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Could We Abort a Manned Mission To Mars?

Posted by Soulskill on from the what-does-roe-v-wade-say-about-this? dept.

StartsWithABang writes: The next great leap in human spaceflight is a manned mission to a world within our Solar System: most likely Mars. But if something went wrong along the journey — at launch, close to Earth, or en route — whether biological or mechanical, would there be any way to return to Earth? This article is a fun (and sobering) look at what the limits of physics and technology allow at present. If you're interested in a hard sci-fi, near-future look at how a catastrophic Mars mission might go, you should read an excellent novel called The Martian by Andy Weir.

2 of 267 comments (clear)

  1. Second the recommendation by jenningsthecat · · Score: 5, Interesting

    "The Martian" by Andy Weir is one of the best SF books I've read, and I highly recommend it. Even if you're not into SF, if you're a member here, there's a good chance you'll like it.

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    'The Economy' is a giant Ponzi scheme whose most pitiable suckers are the youngest among us and the yet-unborn.
  2. Re:Should we? by Sarten-X · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The universe is probably littered with the one-planet graves of cultures which made the sensible economic decision that there's no good reason to go into space--each discovered, studied, and remembered by the ones who made the irrational decision.

    -Randall Munroe

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    You do not have a moral or legal right to do absolutely anything you want.