but the search engine doesn't work and couldn't find it on Google :(

    1. Re:How would they eat their Cheese? by Fishstick · · Score: 2

      Well, while this is obviously intended as a funny post, the article says they will travel in simulated Martian gravity.

      The Translife mission will consist of a Mars-level (0.38 g)artificial gravity spacecraft carrying a crew of mice (and possibly other animals and plants) in low Earth orbit for a period of roughly two months

      So, the issue of bone loss from zero/micro gravity over long periods of time would seem to no be a factor, no?

      --

      There is much cruelty in the universe, John.
      Yeah, we seem to have the tour map.

    2. Re:How would they eat their Cheese? by jesser · · Score: 2

      The translife mission is trying to answer exactly that question: is Mars gravity (about 1/3 of Earth's) enough to keep mammals healthy and allow them to reproduce?

      --
      The shareholder is always right.
  20. Re:Stephen King, author, dead at 54 by gadders · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    He's not dead - he's gone incognito to Mars.

    Give it up with this Stephen King crap you numbnut.

  21. Suspects in crime. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    The suspects were a pair of mice, seen leaving the scene in a Martian tripod-shaped war machine.


    The two rodents had been seen in a Castle Rock bar the week before complaining about how King had ignored their requests to film a sequel to Cujo about a rabid cat.

  22. Pigs, er, mice in space! by (trb001) · · Score: 1

    Why don't we try this with cockroaches first? We have lots of em, they're hardy and resilient and everyone always says they will be the one species that survives a nuclear holocaust. I'll betcha they'd even have the no air/atmosphere thing figured out by the time they got there.

    --trb

    1. Re:Pigs, er, mice in space! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      we have more than enough cockroaches here, can you imagine needing an interplanetary exterminator?

    2. Re:Pigs, er, mice in space! by d_lesage · · Score: 1

      Yeech. Then when time comes to colonize Mars, it's already overrun by roaches.

      Might as well send both roaches and rats, then. It'd be just like New York by the time we get there.

      --

      Ich werde nie wieder denken
    3. Re:Pigs, er, mice in space! by Happy+Monkey · · Score: 1

      The last thing we want to do to future Martian colonists is send over all the vermin first! At least give them a few years of life without the roaches and mice...

      --
      __
      Do ya feel happy-go-lucky, punk?
  23. Please Read the article by jjr · · Score: 1

    They going to to put into an mars LIKE gravity they will be orbiting EARTH they are not sending mice to mars. they are just putting them in in martian like gravity.

  24. Ever hear of soft cheese? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    A diet of heated Velveeta will do the trick.

    1. Re:Ever hear of soft cheese? by Bobo+the+Space+Chimp · · Score: 1

      Mmmm, heated Velveeta in a weightless environment...

      --
      I am for the complete Trantorization of Earth.
    2. Re:Ever hear of soft cheese? by unitron · · Score: 2
      Or perhaps a crowd control weapon, the Hot Velveeta Squirt Gun. Like edible napalm.

      (Now watch some idiot file for a patent.)

      --

      I see even classic Slashdot is now pretty much unusable on dial up anymore.

  25. Welcome to 1g! by gad_zuki! · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Zubrin: Why is there blood running out of their ears?

    Scientist: Because you're an idiot!

    The 2nd generation of mice will never get to experience 1g until they land. I'm sure that'll make for a great mortality rate.

    1. Re:Welcome to 1g! by jesser · · Score: 2

      They'll experience >1g on their way down, too.

      --
      The shareholder is always right.
  26. 36 comments by darylp · · Score: 1

    And not ONE mention of "Biker Mice from Mars". For shame!

  27. Better them than me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I want to keep my teeth.

  28. A reason to get rid of all the mice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Send all the mice to mars, so we will all be forced to use Microsoft Trackball.

  29. Mouse on Mars by freq · · Score: 1

    I think a mouse on mars is a great idea!

    --
    "Tension is the great integrity" -- R. Buckminster Fuller
  30. Three words by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Floating mouse poop. Ever have a pet mouse? holy cow. I predict, the poop will float around and eventually stick to their fur and the cage walls. At the end of the experiment, you will have mice floating around with poop stuck to them. And in the cages, multiply the mouse stink by a factor of five, since that's how many more surfaces are available for collecting and dispersing those oders when you forget to clean the cage.

  31. Re:Did somebody say martians? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You were right, you have been modded "offtopic" which I feel is crying shame as there is probably a moderator running around handing out "Insightful"s to anyone who works in a way to bash Microsoft.

    Oh well

  32. You are too late by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...the biker mice message is several messages above yours.

  33. Two words by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sh** happens. Get over it.

  34. Can't send cockroaches. . .. by Salgak1 · · Score: 1

    PETA will object. Send Lawyers instead: same characteristics, not as loveable, and nobody will complain. . .

  35. Say what? by Epi-man · · Score: 1

    spacecraft manned by mice

    How is the ship being "manned" by mice? To me manned means operated, not just inhabited. Gotta love the English language! I am not sure what they hope to prove, how is a single generation going to prove that mammals can adapt to gravitational changes? I'm all for science, but shouldn't they reign in their expectations?

    1. Re:Say what? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Mice go into orbit -> mice live there for a few months/years -> mice come back -> mice are significantly less fucked than mice who've been in zero gravity for the same amount of time -> should look much closer at possibility of Mars mission being done under Martian gravity, not zero gee.

      OR

      Mice go into orbit -> mice live there for a few months/years -> mice come back -> mice are NOT significantly less fucked than mice who've been in zero gravity for the same amount of time -> possibility of Mars mission being done under Martian gravity, not zero gee less exciting.

      We call it SCIENCE.

    2. Re:Say what? by Bobo+the+Space+Chimp · · Score: 1

      Let's just make sure they don't crash-land on that terrible Planet of the Mice.

      Homre: Wait a minute! Statue of Liberty? That was our planet. Damn you! Damn you all to hell!

