First Details of Manned Mars Mission From NASA

OriginalArlen writes "The BBC has a first look at NASA's initial concepts for a manned Mars mission, currently penciled in for 2031. The main vehicle would be assembled on orbit over three or four launches of the planned Ares V heavy lift rocket. New abilities to repair, replace, and even produce replacement parts will be needed to provide enough self-sufficiency for a 30 months mission, including 16 months on the surface. The presentation was apparently delivered at a meeting of the Lunar Exploration Management Group, although there's nothing on their site yet."

Comments

Ares V?

[iknownuttin]

Those of us who are into classic rockets prefer the old muscle rockets - Saturn V, baby! The new rockets just have too much electronic junk.

That's right! Put some mag chrome nozzles at those old babies and nothing beats the classics!

Obligatory Futurama!

[Chris Tucker]

Fry: Back in the 20th century we had no idea there was a university on Mars.
Professor Farnsworth: Well, in those days Mars was a dreary uninhabitable wasteland much like Utah; but unlike Utah, Mars was eventually made livable.

Hmm

[bwintx]

From TFA:

Plants would be grown onboard to feed the crew and contribute to the "psychological health" of the astronauts.

Well, looks like the NASA PR machine no longer is worried about whether its crews appear to be "flying high," so to speak.

That'll be a blast

[Anonymous Coward]

They would need to be well-versed in the maintenance and repair of equipment and perhaps even able to manufacture new parts. That will be interesting to see how they take a CNC machine into orbit.

Re:WTF?

[Anonymous Coward]

It wasn't deserved. It just means that one of our resident neocons got mod points today.

So...

[Anonymous Coward]

They never had Mormons migrate to Mars?

*ducks*

2031

[Joebert]

I'm scheduled to be alive for this, Awesome !

Re:Weight of food to carry decreased by FAT astron

[Joebert]

If you thought that female astronaut who drove across country in a diaper was crazy, just wait untill you see what happens when you send a fat man into space with no food.

Re:Can someone please expain

[njvic]

Maybe this is what really happened to Steve Fossett?

Re:Can someone please expain

[Red Flayer]

Because no private organisations have $250-400 billion in spare cash lying around to fritter on a quixotic dream for no better reason than neo-imperialist flag waving?

Not for nothing, but a one-way trip would not be nearly so expensive. If the passenger anticipates dying anyway, the planners could easily forego such luxuries as plants in the passenger area, sufficient food (what's a little undernourishment to a condemnee), fuel to escape Mars' gravity, etc.

The only concern, other than survival of the "volunteer", would be minimizing the impact of space madness. I suggest not having a red button labeled "Do not push", and not sending any soap along with the passenger.

Re:2031?!

[Simonetta]

But when you look at it, we spend 200 times as much money killing people as we spend putting anybody in space.

    That's because all the people who need killing are here on earth.
If they were in space, then we would be spending a lot more money on killing them ... in space. But since they aren't in space, then there isn't any sense in spending all that money on space when we have so... many... people who need killing right here on earth.

    It's all a matter of priorities.