New Mars Forums

Depending on the engine style, it may not be,  is Silane a liquid or a gas, also, if you use a standard combustion engine and used oil injection would that help carry out the burned Silicon-Dioxide?

Well,  this is something that I believe will help us in the long run.  By making space more profitable, it will become less expensive to get there.

What as the actual size of the area.  While, I won't say Mars is volcanicly active, I am of the opinion it is not, until scientific evidence is shown to prove that it is.  I do not believe we can do so tell we get a very hi resolution camera.  KH-11 resolution if you will. That will require some highspeed infrastructure in place.  Maybe two relay satellites in geo-synch orbit. 

Realistically an underground hotsprings or some form of volcanic activity underground would create a warm spot of 10-20 degrees.

An actual eruption or volcanic outbreak would be much much warmer.  I would expect discrepancies of over 200-300 degrees different.

I have to argue against that point.

Organisms that live in a harsh climate are usually very poor competitors.  They usually use some much energy in staying alive that reproduction is slow.  They also usually do not respond well to a change in climactic conditions.  They are very specialized organism sometimes with advanced symbiotic relationships.  My sister is doing her PhD on symbiotic reletionships between organisms on the deep sea trench.  I would argue two points.

1.) We can only prove that life exists.  We will never be able to truely prove it does not.

2.) Once we find life, the ethical issues of terraformation will come into question.  This will make for some serious issues...  I would lend myself more to the terraformation camp, but it depends on the complexity of life that is discovered.

This is simply too good to be true..

This is just awesome..  I was waiting for something like this.  Seems reminiscient of 1947 and the Bell X-1, piloted by a Captain in the newly formed United States Air Force that noone had ever heard of. 

So, once we actually find this damn gravitron or whatever they call it, it could be great for communications and maybe for propulsion... who needs a solar sail...

I would like to make a couple point real quick.

1.) Not all Hospitals are non-profit.
               
               Insurance copmanies don't always pay the complete bill for procedures.  This is also true for Ambulances.  Ambulances are required to transport everyone.  But if the person being transported doesn't pay for it, other people pick up the tab.  The average Ambulance costs between 1/2 to 1 million dollars fully stocked(from a friend thats an EMT).  Also, EMT's and Paramedics are underpaid..  imagine how much it would cost if they were paid more.  The typical semi-driver makes more money.

     But, back to my point.  Tri-Care is the military's insurance.  They give certain amounts for procedures no matter what.  So, the Hospital must derive costs where it can.  They must pay high salaries to attract nurses and Doctors since they are in short supply.  So.. It is merely a trickle down effect.   

2.)  Most non-smokers may not know this but a good portion of cigarettes is tax.  I would say about 60-80% of a pack of Cigarettes is tax.  This 'sin' tax is supposed to goto cigarette related illness treatment and research(yeah right).

3.)  I don't see us ever going to a straight general health care system.  I do see us going to a minimum health care insurance.  But that will require more taxes.  People that have better coverage are not going to want to pay for it.  There hase to be atleast 100,000-200,000 people employed in the US in Health insurance related fields.  Those people could potentially lose their jobs.  Companies may cut health insurance benefits etc..  Is that better? Because the minority of people don't have medical coverage.(I know thats harsh, I do believe everyone should have some sort of medical coverage)

4.)  Their are many areas in the US that upon privatization and demonopolization, the services improved drastically.  I hardly think by making something government run, the services will improve.  I think, therefore, a very minimum health care system should be setup, like medicare for people below the poverty line, or can';t afford insurance..  Also, allow broader access to VA hospitals.  Anyone that has had Military Medical Care would appreciate better insurance, and a good hospital, even if it costs more money.

If we are looking for a Martian Export, it must be less expensive then we can get here.  Currently I don't see anything being economically viable for export.  In the future... Of course, but now... no way..

GPS uses two signals sent out per satellite.  One is the one you use when you buy a GPS from your regular store.  The other is the elusive P-code encrypted signal.  A Military GPS with unencrypt capability gains much more accurate position capability through the use of two signals. 

Also, the civilian signal is limited by significant digits, the encrypted one is not.  The civilians signals timing is +-300 ms the encrypted is 100ms.  So there is that going for it.  A GPS that can use both signals should be able to get +-5' with 4 satellites(the minumum required for a good lock) while realistically you can not get that with a civilian GPS unless you have Differential GPS capability.

How much work is involved in re-applying an ablative coating?

I have no feelings of loss for the little craft that wouldn't.

But I do for the amazing engineers that came up with amazing workarounds..  Kudos to them!

I personnaly believe that having a heavy lifter is within our interests.  It opens up many possibilities for launching equipment and reduces costs by being able to launch unique large loads in one piece(ISS).

I would answer this we a resounding No given current knowledge about Mars Geo-Thermic Activity.   Even if we found Mars to be Geo-thermicly active, the drilling and rigging equipment would be vast, even using cutting edge technology.

We need to abandon the Nuclear Phobia.  If Nuclear Reactors were so dangerous we should all be dead.  We are currently using nuclear reactors built on seventies technology.  Imagine what we could do with todays technology.  All power production has drawbacks.  Even solar and wind power.  Sucks if it's a calm cloudy day.  The supposed environmentally friendly Hydropower has disrupted rivers in countless countries and reduced Salmon populations significantly.  I am just waiting to see the devastation if a dam the size of Hoover breaks.  Let alone Three Gorges.  You show me a Nuclear Power Plant that would kill 20 million people that blows up and I will give you Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River in China.