Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Elon Musk SpaceX AMA

reddit.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 98 posts

Re: Elon Musk SpaceX AMA

#11

Post by marcofloriano »

0majors wrote: post #9

The leaders of the most powerful nations on Earth are barely starting to talk about some small human missions to Mars and then there is Elon, casually discussing glass domes and tunneling drones creating underground networks on Mars. Truly incredible.

Right!? Like, i have tons of respect for the guy, but the amount of press and attention that they get just by saying "we are going to mars" are crazy! Nothing practical to show, i would be more interested in a mission to build up a base at moon first.

But hey! This is show business, what we losers can possible know!?

Re: Elon Musk SpaceX AMA

#12

Post by thelambentonion »

0majors wrote: post #9

The leaders of the most powerful nations on Earth are barely starting to talk about some small human missions to Mars and then there is Elon, casually discussing glass domes and tunneling drones creating underground networks on Mars. Truly incredible.

I would say that the leaders of the most powerful nations on Earth are a little more grounded in reality than Musk in this regard. Glass domes and underground Martian tunnels make for some very interesting science fiction, but I'm concerned about the engineering challenges that he seems to be ignoring in favor of his grand statements of intent.

To pick a specific example, he seems to have very little concern for radiation shielding both during the trip to Mars or on the Martian surface. Both of these present incredibly harsh radiation environments for humans, and we need to develop solutions before we even consider sending explorers, let alone colonists.

Re: Elon Musk SpaceX AMA

#13

Post by to3m »

0majors wrote: post #9

The leaders of the most powerful nations on Earth are barely starting to talk about some small human missions to Mars and then there is Elon, casually discussing glass domes and tunneling drones creating underground networks on Mars. Truly incredible.

NASA have also managed to put nobody on Mars, while saying a lot less. Who says government is inefficient? ;)

Re: Elon Musk SpaceX AMA

#14

Post by icebraining »

thelambentonion wrote: post #12
0majors wrote: post #9

The leaders of the most powerful nations on Earth are barely starting to talk about some small human missions to Mars and then there is Elon, casually discussing glass domes and tunneling drones creating underground networks on Mars. Truly incredible.

I would say that the leaders of the most powerful nations on Earth are a little more grounded in reality than Musk in this regard. Glass domes and underground Martian tunnels make for some very interesting science fiction, but I'm concerned about the engineering challenges that he seems to be ignoring in favor of his grand statements of intent. To pick a specific example, he seems to have very little concern for radi…

Yeah, the Mars One project talks about burying their habitat five meters underground to get the same protection as the Earth's atmosphere; glass domes seem downright reckless in comparison.

Re: Elon Musk SpaceX AMA

#15

Post by [deleted] »

guelo wrote: post #10
0majors wrote: post #9

The leaders of the most powerful nations on Earth are barely starting to talk about some small human missions to Mars and then there is Elon, casually discussing glass domes and tunneling drones creating underground networks on Mars. Truly incredible.

Are you suggesting that the scientists and engineers at NASA have never drawn up detailed plans for these kind of ideas?

[deleted]

Re: Elon Musk SpaceX AMA

#16

Post by ceejayoz »

icebraining wrote: post #14
thelambentonion wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would say that the leaders of the most powerful nations on Earth are a little more grounded in reality than Musk in this regard. Glass domes and underground Martian tunnels make for some very interesting science fiction, but I'm concerned about the engineering challenges that he seems to be ignoring in favor of his grand statements of intent. To pick a specific example, he seems to have very little concern for radi…

Yeah, the Mars One project talks about burying their habitat five meters underground to get the same protection as the Earth's atmosphere; glass domes seem downright reckless in comparison.

You'd still need places to grow plants. The easiest way to do that is still glass domes, as you don't really care as much if plants get cancer.

Re: Elon Musk SpaceX AMA

#17

Post by [deleted] »

thelambentonion wrote: post #12
0majors wrote: post #9

The leaders of the most powerful nations on Earth are barely starting to talk about some small human missions to Mars and then there is Elon, casually discussing glass domes and tunneling drones creating underground networks on Mars. Truly incredible.

I would say that the leaders of the most powerful nations on Earth are a little more grounded in reality than Musk in this regard. Glass domes and underground Martian tunnels make for some very interesting science fiction, but I'm concerned about the engineering challenges that he seems to be ignoring in favor of his grand statements of intent. To pick a specific example, he seems to have very little concern for radi…

[deleted]

Re: Elon Musk SpaceX AMA

#18

Post by icebraining »

ceejayoz wrote: post #16
icebraining wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, the Mars One project talks about burying their habitat five meters underground to get the same protection as the Earth's atmosphere; glass domes seem downright reckless in comparison.

You'd still need places to grow plants. The easiest way to do that is still glass domes, as you don't really care as much if plants get cancer.

Yes, but Elon Musk mentioned them as living spaces.

Re: Elon Musk SpaceX AMA

#19

Post by Obi_Juan_Kenobi »

thelambentonion wrote: post #12
0majors wrote: post #9

The leaders of the most powerful nations on Earth are barely starting to talk about some small human missions to Mars and then there is Elon, casually discussing glass domes and tunneling drones creating underground networks on Mars. Truly incredible.

I would say that the leaders of the most powerful nations on Earth are a little more grounded in reality than Musk in this regard. Glass domes and underground Martian tunnels make for some very interesting science fiction, but I'm concerned about the engineering challenges that he seems to be ignoring in favor of his grand statements of intent. To pick a specific example, he seems to have very little concern for radi…

The glass domes would be for growing crops.

Most habitation would be underground (hence the mining drones) to reduce radiation exposure.

Overall radiation exposure would be higher, and life expectancy would take a hit, accordingly. This is a trade-off, not a non-starter. I too would like to see a bit more discussion of specifics, but I also don't see this as the Achilles' heel that many would make it.

Re: Elon Musk SpaceX AMA

#20

Post by JumpCrisscross »

ceejayoz wrote: post #16
icebraining wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, the Mars One project talks about burying their habitat five meters underground to get the same protection as the Earth's atmosphere; glass domes seem downright reckless in comparison.

You'd still need places to grow plants. The easiest way to do that is still glass domes, as you don't really care as much if plants get cancer.

> The easiest way to do that is still glass domes

The prettiest way to do that are glass domes. The easiest is underground with glass cylinders piping down sunlight.

Post reply on HN