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Russia Plans Martian Nuclear Station

An anonymous reader writes "The BBC reports that Russian scientists have announced plans to build a nuclear power station on Mars. They say that all the necessary technical drawings have now been completed, and all will be ready for the construction work to begin. The power plant should be up and running by 2030."

55 of 619 comments (clear)

  1. SHIT. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Here come the fucking jokes.

    1. Re:SHIT. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      in soviet russia, mars powers you!

    2. Re:SHIT. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      All I'm expecting are jokes about soviet Russia. You think they'll post jokes about fucking, too?

    3. Re:SHIT. by A+famous+reader · · Score: 4, Funny

      Maybe we should get power distribution right on this planet first

    4. Re:SHIT. by mcpkaaos · · Score: 5, Funny

      ...but at the same time consider shooting up one of the back street boys up there for the money.

      Don't be so quick to judge. We don't have any proof that they ever intended to return him.

      --
      It goes from God, to Jerry, to me.
    5. Re:SHIT. by LauraW · · Score: 3, Funny
      >a country that can produce very reliable Soyuz but at the same time consider shooting up one of the back street boys up there for the money

      Hey, what's wrong with sending Lance Bass into space?



      Wait. They're not going to bring him back, are they?

    6. Re:SHIT. by Stonent1 · · Score: 2, Funny

      With all that background radiation, who's gonna notice a few leaks?

      Next thing you know, we'll have Martians with 2 eyes, 10 fingers, 10 toes, two legs, two nostrils and one mouth!

  2. Genious! by SugoiMonkey · · Score: 5, Funny

    And with all of the demand for a nuclear power plant on Mars, it's a miracle this wasn't created earlier!

    1. Re:Genious! by trompete · · Score: 2, Funny

      They should spend some/all of that money to bring their poverty rate down from 25%! Check out other cool facts on Russia's economy: Click here.
      Don't bother clicking the link if you're Russian: In Soviet Russia, link clicks you.

  3. details, details, details... by spamchang · · Score: 2, Funny

    they forgot to mention that this requires the US to have placed a whole union local of construction workers on the moon by 2025...

  4. So... by shepd · · Score: 2, Funny

    Will it be called Chernobyl II?

    --
    If you could be told what you can see or read, then it follows that you could be told what to say or think - BoC
  5. Mars Disasters by SuperBanana · · Score: 5, Funny
    Russian scientists have announced plans to build a nuclear power station on Mars.

    On the bright side, after Red Planet and Mission to Mars, they can 'Pull A Chernobyl' and it'll still be only the third worst Mars disaster ever.

  6. Can't .... Resist! ....... by binaryDigit · · Score: 3, Funny

    1. Build Nuclear Power Plant on Mars
    2.
    3. Profit!

  7. thats good by toddhunter · · Score: 4, Funny

    But boy are those scientists going to be pissed when someone points out where Mars actually is.
    I also love:
    Scientists say that the station is now almost ready to be built - all they have to do is to find a way to protect staff and environment from radiation
    What about the small problem of finding 6 people to go to Mars, to work in a nuclear power station for no people for 30 years?. I think they have been watching 'The Simpson's' too much.

    1. Re:thats good by aled · · Score: 5, Funny

      I have an idea: just launch nuclear missiles to mars and detonate on the surface. No need to manned misions, the same result. And we get the plus of a war with another planet to watch on CNN.

      --

      "I think this line is mostly filler"
  8. Here we go by silicongodcom · · Score: 2, Funny

    Bring on the IN SOVIET MARS jokes.

  9. This Mars Nuclear plant.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Is the biggest vaporware of world history... Even Duke Nukem Forever will be released before this ever happens =)

  10. Time line by thung226 · · Score: 5, Funny

    The power plant should be up and running by 2030.

    Power station timelines rock. I'd love to propose this kind of schedule for my projects.

    "New Version? Sure, we should start beta testing in (deep, echoing voice) the year 2030."

    --
    -n-
  11. Re:Nuclear willy waving by the_2nd_coming · · Score: 2, Funny

    sell nuclear power plants to Iran and North Korea.

