New Mars Forums

I had  posed a why is this work continuing question with regards to this a few days ago. under this forum
http://www.newmars.com/cgi-bin....te+tank
Since the tanks where for the x series vehicles.

Senate full committee review of Nasa live web cast covering shuttle upgrades and storm clean up.

http://commerce.senate.gov/hearings/wit … fm?id=1299

Web cast link
http://commerce.senate.gov/live.ram

I asked the question on the Moon probe to soon before I had finished reading the other web sites news sources. It appears that it is the smart-1 that is schedueled for november.

Europe's eye in space views dark side of moon

Spacecraft the size of a washing machine probes lunar secrets
http://www.guardian.co.uk/space/article … 61,00.html

While I am not sure which thread this really belongs in, I can not help my wondering eyes. Are these planets, that are visible inside the gas cloud of the Stingray Nebula.

Hubble Sees the Stingray Nebula
http://www.universetoday.com/am....?792004

Change the shield to solar cell panels and focus the energy to any orbiting station that would vent gasses by slowly syphoning them from the upper atmosphere. May even be a ship designed to scoop the atmosphere as it glances though repeatedly until its bounty is off loaded to the station in orbit.

Hind sight is not always the route that is taken when event happens again. Back when Kiwait was attach we came at there request but stopped short of doing the job then that we are doing now unfortunately. Things might have been different had it happened but we will only know once we have gone from there nation. Sitting back and not meddling in there internal affairs which may not be easy.

So when will the real moon rush begin. When Nasa does not rely on contracts to get vehicles for the job. Factories could be turning out just what Nasa needs like clock work if it were not for the pork barrel process.

For the Moon Nasa needs equipment to create an under ground cavern for man to live in for protection not only from space but from the solar radiation and from the suns very powerful storms. Temporary lunar landers for crews going and coming, Lunar resupply ships any combination of LEO or direct for cargo size and CEV Capsule to LEO or lunar insertion combinations.

Do both type show cost analysis for which type to keep from launch to return of Astronauts.
If we compare space transportation to that of our highways we need a variety of space crafts to get the job done, not just 1 type. Temporary 1 type might work as a fill in but the design needs to be made for each purpose.

Interesting time table for going forth to Mars but way to slow IMO. But on the note of how fast this also depends on if we are going to stay or do the Apollo ya its nice and leave again plan.

From MarsNews http://www.marsnews.com/

Phase 1 The Mars Homestead Project - To Arrive, Survive & Thrive!

Utilizing concepts and designs from the past several decades, the Mars Homestead Project seeks to develop a unified plan for building the first habitat on Mars utilizing local materials. The ultimate goal of the project is to build a growing, permanent settlement beyond the Earth, thus allowing civilization to spread beyond the limits of our small planet.

Planning efforts of the Project are well underway after last month's Kickoff meeting at MIT. The project is now shifting into high gear in what is being calling "Phase 1", where initial planning documents will be generated by the multidisciplinary Program Study Team.

Note: MarsNews.com Editor James Burk is on the leadership team and built the Project's website.

http://www.marshome.org/

RLV have nothing to do with as you put it the need for huge numbers of people to be placed into space. Rather it is about lowing the cost per flight for any quantity of people and regardless of how many flights.

Nasa's Shuttle does poorly on both accounts. Refurbishment of tiles and on operationation launch costs.

With regards to going often as the article puts it 400 shots for 50 billion with existing equipment.

Colonize the Moon before Mars
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/221/1

Existing technology can be used to get to the Moon (see “Soyuz to the Moon?”, The Space Review, August 2, 2004). A lunar landing mission might cost $120 million for an Ariane 5 booster. If each mission cost another $120 million for the Soyuz, service module and everything else, then that would be $240 million per flight instead of $5 billion per flight. That means that a $50-billion level of commitment from Earth can afford over 400 flights every two years.

This week we all find out if a stunt pilot can do the job.

While maybe a little off subject but to the point on structural shape, how about buildings that are domed shape. The article also gets into construction techniques.

Eye on the Storms
Home Built to Withstand Hurricanes — and to Enjoy a Beachfront View
http://abcnews.go.com/section....-1.html