A Mars Colony in Our Lifetimes?

[Coito ergo sum]

Richard Branson thinks so --- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/2 ... 03924.html

I'm in! Where do I sign!?

[Bella Fortuna]

Can we pick who to send there?

[Ian]

I have little doubt.

[klr]

Let's start a Ratz Colony near Pavonis Mons

... the ideal spot for a space elevator.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Let's start a Ratz Colony near Pavonis Mons

... the ideal spot for a space elevator.

What's wrong with Olympus Mons, it's already out of the atmosphere. No drag.

[Coito ergo sum]

Let's start a Ratz Colony near Pavonis Mons

... the ideal spot for a space elevator.

What's wrong with Olympus Mons, it's already out of the atmosphere. No drag.

I'd like to see the Olympus Mons Veneris.

[Ian]

I actually looked up what klr said, and he's correct. Pavonis Mons is right at the Martian equator, whereas Olympus Mons is about 20 degrees north. I'm a nerd.

Of course, we still ought to build a space elevator here on Earth if we intend to have a colony on Mars big enough to build another one there...

[Coito ergo sum]

I actually looked up what klr said, and he's correct. Pavonis Mons is right at the Martian equator, whereas Olympus Mons is about 20 degrees north. I'm a nerd.

Of course, we still ought to build a space elevator here on Earth if we intend to have a colony on Mars big enough to build another one there...

I am very pro-space elevator. One or more here. One or more on Mars. A space station here, and a space station around Mars. A large spaceship goes back and forth from the Earth to Mars regularly. A small shuttle can carry humans from the space stations to the elevators. Elevators take humans and materials to the surface. Then we start making regular trips. Mine stuf f on Mars and ship it back here.

Other ships and machines, probably mostly robotic, could go from Mars and/or Earth to asteroids. Once we start harvesting minerals and other elements from Mars and asteroids, we'll be off and running. Another station at Jupiter or one of its Moons, and so on.

[Clinton Huxley]

No.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Would the length saved and atmospheric resistance lost make O.M. better than P.M. or not?

[Coito ergo sum]

No.

What if we fly St. George's Cross on Mars? Would that help?

[Ian]

I actually looked up what klr said, and he's correct. Pavonis Mons is right at the Martian equator, whereas Olympus Mons is about 20 degrees north. I'm a nerd.

Of course, we still ought to build a space elevator here on Earth if we intend to have a colony on Mars big enough to build another one there...

I am very pro-space elevator. One or more here. One or more on Mars. A space station here, and a space station around Mars. A large spaceship goes back and forth from the Earth to Mars regularly. A small shuttle can carry humans from the space stations to the elevators. Elevators take humans and materials to the surface. Then we start making regular trips. Mine stuf f on Mars and ship it back here.

Other ships and machines, probably mostly robotic, could go from Mars and/or Earth to asteroids. Once we start harvesting minerals and other elements from Mars and asteroids, we'll be off and running. Another station at Jupiter or one of its Moons, and so on.

Until we run into the Klingons. Then we'll have to transfer some resources from pure exploration & expansion to weaponized starships and military R&D.

[Tyrannical]

A Mars colony would be simple, with an Orion class nuclear powered ship. Chemical rockets going from Earth to Earth orbit is just too inefficient.

[Clinton Huxley]

No.

What if we fly St. George's Cross on Mars? Would that help?

It's a techno-utopia fantasy. It's not happening any time soon.

[Coito ergo sum]

No.

What if we fly St. George's Cross on Mars? Would that help?

It's a techno-utopia fantasy. It's not happening any time soon.

But, Branson is a Limey, right? So, his space program will most certainly be far superior to.....