    --



    I am the Alpha and the Omega-3
  12. Hey cool... by DaveJ2001 · · Score: 2, Funny

    More power to them! Oh, wait...

  13. Very sensational! by flicken · · Score: 4, Funny

    The BBC is reporting this? Wow, from the title, i would have thought that it would come from one of these fine sources.

    --
    20 mil and I will! Learn Esperanto with 20M others.
    1. Re:Very sensational! by ArsSineArtificio · · Score: 3, Funny

      The BBC is reporting this? Wow, from the title, i would have thought that it would come from one of these fine sources.

      Er, it's a little mean to the Weekly World News to compare them to the BBC.

      --
      All employees must wash hands before seeking equitable relief.
  14. Re:Can't Wait by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    Canadian Bred With American Buttering
    Canada is part of America, you nitwit. Learn some fucking geography.
  15. Re:I hope this turns into a space race by aled · · Score: 2, Funny

    We wouldn't want to miss the experience of traveling ten thousands years to the next star and nothing to look trough the window, would we? Don't forget some book to read in the meantime.

    --

    "I think this line is mostly filler"
  16. Russia's master plan by Bueller_007 · · Score: 3, Funny

    1) Build an expensive nuclear power plant on an uninhabited planet.
    2) ???
    3) Profit?

  17. In a related story by romec · · Score: 2, Funny

    The California State Governement is investigating a 210 million mile long extension cord. One representative gave the date of 2030 as the estimated date of completion.

  18. Re:Uranium on a rocket? by aled · · Score: 2, Funny

    That explain the mutants.

    --

    "I think this line is mostly filler"
  19. So it will really be.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    'The Red Planet'

  20. In Other News by Bugmaster · · Score: 5, Funny
    In other news, Russia has announced their intention to harvest electrical energy from leprechauns. "The necessary technical drawings have been completed" -- said the Russian science director. "With the abundance of leprechauns in our ecosystem, we believe our new Green Power station will be a major success". The only problem that remains now is actually catching the leprechauns; initial plans call for an automated leprechaun-trap similar to the mousetraps in use today.

    Seriously, though, Russia can't even keep up payments on the ISS. No one in the world right now has any plans on how to ship a live human being to Mars (and have him remain live there). "Technical drawings" alone won't cut it; I have some technical drawings in my closet that show how to build an SSTO spacecraft out of crayons (I was in kindergarten at the time of this techincal breakthrough), but I am not holding my breath waiting for NASA to knock on my door.

    --
    >|<*:=
  21. And I'm building Condos on Jupiter's Moon by Hao+Wu · · Score: 2, Funny
    Building spacious space-apartments on Europa and Ganymede.

    Only $10,000 down! You make payment right now, I let you pick corner room or lake-side unit.

    --
    I suggest you read Slashdot
  22. Sounds Great by stephens_domain · · Score: 2, Funny

    But have we evaluated the effects this may have on the Martians?

    Such inspiring statements as:
    "all they have to do is to find a way to protect staff and environment from radiation."
    and:
    "The only stumbling block is how to deliver ready-made building blocks to a construction site 300 million kilometres"
    how could it not be a success?

    --

    ..
  23. Re:Cool! by aled · · Score: 3, Funny

    -"Mr President: the Russian plan backfired, the ship exploded and there is radiation all over the atmosphere."
    -Bush: "We need to bomb the atmosphere, no radiation is going to fire back America..."

    --

    "I think this line is mostly filler"
  24. Wait wait wait, hold the phones... by coene · · Score: 3, Funny

    Don't we have more money than Russia? And they dare exceed us in Space technology? And the word Nuclear is in there?

    Call up G.W., and get Larry Ellison down here, I smell a hostile takeover!

  25. Talk about grid problems... by dgulbran · · Score: 5, Funny

    I can see the headlines now:

    All of Russia was plunged into total darkness tonight, when their Mars plant transmission lines were accidently severed by an orbiting Soyuz rocket piloted by a joyriding Lance Bass.

