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#1227 Re: Human missions » Paying For Mars - How to afford to send humans to Mars » 2002-12-23 12:12:07

This is exactly what i didnt like...i dont want to see companies monolpoizing land they have no claim over.  until they send people to claim it, they cannot call the land their own to sell.

#1228 Re: Human missions » Paying For Mars - How to afford to send humans to Mars » 2002-12-23 12:01:39

and a cycling space craft traveling to and fro between the Earth and Mars

Yay, sounds like my cargo idea!

A billion people watched Apollo 11 launch, that?s a big advertising market, how much would Coke or Pepsi pay to paint a rocket tank to look like a giant soft drink can?

I like this too-I think i've said before that we can help foot some of the cost by advertising on boosters, or using a particular companies lab equipment, etc.  How much would X company love to say that their equipment was used on mars?


On another note, I was thinking of the US Homestead Act that helped fuel western development.  The US government owned a bunch of land from purchases, war, etc. and they parceled it out to families. 

Well, I'd say that anybody who's willing to pay a ticket price to mars can have a permanent, say, 2 acres of land.  They could then stay, rent it, or do whatever they want.  I don't think we should allow people to buy property unless they intend to go onto it, unless the colonists sell it to them later. 

Or, alternatively, we could set up a sort of zoning agency, that parcels land off for different uses ("Earth,"  "Mars residence," "Farms") etc.  they wouldnt necessarily own land, they would just oversee what specific land was used for. 

Advertising would be a huge boon to any plan.  you could slap an add on everything.  beverages, food, the rocket, the hab, the equipment, computers, rovers, suits, clothes, etc.  Huge amounts of money could be made. 

About the reality TV idea...heres my take.  Have them have a digital camera, like you said, and film things all day.  then, once or twice a day, they could show their selected clips, and chat with the earth audience.  i dont think anybody would want to be watched 24/7.  We could fill the rest of the time with programs explaining the technology we use, what we want to accomplish, education, etc.  Get people interested and knowledgeable.  I think the main reason people are so indifferent to mars right now, is that they dont understand it.  if they knew the ins-and-outs, theyd be far more interested. 

If we used the space elevators that Phobos discussed, perhaps fuel production would be a viable industry on mars, they could just shoot it back to earth.  the cost would be lower (less gravity), and by that time, the technology would have naturally progressed to further reduce the cost.  Say at a launch cost of $50/kg...maybe mars can use fuel as its "cash crop."

#1229 Re: Planetary transportation » Crawlers - Segmented multilegged rovers » 2002-12-23 07:16:18

Playing with?  You dont have any clue about the ISS.  Just because people say its not the best expenditure, it isnt useless.  People have to stop using the ISS as the universal whipping boy.

#1230 Re: Planetary transportation » Revolutionary way to explore other worlds - A wind riding rover » 2002-12-22 22:03:29

peronally, i can think of better methods of getting things around mars.  not that the idea doesnt sound good, but rocket hoppers, like zubrin described, could use methane fuel to hop around the planet quickly, carrying cargo, and making fuel upon landing.  these could be used anywhere on the planet, not just where there are heavy winds.  nuclear based rocket planes would be even better.

the idea of a windsurfer could be used if you wanted to drop things at different locations across the planet.  but i really dont see it as being a replacement for conventional proposals.  sorry if i seem to be harsh, im just offering my opinion  ???

#1231 Re: Intelligent Alien Life » Universal Life - Is all - complex life in the universe similar? » 2002-12-22 21:23:16

its hard to say.  based on my limited knowledge, i would have to infer that life would take whatever form is best for the environment it takes shape in.

#1232 Re: Not So Free Chat » Smoking Good Or Bad - Vote Now » 2002-12-22 16:30:58

a brand new computer costs $500.  i know, i build them for myself and friends.

but if a pc gets outdated every day, and its more powerful than a ps2, what does that say about the ps2's obsolesence?

personally, i have both.  i like to play some games on a console, but the PC is much more powerful overall.

Visited 2022/04/11 during Post Repair process. No changes found needed.

#1233 Re: Not So Free Chat » Leaglize drugs - say what u want » 2002-12-22 16:13:40

would you not pay for aids treatment because it only affects a minority?

or would you instead pay for weed by giving the money to terrorists?  if it was legal, the government could control the source.

#1234 Re: Planetary transportation » Crawlers - Segmented multilegged rovers » 2002-12-22 16:03:55

You could always use a combination.  treads would work too.  by the time we get to mars, the leg system will probably be much more advanced.

#1235 Re: Interplanetary transportation » orbital facilities » 2002-12-22 15:22:39

Several days is fine for normal cargo, but SSTO's would be better for things like people that want to get to orbit, or quick transfer of goods to orbit. 

also, space elevators would never really replace SSTOs in terms of flexibility-a spaceplane could go anywhere on earth, or in orbit.  if they combined the two, we'd really be going.

#1236 Re: Not So Free Chat » Leaglize drugs - say what u want » 2002-12-22 14:42:30

Not really.  Why did alchoholism in this country spike during the prohibition?  its a proven psychological fact that saying banning an item makes it more appealing

#1237 Re: Interplanetary transportation » Nuclear Propulsion - The best way for space travel » 2002-12-22 14:40:43

we have to get our power from somewhere.  fossil fuels wont last forever.  hydrothermal power and geothermal power are pretty limited.  wind and solar power are unreliable...what other alternative do we have?

