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I think a dual mode craft (VTOL/Horizontal Flight) is too complex.  They should try the gashopper concept with a ballistic hopper first.  If that works move on to the dual flight mode.

Herm Goes to Mars (continued from page 12)

He spent six months flying through space
To begin the earthworm space race.
The transit was boring.
He spent his time coring
Through red dirt inside a glass case.

At last landing day did come near.
The ship might burn up Herm did fear
If they came in too low.
Past the planet they’d go
If they skipped off the atmosphere.

The ship was blazing like crimson
This landing felt like a hard one
But they came down just fine,
And with Herm they would dine
On veggies grown from the garden!

Umm... yeah...
...
...

I was just joking.

I love sarcasm online.  Someone always takes it seriously.

Robert,

How in the world is space traffic supposed to keep up with the air traffic of the early 1900s?  There are no destinations.  Early airplanes could take mail back and forth between cities.  No interplanetary mail for us.  Air travellers back then shaved hours or days off their intercity travel.  No space cities out there for us.

Once we get stable bases or colonies on Mars or the Moon private interests will have a market for their services and space travel will really take off.  We need governments or super-rich space philanthropists to start those bases and colonies.

I do agree that the pledge idea just won't work.  Maybe if a multibillionaire got the ball rolling and actually built some hardware...

Since equatorial countries are possibly unstable, construction and maintenance of a sled up the side of a mountain is very costly, and speed is more important than altitude...Why not build the sucker on level ground in Arizona?  Cheaper, stable, and...not high...

IIRC most rocketplane designs need to be towed or refueled in midair.  Just get them up to speed on the ground, fully fueled, and then whoooosh!  This might solve the refueling problem or it might be worse.

What do you think?

By the way, does anybody know what happens when you go supersonic at ground level?

They made it! 

I haven't watched a live Shuttle Launch for years.  It's still pretty exciting.

Still reading...

Keep it coming!!!

Pilots are fine, but most of the mission will be on the ground.  Also, the space ships will probably be able to fly on autopilot, so a pilot would only be used as a backup.  A mechanic would be more useful.  This would be the person who knows every inch of the equipment, both space and ground equipment.  Assuming the goal of settlement, I would send builders, farmers, and scientists.  They would be people wanting to start families there, as well.

Sending only technicians and forcing the real scientists to stay home is almost as bad as only sending robots.  It wouldn't cost more to send a scientist, but obviously a scientist can do much more if he/she is on site.  The simple inefficiency of the time delay in communications is enough to dismiss your idea, srmeany.

I don't have a problem with the wealthy going.  If they pay then great!  This will inject cash into the system and show the public that Mars is open to anyone (with the means).  It will also set a legal precedent for private Mars ventures and stimulate the private sector.

I would love to see a game like Civilization done for Mars.  Its sequel, Alpha Centauri, is close but a little too far future/sci-fi.

I think that is what she was getting at.  Right, cindy?

According to the book "A Travellers Guide to Mars," Olympus Mons has been active within the last 1% of Martian history.  The author has come to this conclusion using crater counts.  This pretty much means that it is still an active volcano and can blow at any time.

Any thoughts?

After the two boys left, I detached myself from the boulder that hid me during their little ceremony.  Had they dicerning eyes they could have seen me, but mother knew how to hide me -- even in plain sight.

Walking up to the wall of names, I felt the sacredness of the site.  It was surprising, for I had thought that Mars loved only me, Her firstborn.  But she had surely blessed this site, as she had blessed me.

What was I to do now?  As I read the names of those who called themselves true Martians, I recognized some whom I hated.  How could I dispose of them now, now that Mars had touched this place with Her spirit.

Were they Her sons and daughters as well?  As I pondered upon these new discoveries, the rage that had possessed me earlier subsided.  Perhaps I was an only child no more.

All of a sudden things became clear.  I now knew why She had led me to this spot -- why She had urged me to follow the youngsters, instead of proceeding directly to destroy the settlement.  Her children, my brothers and sisters, lived there!

I paced back and forth in front of the smooth stone for hours, soaking into my soul the names inscribed there.  Many of the names brought memories to my mind, sweet memories of childhood.  Smiling faces, loving embraces, laughing voices.  Sweet memories.  I didn't know I had any, but She helped me find them, deap within.  Sweet memories, sweet mother.

Suddenly I found myself staring at the green bubbling cancer that grew upon Her skin.  Domes of vegetation fed the cancer while it's tendrils grew beneath the surface, meandering mounds of ice and regolith their sign of infection.  All the parasites scurried within.  Why had she saved the settlement?

Oh yes, my new brothers and sisters...I must meet them and show them Her love.  Then we would all remove the cancer.