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Mars Explorers Wanted Posters

mars.nasa.gov

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Re: Mars Explorers Wanted Posters

#41

When I was young becoming an astronaut would have been a dream. In recent years, after discovering the world of online learning, I learned too much though to have any desire to go into space, not with current or even soon-to-be technology. Physiological stress and radiation are very big problems. You must be young and thinking about health never entered your mind to apply for the job (yes of course, risk assessment v…

The juxtaposition of the "space is risky" with "go learn how to fly small planes" is weird to me. Small planes are pretty risky too, and you don't even get to go to space! (Don't believe the common refrain that the riskiest part of flying is the drive to the airport. That's true for airliners, but completely untrue for light aircraft.) By all means, be informed, but you certainly don't need to be ignoring your health to make that decision.

By the way, if you like flying but don't like being deafened by a big fan up front the whole time, consider a glider flight instead: http://www.ssa.org/FAST

Re: Mars Explorers Wanted Posters

#42
post #41

When I was young becoming an astronaut would have been a dream. In recent years, after discovering the world of online learning, I learned too much though to have any desire to go into space, not with current or even soon-to-be technology. Physiological stress and radiation are very big problems. You must be young and thinking about health never entered your mind to apply for the job (yes of course, risk assessment v…

The juxtaposition of the "space is risky" with "go learn how to fly small planes" is weird to me. Small planes are pretty risky too, and you don't even get to go to space! (Don't believe the common refrain that the riskiest part of flying is the drive to the airport. That's true for airliners, but completely untrue for light aircraft.) By all means, be informed, but you certainly don't need to be ignoring your health…

There is a big difference between space risk and small aviation risk. You always get health issues when you go to space long-term (see the links I have in other replies) with current technology. That is not true for aviation, and you overstate the risks too. That's (rare) accidents vs. "simply doing it is bad for you". I repeat that I'm talking about long-term space flights, not something like a week-long space shuttle mission.

Re: Mars Explorers Wanted Posters

#44
post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The juxtaposition of the "space is risky" with "go learn how to fly small planes" is weird to me. Small planes are pretty risky too, and you don't even get to go to space! (Don't believe the common refrain that the riskiest part of flying is the drive to the airport. That's true for airliners, but completely untrue for light aircraft.) By all means, be informed, but you certainly don't need to be ignoring your health…

There is a big difference between space risk and small aviation risk. You always get health issues when you go to space long-term (see the links I have in other replies) with current technology. That is not true for aviation, and you overstate the risks too. That's (rare) accidents vs. "simply doing it is bad for you". I repeat that I'm talking about long-term space flights, not something like a week-long space shutt…

Where am I overstating the risks?

Flying as a hobby probably doesn't have much in the way of long-term health consequences, but doing it as a profession does. Radiation exposure at cruise altitude is significantly higher, but nobody seems to warn prospective pilots or flight attendants that they're risking their health for their job. At least with astronauts, you can be certain that they'll be taught just about everything there is to know about the health consequences of space travel before they're given the opportunity to go on a long-term space mission.

Re: Mars Explorers Wanted Posters

#45

I really wish they'd hire an actual painter — the vectorized style emulates a painted style, but seems to lack the quality of what they're trying to reproduce. The astronauts in these posters are really poorly rendered in general and quite muddy in some places (the we need you poster seems to be a different, somewhat superior art style). Don't get me wrong, these are nice, originally had a smaller budget than wide re…

I like them. They're meant to evoke the sci-fi pulp fantasy spirit of the 1950s and 60s.

For some reason, they also remind me a bit of the art deco style that Dresden Codak tried to emulate: http://dresdencodak.com/2011/12/16/dark-science-14/

Re: Mars Explorers Wanted Posters

#46
post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is a big difference between space risk and small aviation risk. You always get health issues when you go to space long-term (see the links I have in other replies) with current technology. That is not true for aviation, and you overstate the risks too. That's (rare) accidents vs. "simply doing it is bad for you". I repeat that I'm talking about long-term space flights, not something like a week-long space shutt…

Where am I overstating the risks? Flying as a hobby probably doesn't have much in the way of long-term health consequences, but doing it as a profession does. Radiation exposure at cruise altitude is significantly higher, but nobody seems to warn prospective pilots or flight attendants that they're risking their health for their job. At least with astronauts, you can be certain that they'll be taught just about every…

    > Where am I overstating the risks?
2nd sentence

    >  long-term health consequences, but doing it as a profession does
Okay, you are just trolling, I didn't know that. My apologies. We were talking about a flight to Mars, it's obvious you are not serious. Sorry I missed your joke(s).

Re: Mars Explorers Wanted Posters

#47
post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where am I overstating the risks? Flying as a hobby probably doesn't have much in the way of long-term health consequences, but doing it as a profession does. Radiation exposure at cruise altitude is significantly higher, but nobody seems to warn prospective pilots or flight attendants that they're risking their health for their job. At least with astronauts, you can be certain that they'll be taught just about every…

> Where am I overstating the risks? 2nd sentence > long-term health consequences, but doing it as a profession does Okay, you are just trolling, I didn't know that. My apologies. We were talking about a flight to Mars, it's obvious you are not serious. Sorry I missed your joke(s).

You go on and on about the risks of long-term space flight, but deny the risks of spending a lot of time at airliner cruising altitudes? How bizarre. Obviously, the ill effects aren't nearly as bad, since the radiation exposure is lower and there are no negative effects from zero g, but it's fairly well established that flight crews suffer greater incidences of certain diseases, like cataracts and some cancers.

Re: Mars Explorers Wanted Posters

#48
post #3

God damn it. There is NO NEED to sell it to me. Tell me where to apply, NASA!

Put at least $500,000 together and wait for SpaceX to develop the MCT.

You have practically zero chance of being an astronaut with NASA because the cost of launch with something like SLS will make sending more than a handful of the best of the best unaffordable.

Re: Mars Explorers Wanted Posters

#49
post #45

I really wish they'd hire an actual painter — the vectorized style emulates a painted style, but seems to lack the quality of what they're trying to reproduce. The astronauts in these posters are really poorly rendered in general and quite muddy in some places (the we need you poster seems to be a different, somewhat superior art style). Don't get me wrong, these are nice, originally had a smaller budget than wide re…

I like them. They're meant to evoke the sci-fi pulp fantasy spirit of the 1950s and 60s. For some reason, they also remind me a bit of the art deco style that Dresden Codak tried to emulate: http://dresdencodak.com/2011/12/16/dark-science-14/

I like them in theory, and I agree with you — but original sci-fi pulp with real paintings has a much more authentic feeling to it. That's what I wish they did here.

https://www.google.com/search?q=sci-fi+pulp+fantasy&source=l...

Re: Mars Explorers Wanted Posters

#50
post #48
post #3

God damn it. There is NO NEED to sell it to me. Tell me where to apply, NASA!

Put at least $500,000 together and wait for SpaceX to develop the MCT. You have practically zero chance of being an astronaut with NASA because the cost of launch with something like SLS will make sending more than a handful of the best of the best unaffordable.

Well, true. But usually when one company finds a cheaper solution the others are pressured to do the same. NASA will be slower, but eventually they will provide the same service quality as SpaceX or will be replaced with something else.
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