Who should first go to mars - Who should first go to mars.

Ian · 2005-04-28 14:11:05

What kinds of people should be on the first mission to Mars? I think it should be people who have the merit to go to Mars and not just the wealthy. I think that it should be the people who know how the spacecraft works and how to pilot it and who are scientists and the people who fly it should be people who have experience flying planes and who have flown in simulators. They should choose people like Nasa choose the people who went to the moon. Those people weren't rich but they were very educated and they had enough merit to do it.

srmeaney · 2005-04-29 09:23:00

The very first will be not necessarily scientists, but rather technicians. You are looking at a situation where they are only going to be conducting a survey of the soil in focus on site of interest(whether for colonization or for science). Scientists can pretty much sit at home and get the data in a download. Technicians can take core samples, drop soil in a spectrum analyser, and grow snails in plastic cylinder for that extra bit of Protien fill. They can also take photos, make notes, and upload the answers to Earth.
There wont be any room for 'mission specialists'. Every one who goes must (for reasons even I thought were obvious) have the ability to opperate every critical piece of technology. No room for liabilities on this trip.

Fledi · 2005-04-30 09:31:58

I don't think there will be many rich people going to mars for a long time. Most of those are more interested in space tourism, like going to the moon for a 2 week trip as an adventure, but certainly not living under such harsh conditions for the rest of their lives. That's one of the reasons to drop launch cost so that the average people can afford it. We could also use the profit generated by the tourists to send other people off to mars.

Ian Flint · 2005-04-30 10:14:49

Pilots are fine, but most of the mission will be on the ground. Also, the space ships will probably be able to fly on autopilot, so a pilot would only be used as a backup. A mechanic would be more useful. This would be the person who knows every inch of the equipment, both space and ground equipment. Assuming the goal of settlement, I would send builders, farmers, and scientists. They would be people wanting to start families there, as well.

Sending only technicians and forcing the real scientists to stay home is almost as bad as only sending robots. It wouldn't cost more to send a scientist, but obviously a scientist can do much more if he/she is on site. The simple inefficiency of the time delay in communications is enough to dismiss your idea, srmeany.

I don't have a problem with the wealthy going. If they pay then great! This will inject cash into the system and show the public that Mars is open to anyone (with the means). It will also set a legal precedent for private Mars ventures and stimulate the private sector.

PurduesUSAFguy · 2005-04-30 10:41:00

I actually think using pilots for human missions to mars would be a case of institutional habit. Flying in space has very little to nothing in common with driving a fighter in atmosphere. I think aerobraking around mars could be largley automated and as with decent and landing. Especially if a rover on the ERV (assuming a Mars Direct style mission) has mapped the site ahead of time and placed a landing beacon for the ship to home in on.

MarsDog · 2005-04-30 13:24:09

Recruiting social outcasts, hermits, gold panners, and trappers is to the point.

These personality types are unlikely to to ask for return to Earth.

Give them a homestead module on wheels, with a large solar array,
a few manufacturing rovers and let them terraform.

srmeaney · 2005-05-27 04:17:22

Mobile Survey Team of Ten in 2010AD. Review Geological Stability of Colonization Sites, Set up Forward Deployed systems and Live off Millitary Rations. Twenty years of living out of a Mobile Habitat. Traveling the entire planet of Mars one supplies/infrastructure landing site after the next until the Colonization Transports begin Arriving in 2030AD. Then they can go home if they want.

The only thing they need to worry about is the possibility of their own existance. If strings make up us, and strings are possibility brances in the existance of life, It is entirely possible that we could wind up with life (the crew) exceeding the possibility width of the ship built by individuals of less possibility width. That means you could step from one space vehicle into another and if your possibility exceeds theirs you die in open space (but only by a little bit).

Fledi · 2005-05-27 19:03:30

While I don't fully understand what you're talking about it sounds pretty cool anyway

srmeaney · 2005-05-27 19:11:27

Mars contracts out the right to go into space free. As long as the Commonwealth of Mars can get ten thousand a year off world for colonization the remaining seats on the space plane are open for tourists.

And considering only Mars Commonwealth citizens are getting off the colony transports at mars, Tourists can take the round trip.

But First Up:

Mobile Survey Team.
Crew: 10
Mission Time: 20 Years

To be deployed in 2010 AD. Their task is to review the geological stability of colonization sites. Set up forward deployed systems. Traveling the entire planet of Mars one supplies/infrastructure landing site after the next until the colonization transports begin arriving in 2030AD.

reddragon · 2005-05-30 17:24:41

The only thing they need to worry about is the possibility of their own existance.

To most of us, existence is very important. Crew survival is the top priority of most mission plans.

If strings make up us, and strings are possibility brances in the existance of life, It is entirely possible that we could wind up with life (the crew) exceeding the possibility width of the ship built by individuals of less possibility width. That means you could step from one space vehicle into another and if your possibility exceeds theirs you die in open space (but only by a little bit).

I really have no clue what you're talking about, although I don't really know much about string theory. Even dying "only by a little bit" sounds bad though.

And considering only Mars Commonwealth citizens are getting off the colony transports at mars, Tourists can take the round trip.

Are you saying tourists shouldn't even be allowed to get off the ship and wald around on Mars?!

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#1 2005-04-28 14:11:05

Re: Who should first go to mars - Who should first go to mars.

#2 2005-04-29 09:23:00

Re: Who should first go to mars - Who should first go to mars.

#3 2005-04-30 09:31:58

Re: Who should first go to mars - Who should first go to mars.

#4 2005-04-30 10:14:49

Re: Who should first go to mars - Who should first go to mars.

#5 2005-04-30 10:41:00

Re: Who should first go to mars - Who should first go to mars.

#6 2005-04-30 13:24:09

Re: Who should first go to mars - Who should first go to mars.

#7 2005-05-27 04:17:22

Re: Who should first go to mars - Who should first go to mars.

#8 2005-05-27 19:03:30

Re: Who should first go to mars - Who should first go to mars.

#9 2005-05-27 19:11:27

Re: Who should first go to mars - Who should first go to mars.

#10 2005-05-30 17:24:41

Re: Who should first go to mars - Who should first go to mars.

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