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Galaxy Quest

texasmonthly.com

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Re: Galaxy Quest

#21

Post by rm445 »

lifeisstillgood wrote: post #5

But seriously I thought this Mars One thing was just crap - we have no idea how to build the rockets to get there let alone land, find water, make food and oxygen. I mean nice idea and all that but... It's crap. By the time we sort this out these folks will be retired and we will be looking for another 20 younger folks to go die. Surely they can't think she is actually going to go, as opposed to go do training and ha…

Robert Zubrin reckoned the whole Mars Direct programme would cost $55 billion in 1995 dollars.

Let's say 'The Case for Mars' is viable but the costings were optimistic, and should be more like $500 billion in 2015 dollars, that's more like 0.3% of USA GDP for ten years. Way greater than Mars One's supposed budget but achievable if America decided to colonise Mars.

Re: Galaxy Quest

#22

Post by trav4225 »

moubarak wrote: post #3
trav4225 wrote: post #2

No offense, but I just find this sad.

In what way? i find it sad that Mars One > family for some "nerds". Family is the real mission and the real heros are those who achieve that status. Family also has a greater social benefit. The OP talks about Mars One as the mission that has great social benefit. That's really sad.

That's pretty much what I meant. :)

Re: Galaxy Quest

#23

Post by StevePerkins »

shanusmagnus wrote: post #4

I wonder how it will affect things if she doesn't go? You get married with (presumably) the assumption that this person is the core of your life, but then this Mars stuff happens and it becomes apparent where the spouse falls in the pecking order of your value system. Does it cast a dark cloud on the relationship afterward? "I want to be with you forever unless this really cool opportunity comes up, then I'm leaving…

On the level that you're describing, however, is this really all that different from being a military spouse? Perhaps joining the National Guard, knowing that there's a risk that you will have to leave your family and go join a war zone?

Yes, soldiers deploy with the hope of returning, whereas Mars One would be a certain one-way trip. However, unlike a military deployment, Mars One is so dubious (to be charitable about it)... it's questionable to say that anyone involved has REALLY committed to anything yet.

However, you're right. Regardless of how low the chances are that one will actually go to Mars, putting themselves forward like this creates a 100% chance of informing spouses that they WOULD be willing to abandon them. Still, there seem to be many earth-bound scenarios in which couples face this sort of thing anyway.

Re: Galaxy Quest

#24

Post by atroyn »

tzs wrote: post #13
mekkz wrote: post #6

I'm not sure how this ended up on the front page... I thought we already decided that Mars One is a giant scam: http://www.iflscience.com/space/whats-going-mars-one

Even if it is a scam, I don't see how that is relevant. Most of the article is about things that apply to this kind of grand endeavor regardless of whether it turns out to be realistic and legit, completely nuts and legit, or illegitimate.

"Even if it is a scam, I don't see how that is relevant." Well that certainly neatly summarises the sort of magical thinking about technology currently in vogue.

The fact is it does matter whether or not Mars One is realistic or legitimate. Because there's always a backlash. Right now we have some optimism about space - big, hairy expensive programs like the ISS are actually getting done. Space X is actually achieving what so many internet billionaire's pet space projects failed to do previously. "Grand Endeavours" aren't made up of PR stunts and ridiculous plans - they're made up of really smart, tough people working on really hard problems for a long time.

What happens when the Mars One backlash and disappointment hits the mainstream? Do you think the average person is going to have a lot of faith in subsequent NASA proposals for Mars? What do you think is the flipside of this?

Re: Galaxy Quest

#25

Post by oafitupa »

moubarak wrote: post #3
trav4225 wrote: post #2

No offense, but I just find this sad.

In what way? i find it sad that Mars One > family for some "nerds". Family is the real mission and the real heros are those who achieve that status. Family also has a greater social benefit. The OP talks about Mars One as the mission that has great social benefit. That's really sad.

Yeah who cares about saving humanity from extinction. Let's just stay here with out families and our 4x4's until we drown. Real heroes.

Re: Galaxy Quest

#26

Post by danielweber »

nemo wrote: post #16

Mars One actually accepted applicants who were married? I'd thought I'd already lost all respect for them but somehow found more to lose.

Since Mars One isn't sending anyone anywhere, it doesn't matter if the applicants are married or not.

Re: Galaxy Quest

#27

Post by danielweber »

oafitupa wrote: post #25
moubarak wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In what way? i find it sad that Mars One > family for some "nerds". Family is the real mission and the real heros are those who achieve that status. Family also has a greater social benefit. The OP talks about Mars One as the mission that has great social benefit. That's really sad.

Yeah who cares about saving humanity from extinction. Let's just stay here with out families and our 4x4's until we drown. Real heroes.

I fully intend to go to Mars, but someone "just staying here with their family" is just as noble a mission.

Re: Galaxy Quest

#28

Post by eggnet »

resu_nimda wrote: post #15
shanusmagnus wrote: post #4

I wonder how it will affect things if she doesn't go? You get married with (presumably) the assumption that this person is the core of your life, but then this Mars stuff happens and it becomes apparent where the spouse falls in the pecking order of your value system. Does it cast a dark cloud on the relationship afterward? "I want to be with you forever unless this really cool opportunity comes up, then I'm leaving…

Well it just takes being a strong, independent person. Personally I don't really subscribe to the marriage-above-all-else philosophy. You have to accept that you are not the center of the universe, and even if someone truly loves you their agenda might not line up with yours. By the same token the husband should feel free to seek whatever he needs to make do in light of that. It may be cliche, but "if you love someon…

You forgot the kids.

Re: Galaxy Quest

#29

Post by tvawnz »

What an annoying article. I don't really see the point of it besides it being half humblebrag half swan song. All the actual information has been covered to death.

I do like the paroxysms of noble largesse regarding his wife though. Strangely cuckoldish.

Re: Galaxy Quest

#30

Post by al2o3cr »

tvawnz wrote: post #29

What an annoying article. I don't really see the point of it besides it being half humblebrag half swan song. All the actual information has been covered to death. I do like the paroxysms of noble largesse regarding his wife though. Strangely cuckoldish.

Did you mean "BY GRABTHAR'S HAMMER, what an annoying article!" :)
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