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

Sending astronauts to Mars would be stupid, astronaut says

bbc.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

61–70 of 81 posts

Re: Sending astronauts to Mars would be stupid, astronaut says

#61

Post by dwaltrip »

mo1ok wrote: post #35
ryanmarsh wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I imagine many had a similar view of sailing across the Atlantic before word spread of riches in the New World.

The cost:benefit of colonizing the new world was immense and known prior to widespread colonization, esp. in the tropical parts. Settling mars is like colonizing the Sahara desert, except this time with no oxygen or camels.

I'm not sure which exact path for advancing humanity into space is the best. Perhaps there are better ways than colonizing Mars.

However, in general, there are immense resources and energy sources in space that can benefit humanity. Pioneering space will also require many technological advancements that will benefit people back on Earth.

There is also the question of learning about the universe. If, for example, there was bacteria on Mars, that would one of the greatest discoveries of all time.

I don't think your comparison is fair.

Re: Sending astronauts to Mars would be stupid, astronaut says

#62

Post by greglindahl »

Johnny555 wrote: post #9

"What's the imperative? What's pushing us to go to Mars?" he said, adding "I don't think the public is that interested". I think it's the opposite -- the general public is much more interested in sending humans to space than yet another unmanned mission. I agree that robotic missions give the most bang for the buck, and should continue for the foreseeable future, but as far as the general public goes, a manned missio…

Poll shows more public support for NASA science programs than human exploration (June, 2018)

https://spacenews.com/poll-shows-more-public-support-for-nas...

Re: Sending astronauts to Mars would be stupid, astronaut says

#63

Post by assblaster »

simonh wrote: post #53
assblaster wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We brought those astronauts home after the mission. What's the point of a suicide mission to Mars?

Why do you think it would be suicide? Very risky yes, but the plans being proposed do include provision for returning the crew to a Earth.

If your chance of getting to Mars, landing successfully, then taking off, followed by journey to Earth, then re-entry to Earth is over 50% mortality, then it's a suicide mission.

Re: Sending astronauts to Mars would be stupid, astronaut says

#64

Post by mawburn »

friedman23 wrote: post #42
mgamache wrote: post #16

FTA: "I think the space shuttle was a serious error. It hardly did anything except have an exciting launch, but it never lived up to its promise," Few people are willing to call the shuttle a failure, but it was. It cost much more per mission than estimated and was supposed to lunch every two weeks. It averaged approximately one every 3 months. The payload was supposed to cost $635 per pound, but ended costing $27,00…

> Few people are willing to call the shuttle a failure Almost everyone calls the shuttle a failure

I went to a Chris Hadfield talk and I'm pretty sure he called it a failure. He may not have said it out right, but it was certainly implied. He said the Russian capsule was a much better design.

Re: Sending astronauts to Mars would be stupid, astronaut says

#65

Post by lokedhs »

DoreenMichele wrote: post #59
lokedhs wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are lots of deserts on earth that is pretty much uninhabited. If you are concerned about room for people, you can relax until these places are full as well. Even the most inhospitable parts of the Sahara desert is much more hospitable than Mars. Its also much more accessible. There are plenty of good reasons for humans to go to Mars, but getting access to more space for people isn't one of them.

If you are concerned about room for people, you can relax until these places are full as well. "Dig your well before you are thirsty." -- Proverb from somewhere or other. If we wait until we have completely run out of "room" -- and I am not really thinking of just warehousing people, but room to grow the food for them, etc and support the high quality of life that people in first world countries generally have and pe…

My point is that no one has even started that effort here on earth. How about proving that we can provide that quality of life in the deserts of earth before we do it on another planet?

Re: Sending astronauts to Mars would be stupid, astronaut says

#66

Post by DoreenMichele »

lokedhs wrote: post #65
DoreenMichele wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you are concerned about room for people, you can relax until these places are full as well. "Dig your well before you are thirsty." -- Proverb from somewhere or other. If we wait until we have completely run out of "room" -- and I am not really thinking of just warehousing people, but room to grow the food for them, etc and support the high quality of life that people in first world countries generally have and pe…

My point is that no one has even started that effort here on earth. How about proving that we can provide that quality of life in the deserts of earth before we do it on another planet?

I lived in the Mojave Desert for 2.75 years, not far south of Death Valley at about 3000 feet above sea level. My quality of life was quite high.

So I have no clue what you are talking about.

Re: Sending astronauts to Mars would be stupid, astronaut says

#67

Post by Johnny555 »

greglindahl wrote: post #62
Johnny555 wrote: post #9

"What's the imperative? What's pushing us to go to Mars?" he said, adding "I don't think the public is that interested". I think it's the opposite -- the general public is much more interested in sending humans to space than yet another unmanned mission. I agree that robotic missions give the most bang for the buck, and should continue for the foreseeable future, but as far as the general public goes, a manned missio…

Poll shows more public support for NASA science programs than human exploration (June, 2018) https://spacenews.com/poll-shows-more-public-support-for-nas...

From the article, it sounds like most people support NASA science programs closer to home, climate resource and planetary defense (against asteroids).

The article doesn't talk about preference for planetary expiration via robots vs humans.

In this article from Pew, people prefer human exploration vs robotic exploration only, 58% to 41%:

http://www.pewinternet.org/2018/06/06/majority-of-americans-...

Re: Sending astronauts to Mars would be stupid, astronaut says

#68

Post by lokedhs »

DoreenMichele wrote: post #66
lokedhs wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My point is that no one has even started that effort here on earth. How about proving that we can provide that quality of life in the deserts of earth before we do it on another planet?

I lived in the Mojave Desert for 2.75 years, not far south of Death Valley at about 3000 feet above sea level. My quality of life was quite high. So I have no clue what you are talking about.

I don't know much about US geography but isn't that a much cooler area?

In any case, I doubt the community was self sufficient. I'm suspecting that much if not all consumables were actually produced outside the desert.

Re: Sending astronauts to Mars would be stupid, astronaut says

#69

Post by DoreenMichele »

lokedhs wrote: post #68
DoreenMichele wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I lived in the Mojave Desert for 2.75 years, not far south of Death Valley at about 3000 feet above sea level. My quality of life was quite high. So I have no clue what you are talking about.

I don't know much about US geography but isn't that a much cooler area? In any case, I doubt the community was self sufficient. I'm suspecting that much if not all consumables were actually produced outside the desert.

It was about 115 degrees Fahrenheit for two weeks straight in July one year. I routinely did my walking (for exercise) after dark because the temperature would drop down to a mere 99 degrees and the blazing sun being gone was wonderful. I was getting sunburned during the day just walking back and forth from house to car, car to building when I ran errands.

It's one of the hottest, driest places in the US. Annual precipitation is about 6 inches a year.

No, I'm sure the community was not self sufficient as it was a military base. Probably all food was shipped in from elsewhere.

However, in California, a great deal of food in produced in the desert. They just irrigate. If you aren't that familiar with the US, I'm not sure how much I need to explain here.

Post reply on HN