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Elon Musk: "I would like to die on Mars"

businessweek.com

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Re: Elon Musk: "I would like to die on Mars"

#31

Post by dredmorbius »

waterlesscloud wrote: post #21
codex wrote: post #10

Given Mars' weak gravitational field, extremely low atmospheric pressure, lack of breathable oxygen, deathly cold temperatures, and weak magnetic field (leading to high levels of radiation), he may well get his wish. Many others will likely get this wish against their will. If he would like to get a taste of realistic Martian colonization here on Earth, may I suggest living underground in a windowless tank, surrounde…

If only humans had demonstrated some ability to construct defenses against hostile environments. You know, like they've done since the invention of fire and the construction of lean-tos.

You snuggle up in your Martian lean-to while tending to your zero-oxygen, 1% atmosphere fire.

I'll take Mr. Sunshine's pressurized, nuclear-powered, underground bunker.

Re: Elon Musk: "I would like to die on Mars"

#32

Post by damoncali »

Enough of the hero worship. If Musk gets on one of his rockets in 15 years and launches it towards Mars, he will certainly die. Long before he reaches Mars.

Yes, he's a great, fascinating man. I enjoy observing this stuff as much as the next guy. But Good God - stop slobbering on yourselves. This is marketing fluff of the highest order.

Re: Elon Musk: "I would like to die on Mars"

#33

Post by ktizo »

mej10 wrote: post #11

How about... you know, not dying? At least in the foreseeable future. You can do a lot more awesome engineering and science and exploration if you don't die after ~80 years.

I think it is hard to foresee removing from the foreseeable future one of the few bits of the future that is foreseeable.

Re: Elon Musk: "I would like to die on Mars"

#34

Post by kmfrk »

dredmorbius wrote: post #24
mej10 wrote: post #11

How about... you know, not dying? At least in the foreseeable future. You can do a lot more awesome engineering and science and exploration if you don't die after ~80 years.

My first thought: how about reproducing on Mars? Now to find a suitable Mr. & Mrs. Smith, if you grok me.

     if you grok me.
How appropriately Heinlein. :)

Re: Elon Musk: "I would like to die on Mars"

#35

Post by jboggan »

I have always told myself that ending my days on another planet will be an absolute definition of success for myself no matter what else I don't manage to accomplish. It's a sufficient but not necessary condition. In ten years I hope to be working in a business related to space exploration.

Re: Elon Musk: "I would like to die on Mars"

#37

Post by eru »

vannevar wrote: post #22

I love what Musk is doing, but both of his current engineering successes---Space X and Tesla---involve building well-understood vehicles, just faster and at less cost than competitors. Doing entirely novel projects like a manned mission to Mars or some new kind of mass transportation system are orders of magnitude more difficult and uncertain, and I think he's grossly underestimating the time and cost for either of h…

I also hope he'll be making lots of money on Tesla and SpaceX. I don't know whether he'll be able to make going to Mars pay, but the money he'll spend will do the market some good.

Re: Elon Musk: "I would like to die on Mars"

#38

Post by greesil »

Or maybe die on the way there.

McCoy: Don't pander to me, kid. One tiny crack in the hull, and our blood boils in thirteen seconds. Solar flare might crop up, cook us in our seats. And wait till you're sitting pretty with a case of Andorian shingles. See if you're still so relaxed when your eyeballs are bleeding! Space is disease and danger wrapped in darkness and silence.

Substitute Andorian shingles with just going crazy being cooped up in a tiny ship.

Re: Elon Musk: "I would like to die on Mars"

#40

Post by dasil003 »

damoncali wrote: post #32

Enough of the hero worship. If Musk gets on one of his rockets in 15 years and launches it towards Mars, he will certainly die. Long before he reaches Mars. Yes, he's a great, fascinating man. I enjoy observing this stuff as much as the next guy. But Good God - stop slobbering on yourselves. This is marketing fluff of the highest order.

Is it "of the highest order" because it's marketing something substantive?
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