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NASA Wants Astronauts on Mars by 2010

Posted by jamie on from the sell-the-sizzle-not-the-uranium dept.

FeloniousPunk writes "According to this article in the UK Guardian, NASA intends to send a manned mission to Mars by 2010, using nuclear propulsion. President Bush may announce this project, called Project Prometheus, at the State of the Union address." Here's good background and context; for technical background, I recommend Zubrin or Stern. The JPL will be involved in developing the nuclear propulsion tech, intended to cut the interplanetary trip from six months to two. Apparently the theory is that this proposal won't get shot down like the last Mars proposal because the shorter mission will save money. Here's hoping public response has progressed beyond "oh no! did he say nuclear?!" In related news, jkcity writes: "according to this article by the BBC, the Chinese plan to have a man in space by October 2003."

3 of 562 comments (clear)

  1. RE: "oh no! did he say nuclear?!" by mvonballmo · · Score: 5, Funny

    I wouldn't worry too much about that. It'll be more like:

    "Oh no! Did he say nukuler?!"

  2. The question will not be by Ryan.Merrill · · Score: 5, Funny

    whether or not we will send men to mars by 2010, it will be whether or not President Bush can pronounce Project Prometheus at the state of the union address.
    :)

  3. Re:All I have to say... by StarTux · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yeah perhaps, but space is very dark and having the astronaughts glow in the dark will help track them.