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Wanted: People willing to die on Mars

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I feel like this is one of those events that has a huge chance of backfiring and in doing so causes more hesitation with humanity wanting to colonize other planets. It doesn't make sense to me to send people there to die. Wait until the tech gets good enough and bring these people back to their homes.
 
It's shit like this that makes me wish I'd been born in the 30th century. By then, we'll have cool stuff like interstellar colonies, cold fusion, pew pew lasers, flying cars, and evil, insane AIs trying to wipe out humanity. Too bad I'll be dead by the time any of that stuff happens. *cries*

Ah well, here's hoping that time travel gets invented before I die, so I can go into the future to check out all the cool stuff. Either that, or cryogenic freezing.
 
...so how am i to deal with mars's night non existent atmosphere when i get there wont be long before im bathed in radiation and getting bombarded from above by shit from space.
 
This is ludicrous posturing of the highest order, not to mention insanely irresponsible. Before we can even consider this kind of mission we have to first have some MUCH longer term missions on the ISS to ascertain the effects of prolonged microgravity on human physiology(one unsolved problem of which seems to be eventually going completely blind after a few years). Even after that, it's far more safe/cost effective to try to colonize the moon first and test techniques for fully self-sustaining habitats there before going somewhere that's a several month trip from the earth, native water/ice deposits or no. We only just sent only our third nonreturnable non-living probe there after nearly 6-7 years of work and planning. There's no way this ends up happening, and will likely end up disastrously if attempted. I'd wager it's more a part of some investment scam.

drexl said:
It's shit like this that makes me wish I'd been born in the 30th century. By then, we'll have cool stuff like interstellar colonies, cold fusion, pew pew lasers, flying cars, and evil, insane AIs trying to wipe out humanity. Too bad I'll be dead by the time any of that stuff happens. *cries*

Ah well, here's hoping that time travel gets invented before I die, so I can go into the future to check out all the cool stuff. Either that, or cryogenic freezing.
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But then you'd just be waiting on time-machines or intergalactic travel or wormhole physics or the tapping of parallel universes. Smart phones, as much as we take them for granted, would've blown fucking minds just 15 years ago. In the words of Louis C.K., "Everything is amazing and noone is happy"
 
Not even a chance. Make me some way of coming back, then sure I'd go. But feck off if you're expecting me to die on Mars for science, they've got robots for that.
 
But for a moment entertaining the notions of the company in OP, I definitely wouldn't be among the first. Maybe the 3rd or 4th mission there, but not the first.
 
Dilly said:
Kind of reminds me of the Mars trilogy books.
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You're talking about Kim Stanley Robinson's Red Mars, Green Mars, Blue Mars, correct? Loved those books. I highly recommend them, they're a great read.

Any books similar to those people might recommend?
 
I would go but only if there was enough equipment to keep the colonists alive indefinitely
I'm not going to Mars to asphyxiate or starve to death. I would be interested in the chance to be one of the first colonists.
 
But I don't want to die.

Well, this is possibly a thing for misanthropists and shut ins.

I'm sure you'd have to deal with people a lot to merely stay alive. But probably less than most people on Earth have to deal with.
 
I'd volunteer if it were for the Moon. At least I can see home from there! But man, this is just way to crazy. Talk about shooting for the stars, right?
 
I think I'll pass on the first trip, maybe I'll sign up for the third or fourth group to go. Gotta see what happens to all the first gens before I make that decision.

I think this company has a 0.01% chance of making their 2022 deadline and a 0.1% chance of making any deadline.
 
I mean, to be known as the one/one of the first person on Mars is intriguing on a very egotistical front, but I think I'd want all the kinks worked out first + constant re-supply rockets sent up after me.
 
Also all the time it takes to get there i would be pretty pissed if some douche got out of the vehicle before me and turns out to go down in history as the dude who set the first foot on Mars.

Nobody cares about Buzz. Everybody cares about Neil.
 
DarkKyo said:
There's a special kind of novelty there if you were one of the first people on Mars. But past that novelty what the fuck is the point? It's a cold, red desert with no food or air. Hell no would I go there with no quick trip home.

Now tell me you can make it to a gorgeous super earth that can sustain me the way Earth does and I'll gladly die there.
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We can always terramorph mars eventually right ?
 