#1238 Re: Not So Free Chat » Leaglize drugs - say what u want » 2002-12-22 13:12:50

legalize it, but dont make it "only 21"

you know how many kids become alcoholics because of the drinking age?  all you have to do is send your older brother into the store to get it. 

its hard to figure out how to handle it.  cigarettes are legal for minors to smoke, but not to buy...this doesnt really work.  does anybody know how the dutch handle marijuana selling?

#1239 Re: Not So Free Chat » Leaglize drugs - say what u want » 2002-12-22 12:47:40

do we need a research report to prove everything?  all you have to do is look at the people who start with weed.  they move on.  weed gets people into the world of drugs...otherwise they wouldnt be exposed to the higher end drugs, like heroin, shrooms, cocaine, etc.

#1240 Re: Meta New Mars » Mars Academy - Anyone here know about this? » 2002-12-22 12:12:51

rocket ships havent done anything for us for 40 years.  sapce elevators are genius.  they would allow a whole new generation of space development, exploration, and settelement. 

that is, if they are built.

#1241 Re: Not So Free Chat » Leaglize drugs - say what u want » 2002-12-22 12:08:56

it makes sense.  when you prohibit something, it becomes more popular.  weed is a gateway drug.  nobody goes straight to heroin-the idea of putting a needle in your joints turns people away.  since weed is less popular, the harder drugs become less popular as well.

#1242 Re: Not So Free Chat » Things about Bin Ladden - :P » 2002-12-22 11:47:48

What color is our alert level now?  I bet if i picked out an M&M from a bag, id have a good chance of picking out the color!

#1243 Re: Intelligent Alien Life » Is there any point in wondering? - Isn't the question answered, after all? » 2002-12-22 11:46:18

i meant make revisions to the bible, as people became more "intelligent"

#1244 Re: Intelligent Alien Life » Is there any point in wondering? - Isn't the question answered, after all? » 2002-12-22 07:48:15

i still dont think its anything a reasonably intelligent human couldnt come up with. humans have always been fascinated with the stars, and the ten commandments existed long before the bible, and i believe these are just common sense morals of the time. 

why would god make these 10 rules, and these 10 rules only, for salvation?  they are too human, and they are based on human experience and values.

it is pretty obvious that the celestial bodies came before people.  and as humanity advanced, would not god update it?  wouldnt he right "revisions" through someone.  or in these admittedely dark times, wouldnt he send a sign? 

and nuclear power being stretched to chernobyl being stretched to a star scorching the earth seems a stretch to me. 

why would he allow us to destroy ourselves?

#1245 Re: Not So Free Chat » President Bush - about bush » 2002-12-22 07:39:14

im just basing it on personal experience.

#1246 Re: Not So Free Chat » What do you think of this? » 2002-12-22 07:38:19

caltech, the fbi has a file on you.  in fact, anybody who ever said bush sneezed the wrong way has a file on them.  protest is apparently our right, yet, the government watches us, marks it down, and is prepared to use that against us. 

the fbi has no right to do this.  in some ways, the government is becoming more like big brother.  now, it is one of the most free countries in the world, but the government has to be reformed, or our bureaurcratic waste will catch up to us.

#1247 Re: Not So Free Chat » Leaglize drugs - say what u want » 2002-12-21 18:45:13

now, im not saying all minorities are like this, but many use their poor background to justify being poor, and rail out against any that succeed.  is that any fault of the successful?

and if youre rich enough, color doesnt matter.  OJ Simpson.

Lenny Kravitz was caught high and drunk.  they let him go.  why?  because hes Lenny Kravitz.

Now, obviously, there is a large degree of racial bias, but you cant blame it all on the system. 

I have enough pothead friends to know that weed impairs your judgement.  hell, it effects your instant messenger judgement too.

#1248 Re: Interplanetary transportation » orbital facilities » 2002-12-21 18:41:40

orbital hangars!  yay.  nuclearspace, perhaps we can build orion ships in orbit!  then those anti-nuclearists cant whine!

Now, how would they shield these ships from the atmosphere?  would the "elevator capsules"  be shielded?

another great idea would be to buld another elevator, coil up the ribbon, and send it in pieces to mars.  then they could launch stuff back.

#1249 Re: Not So Free Chat » President Bush - about bush » 2002-12-21 12:41:47

like i said, all we do is build spare parts.  and we dont have to spend much money on those planes until we intend to use them.  then the government issues a whole bunch of maintenance contracts to get them ready.  usually, they just sit in hangars. 

like i said, i think china has a good deal hidden.  and much of that $1000 US spends per person, id say about $300 is used for important, necessary, productive purposes.

#1250 Re: Not So Free Chat » Leaglize drugs - say what u want » 2002-12-21 12:39:29

alt, i agree with you on everything but 1 and 7.  personal drug use can cause people to be hurt, judgement to be impaired, and personal injury.  you dont want to be near someone whos high and angry.

take alcohol...drinking obviously isnt victimless once you get behind a wheel.

7: yes, but this is partially because minorities are more likely to do drugs.  they tend to be poorer, and they have nothing else, so they go to drugs.  i lived in a poorer area for a good part of my life (it was a new development gone awry), and i saw these things for myself.  it is true that richer kids have mommy and daddy bail them out, but they stick to softer drugs, and start later.

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