New Mars Forums

Yup, you are right in that if this were the Mars vehicle concepts at work, the crew would always be on the leading edge of danger as it journeyed to Mars. Problem list is funding, resupply, construction process and design longevity.

Now just add some music, a few cameras for all the action and we have a money maker insuspense films or reality tv.

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As for the general public excluding space enthusiast they hear very little about Nasa and or any space missions. It is only in the news if it is traggic or denoting failure in some form.

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Funding
There is an  Appropriations  hearing at   2:30 p.m.   
Business meeting to markup proposed legislation          making appropriations for the government of the          District of Columbia and other activities chargeable in whole or in part against the revenues of said District for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, and proposed          legislation making appropriations for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and for sundry independent agencies, boards, commissions, corporations, and offices for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005.                  SH-216   webcast

http://www.capitolhearings.org/

Yup, you are right in that if this were the Mars vehicle concepts at work, the crew would always be on the leading edge of danger as it journeyed to Mars.

Now just add some music, a few cameras for all the action and we have a money maker in suspense films or reality tv.

Is there a chance that this could also happen with venus do to close proximity to the sun?

Atmospheric Escape from Hot Jupiters
http://www.jupitertoday.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=13878

NASA has stressed that the problems do not pose a threat to the astronauts' safety. The space station is equipped with various backup systems for keeping the cabin filled with oxygen, including oxygen tanks attached to the space station, tanks stored in the unmanned Progress supply vehicle that is docked to the station and chemical flares called "candles" that release oxygen when ignited.

The backups could last 90 to 140 days as indicated by both articles. The crew scheduled to return to Earth aboard a Russian Soyuz capsule by the end of October it is unknow if this continues if another will be sent up.

Space station goes to Plan B for oxygen
Crew not in imminent danger, but safety margin narrows

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6031881/

Space O2 Generator Fails Again 
http://www.wired.com/news/space/0,2697, … _tophead_4

What about a base of inflatable design that is then covered by the Mars regolith.

http://www.space.com/php....golith.

I am told in another thread that Hydrogen boils off due to the need for super cooling so the concept of taking it with you on the 180 day journey plus the 1.5 years on the surface would probably mean that by time you get to use it on the way back it would be gone.

Sorry if the insitu fuel did not come across, There are two forms of fuel deriving approaches one is to mining and seperated out of the Mars soils the minerals to make solid propelent and the other is the mining the soil and recapture the water contained within it to make hydrogen based fuels. A third would be to collect atmospheric gasses to refine the fuel type to be used. In all cases a large amount of equipment is needed just to provide for a return trip. some of which can double in use for survival for producing oxygen.

On the side of bringing the needed supplies with you or sending an advance ship ahead of the explorers that will be staying for quite a long time, how big do you really want the ships to be or of how many will you be willing to send is the question. The problem I see is for either approach is what if we can not leave Mars for what ever reason how would we survive, that is why I suggested the green house, you would get a two fold objective from exploring the science of plant growth on mars, one if food and the other is extra oxygen.

If no plans are to stay for any period of time then all we are doing is just another flag and foot prints to which I am not in favor of. Lets go to stay for long periods of time and to keep going.

Still interesting reading even if a hoax...
Antigravity, Magnetic repulsion come to mind.
Makes you think of the possibilities either way.

Lunar soil covered inflatable base

http://www.space.com/php....golith.

Mars Express mapping of Water vapour is more concentrated in three broad equatorial regions: Arabia Terra, Elysium Planum and Arcadia-Memnonia. This water is mapped in the same places as methane which show that the maps do overlap on Mars and may have important implications for the idea that the planet could harbour life.

http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/SEMAK21 … dex_0.html

New Mars data gives life clue
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3673248.stm

SpaceDev Begins Work on ''Dream Chaser'' Space Vehicle Space Act MOU Signed with NASA Ames Research Center

SpaceDev has begun designing a reuseable, piloted, sub-orbital space ship that could be scaled up to safely and economically transport passengers to and from low earth orbit, including the International Space Station. The name of the vehicle is the "SpaceDev Dream Chaser™."

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/040920/205170_1.html

NASA, SPACEDEV TO COLLABORATE ON FUTURE SPACE TRANSPORTATION
http://amesnews.arc.nasa.gov/releases/2004/04_89AR.html

Well I found some Earth moving equipment but it is manned. Page also covers space suits and more.

http://www.nasa.gov/vision/space/prepar … trats.html

Any process to transmit data opticall by using Lasers will also need a reciever.
Another use for nanotubes.
Researchers invent antenna for light
Researchers said on Friday they have invented an antenna that captures visible light in much the same way that radio antennas capture radio waves
http://www.cnn.com/2004....ex.html