      --
      I am for the complete Trantorization of Earth.
    3. Re:Say what? by Epi-man · · Score: 1

      mice live there for a few months/years

      And then I realized why you missed my point...you didn't read the article. They have proposed a mission of a whole 2 months duration! Yes, if they run longer missions as you have suggested, I would be quicker to agree that they can address the question of mammals settling other planets, but their 3rd point they want to investigate essentially is generations of mammals living in lower g environs. That is a vastly different situation than a quick 2 month hop and a single generation (I guess I am not sure what age mice mature, but I don't think they will get more than one generation in two months)!

      We call it SCIENCE

      I would call it shaky science at best (in terms of this question). As I said, I think it is something that is appropriate to explore, but don't come back and tell me that because of this we now know we can colonize Mars!

  36. But arent mice... by Bob+McCown · · Score: 1

    ...the ones responsible for creating earth to begin with? Maybe the Vogon fleet is on the way, and they're being safe.

  37. Mices ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You do realize mice is already the plural for mouse right.

    Geez people, even 1st graders write better than this !

  38. Track ball. by Gregoyle · · Score: 3, Funny

    Hey wait a minute here. Everyone knows that the standard mouse is only really practical in gravity. If you use a mouse in zero G, you have to hold it down against a table, and obviously holding it down would almost certainly make you bounce off into the depths of space (think Darth Vader). For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction...

    Now, what they *should* be using for a pointing device is a trackball. That way they don't have to hold it down and therefore will remain safe. Man these space guys sure are dumb. First it's the whole feet and meters thing, now this.

    --

    "He's more machine now than man, twisted and evil."

    1. Re:Track ball. by ShavenYak · · Score: 1

      That'll only work if the trackball has optical sensors like the Logitech marble. If it uses rollers, you still need the weight of the ball for it to work right.

      --

      Hey kids, there's only 5 days left 'til Yak Shaving Day!
    2. Re:Track ball. by Gregoyle · · Score: 2

      You're right, my plan is ruined!!!!

      They'll have to use touchpads, then, it's the only choice.

      --

      "He's more machine now than man, twisted and evil."

    3. Re:Track ball. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think you can find trackballs with rollers that have the ball wedged in the cup so that it still produces friction against the rollers. I do like the Logitech marble, tho.

    4. Re:Track ball. by unitron · · Score: 2

      You won't need the weight, you just have to use a stronger spring on the tension roller, or whatever they call that thing that's not one of the two photo-interrupter disc axles.

      --

      I see even classic Slashdot is now pretty much unusable on dial up anymore.

  39. Won't the mice get dizzy? by dpilot · · Score: 2

    For humans at least, it's generally accepted that you don't want to spin faster than 1 RPM for artificial gravity. I know they're only aiming for 1/3 G, but that's a linear term in the equation, and an Apollo-sized capsule would still need to spin pretty fast. Or does the smaller size of mice translate to a more robust inner ear, at least for rotation?

    Someone else was concerned about the second generation mice coming back to Earth. Maybe the first generation will be too dizzy and nauseous to make a second generation.

    --
    The living have better things to do than to continue hating the dead.
    1. Re:Won't the mice get dizzy? by gorilla · · Score: 2

      I would have thought that they'd be using the tether technique, where the entire capsule is spun on a tether with a counterweight on the other end. This allows a much slower spin rate.

    2. Re:Won't the mice get dizzy? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The dizzyness and nausea of excessive drink has been facilitating human procreation for centuries. The mice will figure it out.

    3. Re:Won't the mice get dizzy? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, the biggest problem with speeds in excess of 1 RPM to simulate gravity is the differential effect you get from being well, tall. Mice don't have this problem as they are rather short. The differential they will exprience is rather small, so they shouldn't experience the dizziness.

  40. Two Words: by robvasquez · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Stuart Little

    The first time I tried to post that comment, I got:

    Post Comment

    Lameness filter encountered.

    Your comment violated the postercomment compression filter. Comment aborted

  41. And for light reading... by pq · · Score: 1
    And for light reading during the voyage, the mice are taking along the bestseller, Who Moved My Cheese?
    In Adobe eBook format, no less...

    --
    "I will take the Ring," he said, "though I do not know the way."
    1. Re:And for light reading... by Bobo+the+Space+Chimp · · Score: 1

      And once they've read it once, it poofs, and they can't get it back because the Earth has been destroyed. Now who's laughing over not having illegal decryption software? Huh? Huh?

      --
      I am for the complete Trantorization of Earth.
    2. Re:And for light reading... by Chagrin · · Score: 1

      If you had read the book like I did you would realize that this is a good thing.

      --

      I/O Error G-17: Aborting Installation

  42. Top reasons to send mice to Mars by AtariAmarok · · Score: 1

    To see how Martian soil works as a mousepad.

    Read Heinlein. Those Martian flat-cats are getting very hungry!

    I'm mad as all get-out since I found out that mice had chewed up the box of Commodore Ahoy! magazines I had not looked at for 16 years.

    After we send a spaceship "manned by mice", we can send one "moused by men".

    It would be a practical use for that miniature Russian space shuttle someone was selling on eBay.

    They can set up Velveeta factories in preparation for human missions.

    Why not? After films like "Red Planet" and "Mission to Mars", the place can't get any more cheesy.

    Because Mars blocks my view of Jupiter

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
  43. Test effects on humans by using humans by santeri · · Score: 1
    I for one can't wait to see qute what happens to the mice.

    They should send all those millionairies up there instead. If they want to see what the effects of Mars are on humans, they should try it out using humans. Animal testing is (IMHO in any imaginable case, even in drug research, but YMMV) unethical, and even more so in cases like this where it really won't be able to provide any new information that couldn't be simulated using our current knowledge on astrophysics, biology and mathematics.

    Anyway, we have more than enough of our own species down here already, so if the bourgeoises want to save themselves, they could just send all the petty crack dealers to interplanetary round-trips and free some space in your prison camps.

