New Mars Forums

Yeah, you sure can say that again...    I do not believe that Kerry is a suitable candidate for President, either, for the very reasons you specified above.

Why can't we have a sensible candidate for President? 

<lets out a big sigh>

B

LOL...that's a good one, Cindy...

Funny to think that for those who excel in math, the opposite would be true...it'd be heaven to do math for eternity...lolol.

B

I guess that could be an issue, but I would hope that they would be able to sterilize against any problematic viruses and bacteria before leaving Earth (including that of the common cold...I hope!)  Also, the moisture level inside the hab would likely be at super-dry levels, which should limit the spread of any germs that do make it to Mars.

I do like the idea of those "shoe" socks, though..sounds comfy

B

Yeah, I have to agree with that one...lol.  Not to mention plain ol' comfort...I couldn't imagine going about my daily activities without threads...even if there wasn't anyone else around...

One thing that the settlers might could do without is footwear...as that's the most complex article of general-use clothing that people wear for the most part, which would add to "unnecessary" costs of living on Mars.  Going around barefoot wouldn't be too bad of an idea, imo, or perhaps people would wear those disposable paper slippers they give you at the hospital.

On another note, the settlers would have to strike a balance between the interior hab temp and the level of clothing that they would wear...i.e...would it be better to keep the interior temperature at a brisk 15 C, which would mean long pants and sleeves (and shoes, for that matter), or would they want to keep it at a toasty 25 C, and just have everyone wear tanktops and shorts and no shoes?  If it was up to me, I'd keep it at 15-17 C and I'd still go around barefoot..LOL...(cold doesn't bother me that much)

B

I'm creating a new thread about the Space Shuttle, as per Cindy's request with a re-posting of what I wrote in the "Saturn V" thread...

--I was just a *tad* young to remember the Apollo missions...the only memories I have from that era was watching a couple of launches of the Saturn V on the TV in the early '70's.

But what I do have fond memories of is the Space Shuttle in the early '80's...I'd be glued to the TV for each and every launch in the early days, and the landings as well.  Not to mention I had this super-cool poster with a cut-away view of the Shuttle at that time, right above my bed...lol.
 
When I moved to Orlando in the early '90's, I'd watch the Shuttle launches on NASA TV, and as soon it was off the launch pad, I'd step outside and look 60 miles to the east and watch it soar into the sky.  I was constantly amazed how well you could see the Shuttle even at that distance, watching it going all the way up into space, especially if you used a pair of binoculars.

But the coolest thing were the landings at Kennedy...most of the landing approaches involved the Shuttle dropping down over central Florida, with its attendent sonic booms.  I'd be watching the landing sequence on TV, and just when they would have the shuttle in sight from the ground...BOOMBOOM!..it was like hearing a double-barrel cannon going off just overhead..lol...I mean, it was LOUD.  Then about two minutes later, you could see the stubby craft turning onto short final at 350+ mph (on TV), dropping like a brick before flaring out on the runway for a picture-perfect landing...that was always an amazing, thrilling thing to see.

The Space Shuttle may not be the mighty Saturn V, but I'll be missing it just the same when they retire it from service...<sighs>

B

Yeah, I've always been fascinated by "antique" visions of the future, largely shaped by my visits to Disney World as a kid...lol.  Too bad it turned out to be an imagined future (as concocted by Disney's famed "Imagineers," of course  :;): )

I was just a *tad* young to remember the Apollo missions...the only memories I have from that era was watching a couple of launches of the Saturn V on the TV in the early '70's.

But what I do have fond memories of is the Space Shuttle in the early '80's...I'd be glued to the TV for each and every launch in the early days, and the landings as well.  When I moved to Orlando in the early '90's, I'd watch the Shuttle launches on NASA TV, and as soon it was off the launch pad, I'd step outside and look 60 miles to the east and watch it soar into the sky.  I was constantly amazed how well you could see the Shuttle even at that distance, watching it going all the way up into space, especially if you used a pair of binoculars.

But the coolest thing were the landings at Kennedy...most of the landing approaches involved the Shuttle dropping down over central Florida, with its attendent sonic booms.  I'd be watching the landing sequence on TV, and just when they would have the shuttle in sight from the ground...BOOMBOOM!..it was like hearing a double-barrel cannon going off just overhead..lol...I mean, it was LOUD.  Then about two minutes later, you could see the stubby craft turning onto short final at 350+ mph (on TV), dropping like a brick before flaring out on the runway for a picture-perfect landing...that was always an amazing, thrilling thing to see.

