Mark,

I DO look at the conference schedules,
and I look to see who is sponsoring them as well.

What we have here is a situation where Goldin signs the paychecks for all those researchers, while Zubrin takes all the glory, at the same time that Tumlinson et al. use the opportunity to simply s*** on Goldin.

Goldin AND Rothenberg ought to simply show up on their doorstep, and let them know what's involved in REAL manned Mars flight.

I think that the analogies of SFF/UFO cults and Devon Island/Cargo Cults are pretty exact. As for the level of science generally within the Mars Society Conference participants, it varies widely. Some is very good; some is rotten. Some interesting ideas and techniques are presented; some idiot concepts are presented.

If you simply want to hop a lander on Mars, you use a pump and re-pressurize the fuel tanks (some Romanian scientist's idea). If you want in-situ fuel production, you account for dust in your machinery.

Every time I see another paper on tele-robotic operation of rovers on Mars, little less one funded by the government, I scream: That's idiot nonsense of the first degree, as telecommunication times make it impossible.

Rothenberg has repeatedly stated that the radiation problem they're hitting in their designs is pretty severe. Since so many of you Mars enthusiasts have your enthusiasm to drive you, while Rothenberg lacks bucks, perhaps he should make use of that enthusiasm by simply showing up on your doorstep as well. He could give you a clue as to the political realities as well, the realities that he and Goldin face everyday.

And the guys from Advanced Programs ought to show up, and give you some idea of how real manned Mars missions are engineered.

At least Hoffman's showing up to give you folks an idea of the real Mars...

EP