    --
    ______________
    OTTERS RULE.
    1. Re:Test effects on humans by using humans by Grayraven · · Score: 1

      The thing is that breeding mice in space is a lot easier that breeding humans.

      I think it would be quite interesting to see what
      physiological consequences the lower gravity would have.

      --
      "Source... The Final Frontier" -- keepersoflists.org
    2. Re:Test effects on humans by using humans by The_Jazzman · · Score: 1

      Animal testing's wrong ? In principal or in practise ?

      Yes, a lot of companies out there screw around with animals, and I'd agree with you that they are wrong. However, if it was a case of an animal getting a nasty side effect from a cancer-curing drug... well, what you rather have ? Would *you* volunteer ?

    3. Re:Test effects on humans by using humans by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But you can't kill the SWEET little MOUSEY! Oh no, not the MOUSEY! Help, help, there's a nasty rat come up my drainpipe, put the poison down!

    4. Re:Test effects on humans by using humans by JonKatzIsAnIdiot · · Score: 1

      So you see animal testing as unethical, but you have no problems with human testing?

    5. Re:Test effects on humans by using humans by walnut · · Score: 2

      I spent a year working in a genetics lab doing research on lab mice. (How many western blots can you do in a day?) Genetic testing on animals allows for quick growth to a mature age, the ability to quickly see the effect on several generations of treatment, and provides a significantly easier way to test for effects and what have you. Some research requires brain examination, some requires cell harvesting. Try telling a person, "I'm sorry but we need to kill you now so we can examine your brain" is an impsibility. Attempting to perform research without animals, delays the ability for cures to be found. While I was there I saw promising research in many varieties of cancer, AIDs treatments, blood diseases, aging, and many others. The researchers who work there don't stand over the mice laughing maniacally as they perform tests, they perform as few tests as possible, conserve as much material as possible, and otherwise try to provide the mice as comfortable an environment with all things considered...

      Even if the same resarch was allowed to be done on people, generations would need to live and die to see certain effects. In twenty years worth of mice, several generations may be explored. With humans, one hundred years of research probably only yields four generations.

      Right now, genetic research is necessary - which means animal testing is necessary. Give genetics fifty more years of maturity and maybe it won't have as much of a need on animals, right now they are the mainstay.

      But, I will agree with you in this case, using millionares sounds like a good idea too... just the mice need to go as well so the research is actually usefull.

      --
      You say you want a revolution?
  44. MANNED by mice? by Unknown+Poltroon · · Score: 2

    Or just containing mice?

    --
    All Troll + "offtopic" mods are meta moderated as "Unfair", because you abused the system.
  45. Gravity by labratuk · · Score: 1
    Nothing in orbit with the earth can have martian gravity. Anything in orbit has _NO_ gravity because it is on a continually falling parabola.

    No matter what altitude it is at, this is _always_ true. Thats how orbits work.

    --
    Malike Bamiyi wanted my assistance.
    1. Re:Gravity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not too bright, are you? Did you miss the word "rotating" in the phrase "rotating at Mars gravity"?

    2. Re:Gravity by Grayraven · · Score: 1

      Eh? Well, true, you only have martian gravity on mars, but you can simulate it in orbit by spinning the object.

      --
      "Source... The Final Frontier" -- keepersoflists.org
    3. Re:Gravity by -da+craz- · · Score: 1
      Anything in orbit has _NO_ gravity because it is on a continually falling parabola.
      We better stop orbiting the sun then, before we have _NO_ gravity.
      --
      This ain't the Planet of Sound.
  46. manned by mice? by Fishstick · · Score: 1

    Isn't this an oxymoron, or something.

    (or am I just a moron?)

    Seriously, what do you call something like this when it is obviously unmanned (no human pilot) but there is an animal occupant on board?

    --

    There is much cruelty in the universe, John.
    Yeah, we seem to have the tour map.

  47. In orbit at Mars gravity?!?!? by Bobo+the+Space+Chimp · · Score: 1

    Maybe I'm missing something, but if you're in orbit, your gravity is offset exactly by your centrifugal force of your orbit. You are weightless.

    --
    I am for the complete Trantorization of Earth.
    1. Re:In orbit at Mars gravity?!?!? by Bobo+the+Space+Chimp · · Score: 1

      Unless, of course, they're putting the mice in a little centrifuge, and I'd bet the mice would get very screwed up being spun around for weeks, vastly overpowering any gains you might get from knowledge of light weight, like trying to measure a pea under a mattress while an elephant bounces up and down right next to you.

      --
      I am for the complete Trantorization of Earth.
    2. Re:In orbit at Mars gravity?!?!? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Another retard. You people really have no idea what you're talking about, do you?

      Launch space capsule -> deploy counterweight -> spin entire assembly -> gravity-like effect from centrifugal force.

      What the hell is this retarded "I'd bet the mice would get very screwed up being spun around for weeks, vastly overpowering any gains you might get from knowledge of light weight, like trying to measure a pea under a mattress while an elephant bounces up and down right next to you."??? What the hell are you talking about??? Do you even know?

      If you spin something around like I said, the only difference you notice is the Coriolis forces. They'll be minimal, really, and even if they're not then that's all relevant data considering that what we're looking for is the effects of being in such a craft for extended periods. I think you need to buy yourself a clue.

    3. Re:In orbit at Mars gravity?!?!? by Bobo+the+Space+Chimp · · Score: 1

      But what if they use an artificial gravity generator?

      Then they'd be doubling the Mars gravity if they did what you say!

      --
      I am for the complete Trantorization of Earth.
    4. Re:In orbit at Mars gravity?!?!? by Rubyflame · · Score: 1

      But what if they use an artificial gravity generator?

      No such thing.

      --

      All it takes is nukes and nerves.
  48. Privately funded space missions by Siener · · Score: 1

    In a related article SpaceRef talks about how millionaires are now starting to fund these type of private missions and speculates whether billionaires might fund further space projects

    The way I see it, this is definitely a Good Thing. The days of unlimited space program budgets ended with the Cold War, and there aren't enough commercial reasons yet for companies to do space exploration. This has caused lots of space programs to basically grind to a halt

    I always thought that if I was mega rich that this would be one of the more interesting ways to spend those millions.

