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General discussionShuttle Columbia 16th anniversary(25 posts)(25 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted February 02, 2019
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tinyE: When the Apollo 1 disaster happened, they almost closed down the program. They opted to stay with it and two years later man walked on the moon.

These tragedies, while horrific and sad, are inevitable, and every man and woman who dedicate their lives to these endeavors know the risks involved. What's important is they we not let them stop us from continuing to reach for the stars, or else they would have died in vein.

One day we will land in Mars, and then we will move beyond.
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Breja: I used to think that too, but my faith in this scenario has greatly diminished in recent years. There's no one who would love to see man landing on Mars more than me, but there just isn't nearly the kind of push behind it as there was back in the 60s behind the Apollo program. Back then it had the whole nation behind it. These days people are far more passionate about the new Iphone than landing on Mars. Still, I do hope to see it happen.
I'm running out of reasons to wake up in the morning. This is one of the last ones I have so I can't afford to give up hope.
Posted February 02, 2019
If humans will ever make it to Mars, it will probably be a Chinese expedition.
No way the US in its increasingly dysfunctional state will ever manage something like that, Russia is too poor, and Europe doesn't count.

Also: Manned expeditions probably don't make that much sense, would be better to send robots for science and resource extraction.
Post edited February 02, 2019 by morolf
Posted February 02, 2019
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morolf: would be better to send robots for science and resource extraction.
haven't we already done that?
Posted February 02, 2019
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tinyE: haven't we already done that?
Well, with probes, mars rovers etc. But I was thinking more of a large scale effort for resource extraction (mining the asteroid belt).
There are very serious obstacles to manned space travel like radiation, muscle/bone loss because of the gravity issue which can't be easily overcome.
Posted February 02, 2019
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tinyE: haven't we already done that?
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morolf: Well, with probes, mars rovers etc. But I was thinking more of a large scale effort for resource extraction (mining the asteroid belt).
There are very serious obstacles to manned space travel like radiation, muscle/bone loss because of the gravity issue which can't be easily overcome.
I'm a little ignorant on what machines are capable of. I can see soil samples, but can machines actually build and install a large mining operation, not to mention the facilities needed to ship the resources back to earth?

Sure they could run it, and once it's built, no need to have people there, but wouldn't we need people there to get it up and running?
Posted February 02, 2019
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tinyE: haven't we already done that?
I really love the "WE" in that. Wish there would be more of that "We did this". Would lead to "We can do that.".
Posted February 02, 2019
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tinyE: haven't we already done that?
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toxicTom: I really love the "WE" in that. Wish there would be more of that "We did this". Would lead to "We can do that.".
That was deliberate. I'm glad you noticed.

Mind you, from the personal aspect, I didn't do shit, but my species did.
Posted February 02, 2019
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tinyE: I'm a little ignorant on what machines are capable of. I can see soil samples, but can machines actually build and install a large mining operation, not to mention the facilities needed to ship the resources back to earth?

Sure they could run it, and once it's built, no need to have people there, but wouldn't we need people there to get it up and running?
Well, with current technology probably not, but given advances in robotics and artificial intelligence it might eventually be possible.
Apparently there have been studies that suggest "self-replicating machines" might be viable:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asteroid_mining#Self-replicating_machines
Seems easier to achieve at least than protecting fragile human bodies against cosmic dangers.

EDIT: Somewhat interesting articles about the merits of humans vs robots in space exploration:
https://www.wired.com/2012/04/space-humans-vs-robots/
https://www.ucf.edu/pegasus/opinion/
Post edited February 02, 2019 by morolf
Posted February 02, 2019
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tinyE: That was deliberate. I'm glad you noticed.

Mind you, from the personal aspect, I didn't do shit, but my species did.
*hugs*

I used to be proud of my species too.
Posted February 02, 2019
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tinyE: Mind you, from the personal aspect, I didn't do shit, but my species did.
Wait, you're human? I thought you were a donkey!
Post edited February 02, 2019 by Breja
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General discussionShuttle Columbia 16th anniversary(25 posts)(25 posts)
(25 posts)