    --
    The world won't end in darkness, it'll end in family fun, with Coca-cola clouds behind a Big Mac sun.
  26. Brilliant recycled plan by Concerned+Onlooker · · Score: 2, Funny

    No, don't you see? They're just planning this right now. Yes, they will need to get some people to Mars to take advantage of this so they also have a plan to build three giant spaceships to colonize the new planet. One will contain people that actually do work--builders, factory workers and the like--one will contain the thinkers and planners and one will contain all those vital middle level people, such as hairdressers and efficiency consultants. And guess which ship will blast off first?

    --
    http://www.rootstrikers.org/
  27. Re:A bit premature? by RALE007 · · Score: 3, Funny
    Your comment reminds me of a very applicable joke to your thoughts:

    An economist is in a public restroom and see's a quarter ($.25) in the toilet. He does some quick calculations in his head, and decides that the effort of bending over to pick up the 25 cents, the possibility of disease for sticking his hand in a filthy toilet, and the mental anguish of doing such a despicable act isn't worth the measly one quarter dollar. So he throws another quarter in the toilet, bends over, sticks his and in, and retrieves the 50 cents.

    It's not the funniest joke on the planet, but this is the first chance I've had to use it and it does make one think of the logic of some people/professions.

    --
    Beware blue cats moving at .99c
  28. solar system atomic race by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Forget North Korea, now the Martians will have the bomb!

    1. Re:solar system atomic race by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      what happen? someone set up mars the bomb?

    2. Re:solar system atomic race by Paulrothrock · · Score: 2, Funny

      I think saying the Martians have WMD is the only way we'll get a manned mission with US help.

      --
      I'm in the hole of the broadband donut.
  29. Re:I hope this turns into a space race by ch-chuck · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Man is the best computer we can put aboard
    a spacecraft... and the only one that can
    be mass produced with unskilled labor."


    However a *lot* has changed since von Braun's statement: Harris, Intel, AMD and a host of other's can mass produce radiation hardened computers to put aboard spacecraft (not to mention telemetry back to earth for human processing, albeit with a lag that renders it non-realtime, I'll grant you that) for far less that it takes to stow oxygen plants, food pills, water, tang, entertainment, exercise equipment, medical supplies, etc etc etc.

    However, for public relations purposes, the taxpaying public would be fascinated by sex in space, the first space kid, etc ;)) If they could make a orbital version of 'Survivor' or 'Big Brother' a weekly episode it might pay for itself.

    --
    try { do() || do_not(); } catch (JediException err) { yoda(err); }
  30. Martians... by MoeMoe · · Score: 3, Funny

    Because the martians we see in movies don't look messed up enough, they need nuclear radiation to give their look the extra touch of "makes ya wanna vomit" style...

    --
    Business \Busi"ness\, n.;
    A scam in which all people involved perceive as beneficial...
  31. Hell by Red+Warrior · · Score: 2, Funny

    Well, if they've ALREADY finished the DRAWINGS, it's as good as done.

    My Dragon is almost in my driveway too.

    --
    "If, therefore, any be unhappy, let him remember that he is unhappy by reason of himself alone."
    ~Epictetus
  32. Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator, anyone? by Bones3D_mac · · Score: 2, Funny

    Between the radiation and the rather lengthy trip, will the first ones on Mars evolve into funny little men hell-bent on blowing up earth because it blocks their view of venus?

    --


    8==8 Bones 8==8
  33. Just in time for the 2038 problem! by NotQuiteReal · · Score: 2, Funny
    They should get everything up and running, then see if the 2038 bug zaps them!

    2038-01-19T03:14:07Z... tick...

    Warning, critical maintenance 2000 years overdue! Abort, Retry, Cancel?