  49. mine pigeons by SGDarkKnight · · Score: 1

    it sounds like they want to use the mice like they did pigeons in the mines back in the day. If the carbon-monoxide levels got to high the birds would be the first to die, telling the miners its time to leave. sounds like its same concept with the mice, if they start dying off or growing abnormaly, then they will know that maybe mars aint the place to colonize...

    --

    ...A no smoking section in a restaurant is like having a no peeing section in a swimming pool...
  50. Old News... by Spunk · · Score: 1
    This band has known it's possible for years.


    I hit the lameness filter. So now I'll write some more text.

  51. What about getting the mice back? by MongooseCN · · Score: 2, Interesting

    How many $millions$ will have to be spent to get the mice back so that the animal rights people don't try to shut down NASA?

    1. Re:What about getting the mice back? by archibald+tuttle · · Score: 0

      This is not done by NASA. It is a private effort by the mars society. The capsule will be launched by a russian ICBM.

      Why do all people assume that space flight==NASA?

    2. Re:What about getting the mice back? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're a blithering idiot. The entire point of this experiment is to bring all the mice back to Earth, so they can be properly examined to see what the effects of low gee have been. If they didn't bring them back, there would be no point sending them in the first place. Why don't you try growing up and out of your petty little obsession with a group of people who are far more intelligent and humane than you will probably ever be?

    3. Re:What about getting the mice back? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ICBM? Oh no! They better get NMD working soon!

      Damn, missed it by 1 second!

  52. It is sexist too. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It is an example of patriarchal sexist language designed to oppress both womyn and our animal companions.

    1. Re:It is sexist too. by Fishstick · · Score: 1

      heh, he said "sexist", heh heh.

      Yeah... that guy SUCKS! heh heh.

      --

      There is much cruelty in the universe, John.
      Yeah, we seem to have the tour map.

  53. Will this be the next hype? by Tyndareos · · Score: 1

    ... millionaires are now starting to fund these type of private missions ...

    And after the dot.flop, where we made your money disappear in a big world wide web,... we will now make money disappear into thin air. Yeah sure space travel's cool, but I'm not putting my money[*] on the table this time! Oh no, sir.

    * - not that I'm a millionaire, but that's besides my point

  54. I guess it fits by Overphiend · · Score: 1

    Following along with the great explorers of the past, we will be taking our disease infested rodents along for the ride to the "new lands".

  55. Mine pigeons, mine mice! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Mine pigeons, mine mice... vot dese dumbkopfs want to do mit der spacenschippen.

  56. Why not Rats? by Procrasti · · Score: 1

    Rats have always travelled with Man on ships in the past, we should send rats to colonize Mars. That way it'll be the first time that rats get there before we do.

  57. depends on your political preference eh? by fantomas · · Score: 2, Interesting

    "In a related article SpaceRef talks about how millionaires are now starting to fund these type of private missions and speculates whether billionaires might fund further space projects."


    Depends on your political preference really. Lots of stuff seems to have been done by government funded projects up to now. Suppose it's an option in a free market economy though. Shame these kind of guys don't decide to spend their billions on hospitals or schools or finding a cure for cancer though.


    I reckon philanthropy aimed at funding the education system would probably be a more surefire, longer term, likely way of gettting successful space missions happening. I mean if tobacco companies can sponsor universities on the proviso that their beneficeries say nice things about cigarrettes (or at least not bad things) then surely it wouldn't be too hard to persuade a university to accept a few billion provided it made sure a number of students study space sciences.

    1. Re:depends on your political preference eh? by NullAndVoid · · Score: 1

      Sure, especially if you contribute money specifically for the purpose of building a space sciences center, endowing seats in the relevant academic departments, scholarships, etc.

      --


      -- Sigs are for losers
  58. They are already there. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Look at the face on mars? Almost a hint of whiskers and a long snout there.

  59. Send all of the animal rights nuts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ....in an unheated spaceship to colonize Pluto. They'll be asking for nice warm fur coats in no time!

    1. Re:Send all of the animal rights nuts by NonSequor · · Score: 2

      I'm opposed to fur, not because of animal rights or anything like that, but because I think it looks ugly.

      --
      My only political goal is to see to it that no political party achieves its goals.
    2. Re:Send all of the animal rights nuts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Never laid a woman on a real fur rug, eh? You might want to give that a try sometime. It isn't necessarily only the look, but the *feel*.

  60. Re:Funded by Bill Gates? Why not? by twitter · · Score: 1
    What's $10,000,000 to someone with $11,000,000,000 or so? I hope he puts his money into things like this, no strings atached!

    Any of you billionairs out there listening?

    --

    Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.

  61. Mmmm fish sticks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    Mmm. unprocessed fish sticks. mmm

    from "Homer 3-d"

  62. One mouse by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    One mouse, two mice, three mices, four mouses, five meeses, six or more meese.

  63. Friedrich Nietzsche, author, dead at 157 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I just heard some sad news on talk radio - philosophy writer Friedrich Nietzsche was found dead in his German home this morning. There weren't any more details. I'm sure everyone in the Slashdot community will miss him - even if you didn't enjoy his work, there's no denying his contributions to popular culture. Turly a philosophy icon.

  64. Model Rocketry Safety Code by Anne_Nonymous · · Score: 1

    From the Model Rocketry Safety Code:

    "6. Payloads -- Except for insects, my model rocket will never carry live animals or a payload that is intended to be flamable, explosive, or harmful."

    Write your own punchline...

    1. Re:Model Rocketry Safety Code by ShavenYak · · Score: 1

      That's discrimination against insects, isn't it? Let's see, it's not racist, or even speciesist, i guess it would be phylumist, since probably any arthropod would be considered expendable to these horrific people. Who are we to say a cockroach doesn't have the same rights as a mouse?

