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Russia Aims Towards Mars

Iddo Genuth writes "Russia's Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) has announced its intentions to build a low-orbit space station which, according to the agency, will support future exploration of the moon and Mars. There's also a suggestion to extend the operational lifespan of the International Space Station by five more years, resetting its retirement date to 2020. The project proposal is already on its way for review by the Russian government. Some Russian sources also reportedly proposed the (rather ludicrous) idea of converting the ISS into some kind of an interplanetary transport vehicle, which would serve as the 'ultimate mother ship' in manned planetary missions to the moon or even Mars."

6 of 161 comments (clear)

  1. Perfect! by russlar · · Score: 5, Funny

    The Reds are going to the Red Planet!

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    1. Re:Perfect! by SIR_Taco · · Score: 5, Funny

      Didn't realize that Cincinnati was having trouble with their franchise... a shame the team had to leave the country and an even bigger shame they had to leave the planet.

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  2. And then by Kingrames · · Score: 5, Funny

    Mars, ever eager to fight, aims right the fuck back.

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  3. Weird... by Nicopa · · Score: 4, Funny

    In soviet space, you can hear no one screaming...

    (!)

  4. Meanwhile, on Mars... by bitrex · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Podmates! A new threat from the wretched third planet has presented itself!" roared K'breel, Glorious Elder Speaker of the High Council, the his gelatinous tendrils quivering with excitement. "The detestable ape-people of the Northwestern Continent, having failed pitifully in their invasion of our homeworld with their pathetic wheeled war vehicles, have now attempted to enslave the population of an old adversary to construct their monstrous interplanetary weapons of destruction. Fortunately for our cause, due to the design faults of their primitive neurological systems, and in no small part the assistance of our hidden operatives, their economies have collapsed as a result of their insatiable lust for accumulating worthless structures of planetary rock and decayed photosynthetic matter! They have turned against one another in their uncomprehending rage, bringing the hour of our ultimate victory within sight!"

    When one journalist timidly asked of K'breel to confirm the rumors that a new Great Speaker had arisen among the citizens of the Northwestern Continent, who had been prophisized to lead the ape-people to final victory in the interminable conflict, K'breel ordered his gelsacs to be pierced on the spot.

  5. Re:Moving ISS not a crazy idea at all by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 5, Funny

    You can accelerate more or less as slowly as you want; but Mars is a long way away, and astronauts have all sorts of whiney demands like "I need air" and "ionizing radiation makes me a sad panda" which make getting there as fast as possible attractive.