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'Sending Astronauts To Mars Would be Stupid' (bbc.com)
One of the first men to orbit the Moon has told BBC Radio 5 Live that it's "stupid" to plan human missions to Mars. Bill Anders, lunar module pilot of Apollo 8, the first human spaceflight to leave Earth's orbit, said sending crews to Mars was "almost ridiculous". From a report: NASA is currently planning new human missions to the Moon. It wants to learn the skills and develop the technology to enable a future human landing on Mars. NASA was approached for a response to Anders' comments, but hasn't responded.
Anders, 85, said he's a "big supporter" of the "remarkable" unmanned programmes, "mainly because they're much cheaper". But he says the public support simply isn't there to fund vastly more expensive human missions. "What's the imperative? What's pushing us to go to Mars?" he said, adding "I don't think the public is that interested". Meanwhile, robotic probes are still exploring Mars. Last month, the InSight lander, which will sample the planet's interior, successfully touched down at Elysium Planitia. Further reading: Bill Nye: We Are Not Going To Live on Mars, Let Alone Turn It Into Earth.
Anders, 85, said he's a "big supporter" of the "remarkable" unmanned programmes, "mainly because they're much cheaper". But he says the public support simply isn't there to fund vastly more expensive human missions. "What's the imperative? What's pushing us to go to Mars?" he said, adding "I don't think the public is that interested". Meanwhile, robotic probes are still exploring Mars. Last month, the InSight lander, which will sample the planet's interior, successfully touched down at Elysium Planitia. Further reading: Bill Nye: We Are Not Going To Live on Mars, Let Alone Turn It Into Earth.
Space nutter detected. Use of the terms "other rock" confirms it. You forgot to mention "gravity well" though. Here is something though: there is no way a human can live on Mars. Mars has no atmosphere, radiation, toxic dust and has a different gravity. One of those things would kill a human quickly. No one is going anywhere. It is time you guys focused on fixing the things you don't like about Earth, rather than dreaming of leaving it. It won't happen. There isn't a habitable planet that we can physically reach (ever).
Don't bother. The Space Nutters have an "explanation" for everything. Radiation? Just wear a anti-radiation suit and take some anti-radiation pills and live in a cave. They read about it on some blog somewhere.
It has nothing to do with "scared", it has to do with people understanding basic science and physics. Space Nutters never learned it, so they think everything is possible. They are a lot like little children.
Sorry I didn't realize that the basic laws of Physics were going to change in the future. Carry on! P.S. Will it make iPhones thinner too? We really need that, along with our floating cities on Venus and tunnels on Mars.