New Mars Forums

I remember how the ol' LEM was occassionally referred to as a "bug"

Looking at how damn BIG Altair, formerly known as LSAM    ....

I have to say that's a pretty big bug alright. 

The new images look impressive - it'll be interesting to see how they compare when Altair becomes reality.

I have to admit the Merridiani sites look very plain if the map topography is any indication; like Opportunity MSL might luck out on finding something.

Personally I hope for one of the Vallis sites; there should be both mineral evidence as well as something to look at either.

Couple of additional sections worth quoting from that same document:

...and then

It's great to find this positive research and thinking on Methane engines.     And yeah, that 210 day stay on Lunar surface is ANOTHER step in right direction for Martian vehicles.  If you can make a vehicle that can store cryogenic fuel in an enviorment that fluxes temperature nearly 500 degrees over the course of a month...I think that can probably do the same job at Mars (while cold, you have to admit it's alot more STABLE temperature-wise than the Moon).

Anti-Moon bloogers, grab a plate and start eating your hearts out 'cause there's no way this same tech for Mars would be developed...before 2050 and you guys are preparing to retire. 

The Vision is moving in the right direction  8)

I think all of you are right about all of these things.

Altair will give us the best chance to make a salvageable vehicle since it's going to have cargo capability.  Also, considering the Apollo 13 astronauts were able to use a square filter from the LEM for the round ones in the CM...even if it's not a perfect fit it shows you the engineers will find a way around a problem.  8)

Commadore...yeah, good chance we'll have to bring more hardware but still won't hurt to try, especially if we want to be simultainiously exploring, cost-cutting, and realistic.

I consider Congress the more finicy element as opposed to the J-2X, especially with elections coming up.

I think it is admirable that Griffen and NASA are doing their best when what they've got

It would be, and I wouldn't suggest for them to fly anymore than that.  Hell if they fly the shuttle may as well bring the crew roster up to 4 if not six while it's running.

Two problems with relying on the ISS:

1) The ISS has only a handful of docking ports, most Russian, and the Russians have been boasting lately about planning to expand their portion of the ISS - they likely would refuse using any port for the docking of non-Russian hardware.  Beyond any of these ports there aren't really any dedicated latches or spots on the truss for 'stowage' that wouldn't interfer with either the radiators or solar panels in some way.  :?

2) Very lousy orbit for Lunar travel.  It'll cost more fuel launching from the 52 degree inclined orbit that just directly from whatever launch site.  The Moon orbits...what, 2 or 3 degrees off our equator?  Whatever CEVs flying to the ISS will be optomized for nothing but that.

A reuseable Service Module would be a great idea though, and although I'm against space stations whenever possible a station that actually acts as a stowage yard might not be bad - but still if the SM can orbit on its own let it do so w/o a station to play den mother.

That's depressing. 

To anyone still advocating the shuttle can be 'reused' for another 10 years I blatantly throw this launch delay in their faces: they had remarkably good weather and the ESA staff gathered in support only to have a 4 devices out of a machine loaded with thousands ruin it all.

It's never good depending on a vehicle this finicky.  Even if ANOTHER three years is needed to develop the Ares & Orion I'll WAIT them out willingly and still give my tax payer dollars in support of it...

...and I'm talking to YOU gaetomon on that last remark.  8)

Great view - hopefully Columbus' hook-up with go as smoothly.

CRISM Views Phobos and Deimos

It will be interesting to learn what MRO's sensitive intrument can tell us about the properties of the Martian moons.  Given CRISM detected plenty of water-bearing minerals on Mars already it has a fair chance to do the same for the moons.

I sincerely hope some of these will pan out.  So far only Bigelow has proven to be competent enough to handle space flight and being more than just a one-hit-wonder at it, but obviously we need a vehicle that can shuttle down to Earth.

Hopefully COTS won't prove to be NASA's bane but at least there' potential.

Don't hold your breath over it; rockets use the stuff ALOT more than cars so guess where demand will be?  8)