I'd probably go if it had internet and had like dune buggies and shit to drive around mars and food and water and stuff.
 
Wag said:
You're talking about Kim Stanley Robinson's Red Mars, Green Mars, Blue Mars, correct? Loved those books. I highly recommend them, they're a great read.

Any books similar to those people might recommend?
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can't believe it took until the third page for this to be mentioned since it's basically the first book. If you haven't read his other books, 2312 is quite good and directly references the mars trilogy, but I'm having a difficult time thinking of any other colonization themed hard-SF off the top of my head.
 
CrunchyFrog said:
Before we can even consider this kind of mission we have to first have some MUCH longer term missions on the ISS to ascertain the effects of prolonged microgravity on human physiology(one unsolved problem of which seems to be eventually going completely blind after a few years
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Mars is considered microgravity?
 
Wag said:
You're talking about Kim Stanley Robinson's Red Mars, Green Mars, Blue Mars, correct? Loved those books. I highly recommend them, they're a great read.

Any books similar to those people might recommend?
Click to expand...
Yeah, I'm almost through Green Mars now, great read.
 
Humanity isn't going anywhere for awhile, it's robots and drones for decades to come. More couch potato robot surfing and less human adventuring. Cheaper and more practical.
 
You guys are missing the point.

These "settlers" are exactly that, "settlers". They will go and prepare everything for the real group that is now secret and will only go to Mars 2 or 3 years after they arrive there! They don't know it but they are just the test subjects. Eventually the original bunch will die but they leave a fully functional facility with grown plants and plenty of oxygen and water extracted. Even better, the corpses left can be used to fertilize the soil for the plants by the next "real" goup".

This way when the 2nd group (the reall settlers) prepare to go to Mars, they don't have to carry housing, materials and other crap that is heavy, they just take food, beer/wine and and entertainment system (disco ball included). They can even take a puppy and videogames!

Unless all games are region locked in 2024. Then no.
 
If I knew I was going to live 300 years at the least I would start plotting to claim Mars for my descendants and myself.

Seriously though. Mars is unclaimed right now right? If you're the first company to start colonizing there couldn't that be a pretty good business opportunity for the distant future? You could claim all the land you want.
Anyone know if there are any rules for claiming land on other planets yet?
 
kswiston said:
I'm pretty sure the technology doesn't exist. From what I have seen, the travel time to Mars is estimated at 6-12 months for what I am assuming is the closest approach distance (54 million km). Closest approach to Pluto is 4.3 billion km. It's not like you are designing a rocket to send a fairly light weight satellite outside of the solar system. You would need to design a craft big enough to support its crew for decades, with food, water, oxygen, equipment, etc. Then you would need a fuel reserve large enough to make it 4 billion km. Even with gravity assists from Jupiter and other planets I think the required craft would be too massive to launch. At the very least, we would need more efficient propulsion systems. Probably better shielding too.
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We've got the technology to get there in two weeks. (Of course, practically, it will take a month or two).

SquiddyBiscuit said:
One thing is for sure though:

The crew would either have to be of one sex, or sterilized beyond reasonable doubt (e.g, removal of fallopian tubes or testicles).

You simply cannot risk a pregnancy on Mars. For one, it would be unethical to raise a child completely devoid of peer interaction, but the vey pregnancy itself might cause unpredecented developmental abnormalities due to the reduced gravity of Mars. You cannot rely on abortive pills or abortion surgery, as you'll want to reduce the risk of one of your billion-dollar worth crewmen dying from internal bleedings.
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The point of going to Mars is to have a stable colony. You have to have pregnancies.
 
drexl said:
It's shit like this that makes me wish I'd been born in the 30th century. By then, we'll have cool stuff like interstellar colonies, cold fusion, pew pew lasers, flying cars, and evil, insane AIs trying to wipe out humanity. Too bad I'll be dead by the time any of that stuff happens. *cries*

Ah well, here's hoping that time travel gets invented before I die, so I can go into the future to check out all the cool stuff. Either that, or cryogenic freezing.
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Well, I am glad to be born in this era than the 1900/1800s. Now that would be a complete and utter travesty.

But yes, I too am intrigued by what the future offers. Part of me wishes I could live for 300 years in this same youthful body and mind. D:
 
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