New Mars Forums

Quick question everyone, how would the density of the Martian atmosphere affect the burning of silane?  I like the idea of burning silane with CO2, but I was wondering if the low density of the Martian atmosphere might hinder the burning-and require us to collect CO2 before running the engine.
I really like the idea though.

Addendum: 
Silane (Silicon hydride)
Boiling point
-112C
All silanes (There are multiple types!) are spontaneously inflammable in air and oxygen.  SiH compounds are good reducing agents.  I'll look some more into this.

Addendum 2:  I'll see if I can get my hands on some silane, CO2, vacuum chamber, and a Sterling Engine.

Sadly, the land train in the picture has gone the way of the Dodo as far as I know.  Power-wise, I don't think you'd have to beam power from the lead engine via microwave.  Ordinary cables would work just fine.
Going nuclear seems a better option then chemical fuel if you are going to be using a piece of equipment like this.  Mind you, I would also outfit any potential train with some back up batteries and solar panels.
That way, you need not worry about running out of gas.
Couple these with some lovely electric-drive wheels (Also something built by Mr. LeTourneau) and I think a modified Land train would work very well on Mars.

A side note on the silane engine:  You'd want a Stirling cycle engine, instead of a normal steam engine.  You get significantly less power though.

Unfortunately Scott, calling someone immature is just as bad as calling them a fruitcake.
I find this idea of Euthenia silly.  Societal engineering tends to work out badly. 
I propose avoiding agreeing on what to teach children in the first place-other then a strong math/science curriculum.
Perhaps Martian education might be the way you envision it-but it might not.  If the early Martians are idealists who would be dead set against your idea-then I see Euthenia as being merely a castle in the air.

On the subject of American Freedoms:
It is a sad sign of the times when people cannot trust each other, sad but true.  I fear that Al-Qaeda's jihad may very well succeed-not in letter, but in spirit.
The deepening ideological animosity between right and left could do more to hurt us then Al Qaeda ever could. 
Is there a solution?  I don't know. 
If we leave Iraq, and cease the WoT, they will likely cheer and use it as impetus to construe further attacks.  If we stay, there will be blood.  It's a damned-if-we-do, damned-if- we-dont-scenario.
A WMD assault could be the straw that broke the camel's back

The problem with the Space Island Group is that they are visionaries.  They speak of spending a billion dollars here, a couple billion there.  The entire budget of NASA is around 3 Billion.  That sort of money is hard to come by these days.
Unless Space Island Group has around 4 billion dollars, I think they might be building castles in the air.

Aw...You're taking all the good positions of leadership.  Fine, you be queen-I'll go invade France.

How about a Million Martian Marching Society?

Why does a child leave the cradle?  He or she will only die a few years later.
Besides, define normal.  If your definition of "Normal" is someone who has no reasons to go to space, Mars, the moon-then there's no point in arguing with you.

The duty of our generation is this
1)  Prove that there is a "New World"
2)  Prove that it is beneficial to live there and that problems can be overcome.
3)  Make it practical for the poor and downtrodden here on earth to go there.  There will always be people who get a very small slice of the pie, but there's no reason we can't do our best to help them-by increasing the amount of pie availible. 

The problem with us is that we are obsessed with gazing at our navels.  Stop gazing at your navel humanity.  All the self-help books in the world aren't going to help you if you don't do anything.

Of course I intend to direct the development of Mars by actually going there.  Hurry up NASA.

It is speculation.  Quite a lot of towns founded in the 1800s are still around.  Some of them are ghost towns now, others are growing and vibrant.
<QUOTE>"As for dealing with whatever crime there is on Mars (which should be greatly minimized by extensive psychological screening and *fair and equal* treatment of each and every member of the new settlement) I think there will be basically two choices for dealing with offenders: exile back to Earth and drugs.  Exile would probably be used for capital offenders, such as murder, and treatment by mind-altering drugs be used for lesser crimes, such as theft or hitting another person.</QUOTE>

Extensive psychological screening is a good idea for the settlers, but I ask you, what about first-generation Martians, the sons & daughters of the settlers?  Are you going to screen them prior to birth?
Crime doesn't have to result from unfair treatment.  I see the solution of exile being unrealistic as I doubt future colonists would want to let a capital offender get a free ride to earth.  There might even be a form of permanent servitude, read slavery, imposed on such criminals.
You feel squeamish about this?  Don't do the crime if you don't want to do the time.
I would even suggest giving most Martian criminals hard labor, instead of imprisonment.  Of course, you'd have to hire someone to guard them.  Why bother spending money on drugs-when you can get someone to construct your public works at a low-cost?

Eventually though, such extreme methods will become unnecessary as the colonies become more secure.

"Perhaps it is helpful to think about "doing Mars" as being rather like the senior prom."
You know how much I spent to go to my senior prom?  $125 all together.  Was it a good prom?  Yep.  Of course, my former high school isn't run by the government.
Life ain't like high-school.  High-school is a small part of life.
The metaphor is flawed.

So many people speak of planning Mars before the colonists even get there...Feh.  Let the colonists set it up themselves without us intervening.  After all, they will know how to best deal with any problems. 
Planning out their cities, and lives, might generate some natural resentment towards us arrogant Terrans.
Beyond planning the methods by which the colonists may physically survive, is it realistic to think that we may sit here and plan out their existence?
Let the government-beyond an original colonist-signed charter or three, and economy of Mars develop by themselves.  The more interesting thing to discuss will be what the -outcome- of Martian government and economics will be.