      --

      Hey kids, there's only 5 days left 'til Yak Shaving Day!
    2. Re:Model Rocketry Safety Code by sklib · · Score: 1

      What about arachnids?

      --
      -S
  65. hmm... by robbo · · Score: 1

    Why do I suddenly have visions of the destruction of Earth to make way for a hyperspace bypass? 42!

    --
    So long, and thanks for all the Phish
  66. Thanks God it�s not the moon! by Karpe · · Score: 2, Funny

    Could you imagine those mice up there on the moon with all that cheese around? That would mean the end of it!

  67. Millionaires Funding Missions to Space by AxB_teeth · · Score: 2, Interesting

    While I'm dismayed that the government sees virtually no value in funding any space missions beyond the slow-moving International Space Station [http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/], I'm even more frightened when I consider that future space exploration may be limited to Individuals and Private Corporations, whose main concern is their own pocketbooks, and not the benefit of humanity. I would gladly welcome a global space organization that could put aside the petty world of greed & politics.

    --

    However,
    1. Re:Millionaires Funding Missions to Space by Brian+Stretch · · Score: 2

      I'm even more frightened when I consider that future space exploration may be limited to Individuals and Private Corporations, whose main concern is their own pocketbooks, and not the benefit of humanity.

      You mean like John Carmack?

  68. name a school after 'em... by Mumble01 · · Score: 1

    I'm assuming this would be a one-way trip for the tiny Mars invaders...

  69. 10 million? by SlamMan · · Score: 1

    10 million dollars? That's it? You'd think sending mice to mars would cost more.

    --
    Mod point free since 2001
    1. Re:10 million? by lonesome+phreak · · Score: 1

      It's 10 million for the earth-orbit mission, not a mission to mars.

      --
      Maybe we DID take the blue pill. You wouldn't remember anyway.
  70. mice trip by hugecrow · · Score: 1

    It only tells of the trip their, their was nothing mentioned about how the mice will get back to earth???

    --
    Enjoy your job, make lots of money, work within the law. Choose any two.
    1. Re:mice trip by hugecrow · · Score: 1

      i got my theres confused.....ugg

      --
      Enjoy your job, make lots of money, work within the law. Choose any two.
  71. Capricorn One by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Isn't that like what they REALLY did for the so-called moon landings?

    1. Re:Capricorn One by unitron · · Score: 2

      Not only that, but they disguised the mice as human astronauts.

      --

      I see even classic Slashdot is now pretty much unusable on dial up anymore.

  72. Mouse Suicide by piecewise · · Score: 3, Funny

    NASA always gave astronauts those "black pills" that could quickly and painlessly let them commit suicide in the event of disaster... I guess the mouse equivelant is a biggg, nice piece of cheese... and a mouse trap.

    --
    The next comment I write will be ready soon, but subscribers can beat the rush and see it early!
    1. Re:Mouse Suicide by vbrtrmn · · Score: 1

      It was a trick, those were licorice jellybeans.

      --
      it's a sig, wtf?
    2. Re:Mouse Suicide by sharkey · · Score: 2

      Hmmm...a mix-up like that would explain the high mortality rate at the NASA commissary.

      --

      --
      "Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
  73. The Gospel According to Verne Estes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I guess this means that exploding man-eating wombats as payloads are ruled out now? Drats.

  74. Just a thought by Sanford · · Score: 2, Interesting

    While I am sure that this discussion could indefinitely continue to both humorously and with sincerity extol the virtue of rodents circling the planet at a high altitude while simultaneously rotating around their ship's axis. I think that the possibility exists that there is more to the article.

    For instance, and perhaps old news, but the private funding and research of interplanetary travel; the Mars Society a notable example. To my understanding, the Society is not NASA run at all (?)

    These people are seriously involved in creating a humanned trip to Mars, and not unlike open source, seek participation from skilled people to run a variety of research and experiments.

    ---ah, what the hell . . .

    "PPPPPPIIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGGGGGGSSSSSSSSSS
    IIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
    SSSSSSSSPPPPPPPPAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCCEEEEEEE !!!!!!!"

  75. How is this frightening? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    I'm even more frightened when I consider that future space exploration may be limited to Individuals and Private Corporations, whose main concern is their own pocketbooks, and not the benefit of humanity.


    I consider this to be an improvement over space exploration as part of a contest (what JFK started) or space exploration as a publicity stunt for genocidal dictators (the Soviet and PROC efforts). Let the people go to space, not the governments.

    1. Re:How is this frightening? by AxB_teeth · · Score: 1

      I agree totally, let the *people* go to space. My main point though, was that everyone should benefit from whatever we learn from space exploration. Say some entrepreneur-type finds something particularly ground breaking. Hell, let's say this person makes first contact with an alien organism. Say this organism isn't intelligent whatsoever, be it a plant, bacteria... something. What does Mr. LetsGetRich do? He lays claim to it. Patents it. Hides the discovery, and reaps whatever benefit it brings. Whatever.

      Point is, we are so focussed on Individual Advancement that most of us don't give a second thought to what harms or helps our fellow man.

      Or i could be talking out of my ass again. Who knows.

      --

      However,
  76. Who are we? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Who are we to say a cockroach doesn't have the same rights as a mouse? We are the Orkin Man, that is who. Shazbat!

  77. Hungry Mice by 3ryon · · Score: 1

    What will they eat when their teeth fall out in the low gravity?

  78. Rationing Food and Water? by Un1v4c · · Score: 1

    Just wondering how food and water will be distributed among the mice...
    I'm no PETA freak, but tell me these little guys aren't going to be strapped in and hooked up to IVs for 6 months, or a year if they're lucky enough to get a return mission. We've got plenty of useless people on Earth, wouldn't they make better test subjects?

    I'm all for a mouse mutiny, turn that sucker around and head for the ISS at 30,000 mph - ramming speed.

    --

    I gave myself to Jesus, but now he never calls
  79. Motion sickness by Saeger · · Score: 2
    From the picture it looks as though the mice would be living in a rocket's payload nose cone, which has a very small radius, and in order to simulate .38G it's got be rotating pretty damn fast.