I know the Space Shuttle hasn't worked out to what it was meant to be, but at least I got to personally experience that aspect of America's space program...if any of you ever get a chance to watch a space launch in person, even an unmanned launch, do it...you won't regret it. 

B

LOL...I guess I'd make a lousy settler as well...especially since I'm a shorts and flip-flop guy too... 

The constant "safety protocols" would definitely get on my nerves after a while, especially if it's been a few years (or better yet, never) since the last mishap. 

Besides, I'd hate being indoors all the time, especially if I had to live underground like a danged mole.  If I lived on Mars, I'd want to be where I could see the sun and sky during the day, the risks of radiation exposure and depressurization be dammed...

B

As for actually getting the animals to Mars, the obvious solution is either using very large or very fast spacecraft...KSR had his first 100 settlers travel to Mars in a large, rotating spacecraft, which contained a large range of plants and some animals (IIRC).  The biggest hazard on the initial voyage in "Red Mars" was enduring a solar radiation storm, which would be one of the largest hazards in the real-life transport of both animals and people to Mars. 

Hopefully by the time Mars is terraformed (assuming that it ever is), propulsion technology would have progressed to the point that we'd be able to zip from Earth to Mars in a week or less, thus greatly easing the problems of moving large numbers of wild animals to a new world (just keep them tranquilized, etc., for the transit.)

B

Interesting thoughts about 'roos on Mars     I have fond memories of seeing *herds* of kangaroos in the Outback while traveling by motorcoach, and those critters sure can move...lol.  I've heard that they can maintain a speed of something like 30 mph for an hour or more, hopping *35 feet* with each jump, which speaks of their amazing endurance as well.

Personally, I think 'roo's would adapt just fine to the .38 gee of Mars...sure, they would hop higher and further, but they would probably be able to maintain the same sense of control and grace they do here on Earth, except they would be able to travel even faster and further than they do here on Earth...50 mph for two hours or more, perhaps??

I'd like to see how animals like cheetahs and gazelles would do on the open plains of a terraformed Mars as well...just imagine a live creature belting it out at 100 mph...that'd be an amazing sight to behold, for sure...

B

Yeah, your ears wouldn't fare too well either, I don't think.

As for the "300 Club", glad you asked, as that's an annual ritual that the "winterovers" down at Pole Station in Antarctica like to perform when the outside temp drops to minus 100 degrees F.  First of all, they fire up the in-house sauna to 200 degrees plus, and the participants take their clothes off (at least down to their skivvies..lol) and roast themselves for a while.  Then, when everyone is good and hot, they all run outside into the negative 100-degree cold...all the way out to the barber pole if they can, before dashing back inside.  Having experienced a 300-degree swing in temperature upon your bare skin, you get to be a member of this very exclusive club...lol.

As much fun as it sounds, I do believe I'll take a pass on this one...LOL...

B

Yeah, tell me about it...lol.  No wonder why I'm feeling so ancient these days...lol.  So you were able to pick out the black dots, huh?  I tried looking for them after the initial impact, but my trusty Astroscan just didn't quite have the light-gathering power to pick them out...at least I tried. (-sigh-)

Yeah, as big as that thing was (assuming that it stayed together in one piece), it would have very likely caused rain all over Mars, since it would have penetrated deep into the Martian crust and heated large areas of the planet to well above freezing, and it probably would have burst open a few aquifers, melted portions of the ice caps, etc.  For a short time, at least, Mars would have had liquid water flowing across the surface, not to mention greatly increased air pressure.  Now, that would have been a sight to see...     

Oh well, maybe we'll get "lucky" next time a comet tries to slip past Jove the Protector...lol.

B

Great idea, Bill.     Indeed, the opportunity to experience zero-gee is the main draw of space tourism (as opposed to merely enjoying the pretty view out the window.)  But the cool thing would be the possibily of hosting a "Space Olympics", in which some of the world's leading athletes could go at it in the zero-gee hab, with millions watching it all on TV back on terra firma.

Just imagine the dollar signs rolling in from a venture like this....

B