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Space/Science » in reply to re: The Moon or Mars their changing perceptions

The Moon or Mars - Your Misconceptions
Mark Eby — (archived)

The Mars Society's founding declaration clearly indicates a strong focus on colonization. Have you read it? A bit over the top and adopted without any discussion, but I think a large portion if not the majority of the Mars Society definitely want to see colonization of Mars. Certainly a majority want to see a manned mission to Mars. That colonization is Zubrin's end goal is beyond doubt and I don't see how you can have kept up to date on space news and have any doubt about that.

One Mars flight would accomplish far more science than Apollo and all the robotic missions to Mars combined have accomplished so far. Calling such a mission flags and footprints is a gross misrepresentation or misunderstanding of what that phrase was meant to cover. It means a show without scientific substance not a one time deal. I don't think men to Mars will be a one shot deal, but even if it is, I think it is worth the scientific bonanza alone for a price comparable to Apollo or ISS. It would not be just a show for international prestige.

The development of long term habs and heavy lift also constitute investments in infrastructure and technology enabling other types of missions. I think it should be pretty obvious that if you can live in a structure for 1.5 to 3 years it pretty much can be lived in as long as its supporting componants can last or be mainained. These won't be lunar landers. They will be space base modules.

Robotic probes can measure whatever hazard we can conceive of that is testable and alow us to design manned missions to minimize those risks. There should be far less risk and isolation associated with a manned mission to Mars than faced by those sailing in the age of discovery with the likes of Columbus, Cook, and Magellan.

Regards,
Mark

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