    Most humans get nauseous under one RPM; what about mice?

    --
    Power to the Peaceful
    1. Re:Motion sickness by ceswiedler · · Score: 2

      I don't think that in a free-fall environment like that, the cabin spinning would cause nausea. The nauseous effect comes from the inner-ear fluids being sloshed about in strange ways, including "floating", which is why free-fall itself can cause nausea. Spinning the cabin would simulate gravity, causing the inner-ear fluid to settle in a normal way.

      My question is: what if the mice die en route? How many are there going to be?

  80. "manned by mice"?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Manned by mice" is clearly a gender-specific, sexist phrase. Please consider using "Personed by mice." Thank you.

  81. But wouldn't it be better... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    To have cats on mars ?
    Cowboy Bebop rules!

  82. War of Worlds 3001 by Ektanoor · · Score: 2

    Finally Martian Armies took the last Mankind's strongold. And finally the Solar System will be get rid of this miserable, cowardous and treacherous race of primates...

    All started in some rainy day in the beginning of the XXI century. Back then, among some monkeys an idea came to use some of our ancesters to explore Mars. Under the name of what they called Science, thousands of our brothers were sent to Mars. They suffered from lower gravity, high doses of radiation, hunger and lack of oxygen. They died by the thousands. And the monkeys, not satisfied with this suffering tried to genetically modify and clone our borthers so that they could serve as miserable intruments of their ambitious "conque of Mars".

    However we, Rats, have had a long tradition of freedom and self-conscience. Truly the monkeys have had overcome us by size and strength. With the exception of a few minor rebelions made by some of the most corageous rats in the Middle Ages, we had to hide under earth, in small caves and holes till we could wait our hour.

    That hour came when the hideous "scientific" experiments gave birth to the Martian "stainless steel rats II" as the monkey monsters named them. Higher and stronger than monkeys they manage to stage the first rebellion that successfully freed Mars from the claws of the human race. For hundreds of years we fought a path back home to free our more little brothers. Many millions died on this march...

    But today we finally took the last strongold. After long hours of fight, the monkeys agreed on a unconditional surrendering. We could destroy all of them but our higher rathan principles should prevail over our longstanding will of revenge. Humbly we will close all of them into zoos and genetic labs.

  83. I say we work on robots... by jmccay · · Score: 1

    I think the first think we send to mars sould be robots with limited programming. The design should be cheap so we could send more than 1, and we should get the stupid project right. Somebody should insure those people at nasa have a good calculator.

    Once we get the robots there, we start to terra-form the planet. First we start drilling down into the ground till we hit magma. If we don't find magma, but instead find that Mars is solid, then terra-forming Mars will be a lot harder because there would be no heat to drive currents of water and air. (About water currents and especially the deep water currents). Plus, volcanic action is needed to replace the CO2 through the CO2 cycle. Basically, CO2 disolves in the oceans, volcanic action replaces that CO2 that was disolved.

    Anyways, my point is I don't want to thik about send people, or animals, to Mars till we know more about the planet. We also need to find methods to solve the various problems such as (but not limited to) the loss of bone mass that would happen eventually causing the teeth to fall out. We still need a lot more information before we start test animals in "Mars Gravity"

    --
    At the next eco-hypocrisy-meeting, count the private jets used to get to the meeting. Should be interesting to see that
  84. Meece... by wdavies · · Score: 1

    Everyone knows its "Meeced..." as in Meeces to Pieces

    Winton

  85. NOOOOO!!!! by Darth+Hubris · · Score: 1

    Gahhhh!!!!!!!!

    The Mars XPerience I brought to you by Microsoft. The MS floppy windows flag flutters in the breeze...

    --
    The party's over ... the drink ... and the luck ... ran out
  86. Paging Tim Burton by isomeme · · Score: 2

    Hang on, isn't this how Planet of the Mice starts?

    --
    When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a skull.
  87. if the crash land they will be Meeces Pieces.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    sorry... couldn't help it.

  88. Sometimes scientists are just too anal. . . by kfg · · Score: 2

    for their own good. Either that or they're just looking for 10 mill to play with neat toys. Can't say as I blame them for that, being one of them and all.

    Look, no one needs to "prove" that traveling to Mars at 1MG would be a good idea. Anyone halfway attuned to the issues could rattle off 20 good reasons for doing this in no more than 60 seconds.

    What's more, this won't "prove" anything. It will offer *support* for the above mentioned good reasons, none of which anybody questions in the first place.

    What reasons would there be for NOT making the trip at 1MG?

    There's only one really, and it's one of pure practicallity. To travel to Mars at 1MG you must, by *definition*, accelerate at 1MG for the entire duration of the trip!

    As opposed to boosting out of Earth orbit, coasting most of the way at no fuel cost and braking when you get there.

    The fact of the matter is that this so called "proof" is moot. If we can figure out a way to go at 1MG we will, If we can't, we won't.

    I thinks these guys just like to play with rockets and dick around with mice.

    KFG

    1. Re:Sometimes scientists are just too anal. . . by georgewilliamherbert · · Score: 1

      Look, no one needs to "prove" that traveling to Mars at 1MG would be a good idea. Anyone halfway attuned to the issues could rattle off 20 good reasons for doing this in no more than 60 seconds.

      What's more, this won't "prove" anything. It will offer *support* for the above mentioned good reasons, none of which anybody questions in the first place.

      What reasons would there be for NOT making the trip at 1MG?

      There's only one really, and it's one of pure practicallity. To travel to Mars at 1MG you must, by *definition*, accelerate at 1MG for the entire duration of the trip!

      As opposed to boosting out of Earth orbit, coasting most of the way at no fuel cost and braking when you get there.


      You appear to have missed the option of boosting out of Earth orbit, coasting the distance there and braking to stop when you get there, but spinning your spacecraft (usually tethered to a counterweight, in most scenarios) en route to create centrifugal force pseudo-gravity. This is in fact one of the key features of the Mars Direct mission architecture, and is at least seriously considered for all of the other manned Mars mission architectures in the last decade or so.


