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A Serious Conversation about the Future in Space

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Re: A Serious Conversation about the Future in Space

#4

Was I the only one extremely disappointed that wasn't actually much related to Musk, nor a serious conversation about the future? It was an interview of a fiction novelist, nothing more.

Possibly. Have you read The Martian? The author has put a ton of research into what it would take to get people to Mars. I'm sure he has a lot of relevant stuff to say about Musks ambitions for Mars travel.

I highly recommend reading the book.

Re: A Serious Conversation about the Future in Space

#6
post #4

Was I the only one extremely disappointed that wasn't actually much related to Musk, nor a serious conversation about the future? It was an interview of a fiction novelist, nothing more.

Possibly. Have you read The Martian? The author has put a ton of research into what it would take to get people to Mars. I'm sure he has a lot of relevant stuff to say about Musks ambitions for Mars travel. I highly recommend reading the book.

the book is highly fascinating and similar to another favorite of mine; Red Mars; involves sending and confirming arrival of support missions before manned missions are sent.

other than "we did it" I am still trying to understand the value in sending man to Mars. Oh I am all for it, just how do we sell it to the public to the point politicians cannot forever turn it down by laying claim to the money better served elsewhere?

So while the author thinks it has to be government, private individuals would have less restrictions spending the money and more reasons to find ways to get the costs down to minimal levels without losing sight of the safety required

Re: A Serious Conversation about the Future in Space

#8
post #5

What an odd interview. The interviewer starts asking the author he's interviewing about sections of the interviewers own book?

That is definitely odd, though it does make some sense in this case. Andy Weir has done a huge amount of research about traveling to Mars, and asking for his opinion about Elon's ideas is interesting. I would definitely prefer if they did not mention the interviewer's book though.

Re: A Serious Conversation about the Future in Space

#9
post #6
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Possibly. Have you read The Martian? The author has put a ton of research into what it would take to get people to Mars. I'm sure he has a lot of relevant stuff to say about Musks ambitions for Mars travel. I highly recommend reading the book.

the book is highly fascinating and similar to another favorite of mine; Red Mars; involves sending and confirming arrival of support missions before manned missions are sent. other than "we did it" I am still trying to understand the value in sending man to Mars. Oh I am all for it, just how do we sell it to the public to the point politicians cannot forever turn it down by laying claim to the money better served els…

I red the KSR Mars trilogy and then pretty much developed a love affair with Mars and the idea of colonization - I'm also very fond of "The Case for Mars":

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Case_for_Mars

NB I'm clear this is an emotional thing for me (hence "love affair") but I wonder to what extent all migrations in human history have been driven by a degree of wanderlust rather than cold logic.

Anyway - I'm off to watch Erik Wernquist's Wanderers again:

https://vimeo.com/108650530

Re: A Serious Conversation about the Future in Space

#10
Does the interviewer, or anyone for that matter, actually think Elon Musk will be the first person on Mars? Seems like a weird question to ask, I guess its just for the headline. I think I remember him saying something like not wanting to risk the fate of the company just for the experience of going. I could be completely off on that though.
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