Orbit-only mission

Space/Science » in reply to re: Bush and the Moon

Orbit-only mission

Tom Brosz — 1/9/2004 6:32:33 AM (archived)

Yeah, I understand how this would be unsatisfying emotionally, but practically, it is a good idea, especially for the near-term. I would want to learn one HELL of a lot more about Mars before I dropped stinky, bacteria-covered humans there. I see a serious danger of contaminating the planet, radiation or no radiation, before we can find out what might already be there.

If I had my way, the process would involve nuclear propulsion for quicker trips to Mars, and a large, orbiting station from which massive numbers of real-time remote-controlled probes, rovers and aircraft scrambled across the surface and hauled small samples up to the orbiting labs and then back to Earth.

If sufficient precautions are taken, manned landings could one day occur, but frankly, once the signal delay problem is out of the way, I can see a lot one could do with telepresence before you needed to plop people down on the surface.

The whole thread (50 posts)

Bush and the Moon - Tom Brosz - 1/9/2004 1:03:38 AM
- btw - isn't it cool, having to decide whether the post belongs in Space or CE? (n/t) - Fox - 1/9/2004 4:52:01 PM
- Show stopper - Buck Galaxy - 1/9/2004 2:46:11 PM
  - Potentially, but not necessarily - Larry J - 1/9/2004 3:47:07 PM
    - Were You Thinking About It When You Made Your Boeing Comment? - Mark Eby - 1/10/2004 4:05:52 AM
      - Actually, that was Airbus - Larry J - 1/10/2004 2:11:23 PM
        
        PS Your Cassini Comment Ignores 2 Important Engineering Concepts - Mark Eby - 1/10/2004 4:21:04 PM
        
        If you ever had to work with the prices of aerospace systems... - Larry J - 1/12/2004 3:01:10 AM
        
        Yes On Airbus - My Mistake, Additional Questions - Mark Eby - 1/10/2004 2:57:34 PM
    - re: Potentially, but not necessarily - Scott Evil - 1/9/2004 4:18:05 PM
      - I've been thinking along these lines for several years... - Larry J - 1/9/2004 4:43:59 PM
- re: Bush and the Moon - SteveS - 1/9/2004 2:38:57 PM
- Be careful.... - Gary - 1/9/2004 5:31:01 AM
- re: Bush and the Moon - dtb - 1/9/2004 3:12:13 AM
  - Orbit-only mission - Tom Brosz - 1/9/2004 6:32:33 AM
  - A lot becomes possible with shuttle out of the way - Justin Kelly - 1/9/2004 3:46:29 AM
  - re: Bush and the Moon - Buck Galaxy - 1/9/2004 3:36:51 AM
    - Mars' Moons Make No Sense - Mark Eby - 1/9/2004 3:47:01 AM
      - Flag and foot prints.... - Gary - 1/9/2004 5:33:08 AM
- The fine print - Robert - 1/9/2004 2:03:53 AM
  - context is space station - phil - 1/9/2004 1:51:49 PM
    - Geez, Phil... - Robert - 1/9/2004 7:31:31 PM
      - That's not my take on it - Buck Galaxy - 1/9/2004 7:50:52 PM
        
        re: That's not my take on it - McFly - 1/9/2004 10:00:16 PM
    - He's just asking the question - that's a good thing. - alcaray - 1/9/2004 4:58:00 PM
      - re: He's just asking the question - that's a good thing. - phil - 1/9/2004 5:36:59 PM
        
        seems so (n/t) - alcaray - 1/9/2004 5:45:24 PM
    - probably refers only to manned programs - pwokenyaw - 1/9/2004 4:42:35 PM
  - re: How about telescopes in space? - Raoul - 1/9/2004 6:52:33 AM
    - re: A mutual concern, Raoul. (n/t) - Marcia - 1/9/2004 5:01:51 PM
  - re: The fine print - Buck Galaxy - 1/9/2004 2:42:31 AM
    - re: The fine print - Marcia - 1/9/2004 5:22:50 AM
- Fantastic!! - FrankC - 1/9/2004 1:42:00 AM
- Bigger news than Mars - Justin Kelly - 1/9/2004 1:22:48 AM
  - You're [blush!] embarrassing me, Justin! - Jacob Samorodin - 1/9/2004 4:14:38 PM
  - I heard they are going to add $800 Million to NASA's budget starting with next year. - Scott Evil - 1/9/2004 3:48:28 PM
  - May not be so bad - Buck Galaxy - 1/9/2004 1:29:33 AM
    - I count about 23 - Justin Kelly - 1/9/2004 3:24:46 AM
- Some heavy stuff here... - Tom Brosz - 1/9/2004 1:10:37 AM
  - Son of Apollo....why? - Lee - 1/9/2004 4:35:00 AM
    - re: Son of Apollo....why? - Fox - 1/9/2004 4:22:07 PM
    - re: Son of Apollo....why? - dtb - 1/9/2004 5:14:32 AM
  - Buddy if this is true... - Buck - 1/9/2004 1:15:33 AM
    - re: Buddy if this is true... - Tom Brosz - 1/9/2004 6:25:18 AM
      - Just A Retread Of Bush 1 - Mark Eby - 1/10/2004 3:52:46 AM
      - relax...the Budget will not be a problem - Scott Evil - 1/9/2004 3:42:32 PM
        
        Doesn't our record high $6.9 trillion dollar national debt suggest we're $hackled, though? - SpaceProjects.com - 1/10/2004 5:53:02 PM
    - And, if it is not true - FrankC - 1/9/2004 1:44:07 AM
      - re: And, if it is not true - Jeff - 1/9/2004 3:10:09 AM
        
        Amen, Jeff - McFly - 1/9/2004 2:29:13 PM

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