      This project is a Big Deal. Whether mammals can survive for indefinite periods (or long but finite periods) at Mars gravity makes a huge difference in if or how we approach going to Mars. It's a question that is fundamental to long term planning of Mars missions, and due to delays in the Space Station's centrifuge NASA wasn't even going to be able to start looking at it until 2009, we think.

  89. Should we be worried by Mark+of+THE+CITY · · Score: 1

    There's a phrase that comes to mind here.

    "Like rats leaving a sinking ship."

    Are we sure that Earth is a good place to stay? :)

    --
    The clearance system sounds logical. It is not. It is completely arbitrary. -- John Bolton
  90. Experimenting on the mice??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I thought it was well established that mice are here on Earth conducting experiments on the humans. They really are brilliant,... going all the way to outer space to further the illusion.

  91. I said it before... by E-Rock-23 · · Score: 1

    Damnit. Mars, Mars, Mars. All I hear is Mars. Mars is a sensationalized fantasy at the moment, people. Sure, we'd be doing our part as players in the grand play of History and help future generations get to Mars. But Mars shouldn't be the goal. Not just yet, anyway...

    I want everyone to look out their windows tonight and tell me what they see in the sky. Gee, isn't that our Moon? Now, I remember in Star Trek: First Contact, Commander Riker talking about there being 50 million people living on the Moon. Now, doesn't that sound like a more realistic goal?

    10 years, folks. In 10 years we can have a permanent base on the Moon. If technology in 1969 put us there, technology today can keep us there. Forget that red ball of nothingness for right now and focus on that little grey rock we have right in our own celestial backyard...

    --
    Blog Prophyts - Right On, Man
  92. function sendMice(destPlanet, boolResult) by An+Artist · · Score: 1
    If the capsule, manned(?) by mice, misses its intended target, would the mission be repeated?

    Would they mouseOver?

  93. Microsodt verboten das RedHat by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Das Ziel von DeviceMaster besteht im Minimieren der Verwaltungs- sowie proprietären Kosten von remote bereitgestellten Systemen und Geräten", sagte Lee Stagni, Präsident und COO von Comtrol. "Es ist die Lösung für den industrieweiten Bedarf an intelligenter Gerätekonnektivität und Remoteverwaltung. Indem wir unseren Kunden eine Open Source-Umgebung anbieten, geben wir Entwicklern die Möglichkeit, sowohl den Applikations- als auch Betriebssystemcode an verschiedene gerätespezifische Applikationen anzupassen."


    Die DeviceMaster-Familie der kostengünstigen und soliden Mikrocomputer stellt eine leistungsstarke Plattform zum Durchführen von applikationsspezifischen Tasks dar. In LAN- oder Internetverbindungen macht die Flexibilitat des DeviceMaster-Mikrocomputers remote platzierte Server zur lokalen Embedded-Steuerung überflüssig. Gleichzeitig können die Benutzer Applikationen für remote Geräte hosten und ausführen. Darüber hinaus werden automatisierte Wartung und Supportfunktionen aktiviert. Weitere Informationen finden Sie unter http://www.devicemaster.com


    "Das Verwalten der stets wachsenden Nachfrage nach Post-PC Computing-Appliances in unserer immer mehr vernetzten Welt ist eine der größten Herausforderungen, denen sich Embedded-Entwickler in der Zukunft gegenüber sehen", sagte Michael Tiemann, CTO von Red Hat. "Die Verfügbarkeit von Red Hat eCos für die DeviceMaster-Appliance bringt die Embedded-Gemeinschaft der offenen, standard-basierten remoten Geräteverwaltung näher."


    Zu den Highlights der DeviceMaster-Produkte zählt Folgendes:



    Netzwerkfähige Konfigurationen für 1 bis 32 serielle Geräte pro DeviceMaster.
    10/100Base-T-Netzwerkkonnektivität mit integriertem Ethernet-Schalter, der "hub-lose" Downstream-Konnektivität bereitstellt.
    Kompatibilität der Applikationssoftware mit nativen COM- oder TTY-Ports sowie remote TCP-Socketsverbindungen.
    Voll funktionsfähiger Embedded Web Server, SMTP E-Mail-Agent und SNMP-Überwachung.
    Programmierbare Verarbeitungsplattform mit On-board Flash und Arbeitsspeicher.
    "Watchdog"-Software und Schaltkreise zum Zurücksetzen.
    Internet-Eingabehilfen und Funktionen zur Remoteverwaltung.
    Entwicklungstools und Support für Applikationssoftware
    Red Hat, Inc.


    Red Hat ist Marktführer bei Entwicklung, Einsatz und Verwaltung von Lösungen, die sich aus den Vorteilen einer Open Source Plattform ergeben. Die Open Source Plattform beinhaltet das Red Hat Linux Betriebssystem für Mainframes, Server, Workstations und Embedded-Geräte sowie GNUPro Toolkits für Entwickler, Datenbank, E-Commerce, Secure Web Server und High-Availability Server- und Runtime-Lösungen, wie eCos und RedBoot.


    Red Hat unterstützt diese Plattform mit End-to-End Professional Services, die folgendes enthalten: Professional Consulting, Engineering Services, Enterprise Support Services und Global Learning Services. Red Hat Network ist der führende Interet-basierte Service, der den Einsatz und die Verwaltung dieser Produkte und Services vereinfacht und integriert. Zusätzliche Informationen über Red Hat erhalten Sie unter http://www.redhat.de


    Red Hat hat seinen Hauptsitz im Research Triangle Park, N.C. und verfügt über Niederlassungen in der ganzen Welt. Investoranfragen beantwortet Gabriel Szulik bei Red Hat unter der Telefonnummer +1-919-547-0012.


    Seit Juli 1999 hat Red Hat Europe seinen Sitz in Surrey, Großbritannien und verfügt europaweit über Büros. Red Hat Linux wird europaweit durch eine Anzahl von Distributoren und Partnern in der Industrie sowie über http://www.europe.redhat.com/shop vertrieben.


