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

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

#121

Post by melvinmt »

anamax wrote: post #50
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…

> 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. Who is sending folks to Mars against their will? More to the point, how do I provoke someone to do it to me?

It's the new Australia for convicted felons.

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

#122

Post by raverbashing »

marcoamorales wrote: post #65
sampo wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think Steve Jobs' "bicycle for our minds" metaphor for computers, was quite nice. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob_GX50Za6c#t=0m25s

There's definitely a notorious difference from the young Steve Jobs to the older Steve Jobs.

Yes, but I suspect it's backwards from what you're implying

Young SJ was (from multiple sources) much less humble, less forgiving, and more B.O.

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

#124

Post by eckyptang »

Conincidentally, I actually had a rather lucid dream about this a few nights ago. I can see it is possible even with today's technology to get there and stay there. It's just a matter of cost and inclination.

We need to send lots and lots of larger seed probes out there first though - not the limited scope probes and landers we're using now, but general purpose, long life scouting probes with engineering, tooling and life support payloads.

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

#125

Post by ChuckMcM »

jk4930 wrote: post #95
ChuckMcM wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You and a lot of people. I'm sure a big chunk of the seasteaders would jump at the chance to live on a moon city. So here is the entrepreneurial challenge, believe Elon, in that he will make it possible to go to Mars, and before that it will be a lot easier to send stuff to the Moon. What can you start researching today so that 10 years from now when everyone realizes that this is going to come to pass you'll be way…

What about early settlement tech. Not only the habitats etc. but procedures a.s.o. for the first years: in what sequence to create stuff, run explorations, have emergency routines etc. all under the tight constraints of an early colony. Intelligent robotics as assistants and autonomous explorers etc. with a focus on space conditions. Advanced space medicine (say, transhuman spaceflight), modifications for the body, b…

I've been thinking about the sequencing question a bit (steps to go from "we're here" to "We're ready to accept visitors".

There are some interesting papers on microwaving the regolith into a concrete like substance. Water generation or acquisition will be key of course so different water strategies are interesting. Water mining robots may be key.

All very neat stuff.

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

#126

Post by vannevar »

robryan wrote: post #118
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 would like to see him do both. Even if the Mars stuff doesn't work out perfectly on his ambitious timeline SpaceX devoting resources to pushing the boundaries as well as refining the well known processes is going to create more innovation in the long run.

I would too, but in terms of immediate impact Tesla will have a greater social and economic significance for the planet than the Mars mission, and the company is really only getting started. I would hate to see Musk get bored with it and move on to a new toy while Tesla fails for lack of leadership.

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

#127

Post by geekam »

DeepDuh wrote: post #105
luriel wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And unlike Jobs, Elon is behind much of the engineering and research his companies work on. And also unlike Jobs, you can sense a certain humility in how Elon talks both about himself and about others. When Neil Armstrong spoke against private space companies, Elon didn't come out and demonize him, I remember watching him cry on camera when asked about it, and said he wished he'd come to Space X to see the work they…

Well, you're comparing two visionary entrepreneurs at different stages right now. Jobs wasn't quite as arrogant after he fell from the throne and had to start from scratch (Pixar, NeXT). That's about where I'd put Elon right now, even though the circumstances of his departure from PayPal was of course entirely different. I'd like to see him once SpaceX or Tesla becomes a megacorporation like Apple - the judgement is…

But Jobs wasn't as humble and polite even when Apple was an underdog and was competing in the world of IBM. Weren't those interviews where he calls out Microsoft as "they have bad taste" the same time period?

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

#128

Post by codex »

waterlesscloud wrote: post #71
jpxxx wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I loved those books to death, but the parent is right. Mars is a rustier version of the moon with slightly better scenery. Imagine a life where you as a native Martian never get to go outside, never get to feel fresh air, never get to meet a stranger, never get to storm off, never get the chance to live truly alone, never get to punch a wall, and never get a chance to see another world. No streams, no swimming, no oc…

Sign me up. It's Mars. I think the disconnect here is that there are in fact people who have considered such things and still want to go. It's the pioneer spirit. Hardship is part of the appeal.

Absolutely. I really admire the human spirit and how it's gotten us so far, so fast. People will absolutely be willing to sacrifice their lives for Mars, and some people will go to Mars not expecting to die, but will anyway.

However, I think these people should know that they might actually be dying in vain, because only a smattering of people will actually end up living on Mars, IMHO. Mars has a reputation as being a real planet but really it's a barren rock that's not practically habitable. Not excited about living on the Moon? Than likely you won't be excited about living on Mars.

There is a good argument to be made that humans should live on Mars if only as insurance against some apocalypse on Earth. IMHO, we'd be better off investing in spinning colonies in space (a.k.a. Ringworld) where it's easier to construct something that provides artificial gravity, sunlight, and radiation shielding via artificial iron cores, perhaps mined from asteroids.

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

#129

Post by maaku »

AYBABTME wrote: post #99
xal wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Instead, go work for him. Go help make it all come true.

Well, right now I'm still doing my undergrad and they (SpaceX) only take US citizens or permanent residents for internships and COOP terms (I assume because of the legal complications given the nature of their work). But I know your company does take interns and you guys are at a 5 mins walk from my campus. So on a short term side, I'm focused on building my skill set for an internship in your shop! (Sorry for the ch…

> I assume because of the legal complications given the nature of their work.

Unfortunately, yes. Google "ITAR aerospace" for why :\

Still, the American aerospace industry has a long and illustrious tradition of bringing in experts from around the world and getting them citizenship. Get an internship somewhere that isn't ITAR-restricted and get yourself on the fast track for a green card.

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

#130

Post by idonthack »

stcredzero wrote: post #72
waterlesscloud wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The California "high speed" rail project is depressing. In theory, I'm a huge fan of high speed rail. But the California project is going to end up costing over $100 billion, and everyone knows it. It's going to take decades to complete. If, indeed, it's ever completed. It's routed to go places no one wants to go. And, as Mr. Musk says, it' not actually going to be very fast. It's pretty much a classic textbook boond…

> It's routed to go places no one wants to go. Big. Red. Flag. The Minneapolis light rail uses the same equipment as Houston's light rail. The big difference is that the Minneapolis light rail goes between the airport, downtown, and the Mall of America. People can immediately see its value. Houston's light rail doesn't go to either of Houston's airports, even though it's sorely needed.

Dallas has the largest light rail system in the United States. It's been around since 1996.

DFW access is planned for 2014.

Public transport in Texas is fucked.

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