    --
    This issue is a bit more complicated than you think.
  34. NIMBYism could delay Mars nuclear project by ziegast · · Score: 5, Funny

    Martians concerned over Russian nuke plans (October 5th, 2006)

    Rocky Canyon, MARS - Local residents plan to block Russian efforts to build nuclear power plants on Mars. Fearing potential health risks from nuclear accidents and what they claim to be a spotty safety record from Russians, representatives of a coalition of Martian leaders plan to raise awareness of the issues and protect or attempt to block the Russian plans. "Not in my back yard!" claims local long-time resident Marvin the Martian, "We do not want an Earth-shattering kaboom on our planet. We have no demodulator for nuclear waste."

    Local retiree, Flash Gordon, points out that other environmentally sound energy alternatives are available like geothermal and solar energy. "I don't understand why we should be the dumping ground for Earth's waste. I'm also concerned about their need to use what little water we have to cool their power plants. It sounds like a bad idea to me."

    Russia's Nuclear Energy Ministry plans to send a delegation to the planet in 2010 to hold a series of public hearings and town meetings on the matter. "We hope that once the great people of Mars learn the facts about our advances in safety of nuclear energy, that they will welcome a new cheaper source of energy," informed Dr. Strangelove, interim leader of the earth-based planning and research committee. The spotty record of Terran nuclear safety is well known to Martians, including the well-known 20th century Chernobyl and Three Mile Island accidents and the San Onofre security incident last year.

    Total Recall star and former California Govenor Arnold Schwarzenegger is rumored to be an investor in the contruction company contracted by the Russian agency to develop the terra-forming technology required to build the power plant. When asked about his links between his commercial investments and campaign contributions to Russian elected officials, he withheld comment.

    Mars and Earth are seperated by millions of miles, both literally and apparently in viewpoints about the nuclear project. We look forward to seeing if they can come closer together on this issue.

  35. What about the dead people by panaceaa · · Score: 4, Funny

    I have completed my plans to build a Martian crematorium for passed-away nuclear power plant technicians. This first permanent extraterrestrial crematorium will be dedicated to help remember the dedicated scientists, as well as pet cats, dogs and aligators, who could not survive the blistering radiation and isolation of living on Mars. It should be up and running by 2029, provided I find a way to deliver my ready-made building blocks to a construction site 300 million kilometers away from Earth.

  36. Proposed Name: by condour75 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Mars Nukem Forever

  37. Re:source of fuel by Nucleon500 · · Score: 4, Funny
    If it jams, force it. If it breaks, it needed fixing anyway.

    For someone working at a nuclear power plant, that's a pretty scary sig.

  38. Re:I hope this turns into a space race by PolyDwarf · · Score: 2, Funny

    I hope not... I've seen what SeaLab turns into in 2020.. And then when they go stir crazy in 2021.

  39. Of course the russians have to do that by Advocadus+Diaboli · · Score: 4, Funny
    The USA can't do the job since they need all the power plants that they can build until 2030 in their own country. :-)

    Sorry, couldn't resist this one. :-)

    1. Re:Of course the russians have to do that by eurostar · · Score: 2, Funny

      So Iraq gets electricity in 2031 ?

  40. Europa!?! by Cappy+Red · · Score: 2, Funny

    What about that entire "attempt no landings there" thing? .. or am I remembering a movie again.

    damn.

    *honk*

    --
    This is my sig. It's prescription, I swear. I need it for reading things... on the other side of things
  41. Mars Elections in 2030 by TrancePhreak · · Score: 2, Funny

    Vote Arnold Swarzenegger for leader of Mars in 2030!

    --

    -]Phreak Out[-
  42. Re:I hope this turns into a space race by Genom · · Score: 4, Funny

    If they could make a orbital version of 'Survivor' or 'Big Brother' a weekly episode it might pay for itself.

    "I'm sorry Jim, you've been voted out the airlock this week."

  43. What, is it April 1st again? by KC7GR · · Score: 2, Funny

    Criminys, that's a silly idea. Mars? You'd need the mother of all extension cords to get the power back here. Anything that long and thick would be a tremendous trip-hazard anyway. Do you really want to send some poor UFO on a header?

    --

    Bruce Lane, KC7GR,

    Blue Feather Technologies