    ###


    Linux ist ein eingetragenes Warenzeichen von Linus Torvalds. RED HAT ist ein eingetragenes Firmenzeichen von Red Hat, Inc. Alle anderen Namen und Warenzeichen sind Eigentum der jeweiligen Besitzer.


    ZUKUNFTSBEZOGENE ERKLÄRUNGEN


    Zukunftsbezogene Erklärungen in dieser Pressemitteilung werden gemäß der Safe-Harbor Bestimmung in Absatz 21E des Wertpapiergesetzes von 1934 abgegeben. Investoren werden gewarnt, dass es sich bei Darstellungen in dieser Pressemitteilung nicht um streng historische Darstellungen handelt. Darin enthalten sind, ohne Einschränkung, Pläne und Ziele der Unternehmensleitung für zukünftige Projekte und die Einschätzung von Marktfaktoren durch die Unternehmensleitung, die mit Risiken und Unsicherheiten behaftet sind. Diese Risiken und Unsicherheiten beinhalten ohne Einschränkung: Produktplanung und Funktionsfähigkeit dieser Produkte, die Fähigkeit von Red Hat, Benutzer für redhat.com zu gewinnen; die Tatsache, dass es nicht sicher ist, ob E-Learning ein wirkungsvolles Schulungswerkzeug darstellt; das Vertrauen auf strategische Geschäftsbeziehungen, Wertentwicklung, die Möglichkeit, den Linux Kernel und andere Software weiterzuentwickeln; das Vertrauen auf strategische Partnerschaften, Wachstumsmanagement, das mögliche Auftreten von unentdeckten Softwarefehlern, das Risiko von Wirtschaftsflauten im allgemeinen und speziell in Red Hats Branche, das Risiko von Wettbewerb und Preisbildungsdruck, die Rentabilität des Internets und andere Risiken, entsprechend den Ausführungen in Red Hats Unterlagen bei der Börsenaufsichtsbehörde. Auf Kopien dieser Unterlagen kann über die Website der Börsenaufsichtsbehörde unter http://www.sec.gov zugegriffen werden./P

  94. Oh, Goody! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Please remember to return my Illudiom Pew36 Explosive Space Modulator.

  95. Close by SuiteSisterMary · · Score: 1

    Close...by everybody knows the universe will be taken over by Giant Space Hamsters, Giant Fire-Breathing Phase Hamsters, and other such variants.

    --
    Vintage computer games and RPG books available. Email me if you're interested.
  96. Pinky, do you know what I'm thinking... by BenSnyder · · Score: 1

    Pinky, do you know what I'm thinking...

  97. Rich benefactors could really make a difference by GPS+Pilot · · Score: 1

    According to Robert Zubrin you can set up a permanent base on Mars for $12 billion. That's what, only about 20% of Bill Gates' wealth? He could do this singlehandedly, and still have plenty of bucks left over for philanthropy.

    (Although the act of giving our species a foothold on another planet would probably in itself be judged by future historians as the greatest act of philanthropy of all time.)

    The only thing stopping him is a lack of vision. I'd be willing to forgive the lame software he foists upon me, if he turned us into a spacefaring species!

    (Before people tell me his wealth is all on paper, and he wouldn't be worth nearly that much if he tried to sell his stock all at once, I know that. To build a Mars colony, he woulnd't have to sell his stock all at once. He would sell it a little bit at a time, over a 10 - 15 year period.)

    --
    That that is is that that that that is not is not.
  98. Hmmmm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It'd cost alot less if you just got NIST to adjust the kilogram weight to accomodate martian gravity, that way everyone could experiment with martian gravity.

  99. Billionairs in space by lurwas · · Score: 1

    Well...this could solve one perticular problem. Couldn't we send Bill Gates to Mars, in a spacecraft runned pa Windows? If, the spacecraft would leave the Earth Atmosphere...there's no way he'll ever manage to get back...

  100. Optical or mechanical? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Har har

  101. The mission by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    From what I understand, the mice will be responsible for using the onboard equipment to mine ore and build a Mars Mouse Base. This base will be the perfect launching point to send a Mouse Mission to Jupiter in 2008. Eventually, we will send mice to the stars!!

  102. First cows, now this - by phandel · · Score: 1

    Did you guys hear, NASA is sending a bunch of cows into space? They're calling it the herd shot around the world.

    (where's that "Post Anonymously" box)

  103. we can take these guys seriously, can't we? by GaCRuX · · Score: 0

    Are mars society a proper respected society? no doubt they probably are, and I'm the only one who's never heard of them. right?
    Actually I have come across their website before, but that was through a link from this guy's website, so you know how seriously I would take *that* ;-)

  104. Re:Stephen King, author, dead at 54 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0


    Louis Armstrong, trumpet player and Jazz pioneer, died yesterday morning in his Los Angeles home. He was 71. Armstrong's last performance was at James Madison University's Convocation Center on March 24, 2001, where he played to a standing room only 5,000. Armstrong was helped off the stage by his wife of 20 years, and he later told a reporter for the campus newspaper "I don't know how much longer I can do this. This may be one of my last shows." His final song was his biggest hit, Hello Dolly! He is survived by his wife, 3 children and 6 grandchildren.

  105. the IRONY of this comment..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    .....is that the computer geniuses who run this site failed to catch the reference to intelligent dance music and mod this post up accordingly.

    Aphex Twin uses a Mac.

  106. I can hear the President's speech already... by alienmole · · Score: 2
    "I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of sending a mouse to Mars, and returning it safely to the Earth. No single space project in this period will be less impressive to mankind, or less important in the long-range exploration of space; and none will be so cheap or easy to accomplish.

    "But why, some say, Mars? Why choose this as our goal? We choose to send our mice to Mars. We choose to send them to Mars in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are really easy, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is the biggest one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too."

    -- President G.W. Bush, Jan 23, 2002