Buzz Aldrin's Roadmap to Mars

FleaPlus writes "Former astronaut (and MIT astronautics grad) Buzz Aldrin has an article in last months Popular Mechanics in which he describes a plan for manned Mars missions. Aldrin's plan proposes using a Cycler spacecraft permanently orbiting between Earth and Mars. This would have a shielded habitat and rotation-induced gravity, and would take just 5 months to reach Mars. Smaller vehicles would take astronauts to and from the Cycler. Aldrin claims the plan is less costly and more sustainable than NASA's current plans."

Comments

Think Big

[MichaelSmith]

Without the ISS there would be no space tourism. You need to have a destination to sell before you get customers. A flight to Mars could be done with something like an extended apollo program, with similar non-reusable hardware, but you can't make money off that.

If money is not being made the US taxpayers will have to pay for the whole thing and I really can't see that happening in this day and age.

But wealthy people would pay for a cruise on the continous shuttle system Buzz is proposing. I think it is the right way to go.

And good on him for punching Bart Sibrel

Re:Think Big

[Oldsmobile]

I think NASA should just cut all the manned missions and concentrate on space probes. Much more information for the buck.

However, I do think going to mars would be worth doing, IF they got smart about it (and yes, I realize they need the ISS for learning how to go to mars, but the ISS isn't designed to be a precursor to a mars mission). The "one way" idea I thought was worth exploring, put some risk into it, that risk might be worth taking. You know, the one where they send one rocket a year with more and more equipment, but no return fuel, only equipment later to manufacture their own return fuel and hopefully a permanent mars base.

NASA is overly concerned with human life and the propaganda fall out of losing astronauts to be an effective exploration organization. Fireman and racecardrivers take risks in daily life, I'm sure they would find plenty of skilled volunteers for a one way mission.

Read TFA and...

[foniksonik]

There seem to be a lot of 'extra' expenses that his plan depends upon.... like a permanent base on the moon, a permanent fuel depot and manufacturing plant on Mars (already in place) not to mention that he calls for two Cycler type ships not one... plus the multiple CEVs to actually realize the goal of sustainability. There's more but I'll let you read it yourself.

It's a nice plan but do I see a plan that's cheaper? Hell no, If the goal is to GET to Mars.

If the goal is to create an interplanetary transit system then sure, this is definitely the way to go.