A One-Way, One-Person Mission to Mars

xoxoxoBruce · 03-08-2008, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Will humans ever really go to Mars? Let’s face it, the obstacles are quite daunting. Not only are there numerous, difficult, technical issues to overcome, but the political will and perseverance of any one nation to undertake such an arduous task just can’t be counted on. However, one former NASA engineer believes a human mission to Mars is quite doable, and such an event would unify the world as never before. But Jim McLane’s proposal includes a couple of major caveats: the trip to Mars should be one-way, and have a crew of only one person.

My question is, if it's likely to be practical and productive, should NASA allow a volunteer to do this?

lumberjim · 03-08-2008, 10:09 PM

a suicide mission, huh?

they should allow 5 people to volunteer and train. cuz 4 are gonna chicken out at the last minute. The question is.....would you do it? Your legacy would be unbelievable.

If it was appealing enough? your family provided for for the rest of their lives thru the ownership of the book/movie rights alone?

What benefit would be gained by a human that cannot be gotten by robot? How long would you live on mars? a day? a week? a year? indefinitely?

i have a few questions.

Clodfobble · 03-08-2008, 10:48 PM

According to the article, continuing to send an indefinite stock of supplies would not be hard. In theory you would live out the rest of your life there, or at least a decade or two until they figured out a successfully efficient way to get you back. Also, supposedly communications technologies are good enough that this person would never really be alone, they'd have NASA techs to talk to all day long.

Me personally, of course I would never do it. But I can easily imagine lots of people who would.

Aliantha · 03-09-2008, 01:34 AM

I can think of a number of people I'd like to nominate...

piercehawkeye45 · 03-10-2008, 05:26 PM

Send someone that is going to die in a year or two anyways. Its probably a waste of money but if we are up for it....

glatt · 03-11-2008, 08:10 AM

Send any volunteer who is qualified. I bet lots of people would be interested.

Promise them a kick ass video monitor that would fill up one wall of their Mars hovel, and give them a bunch of entertainment to choose from. A huge dish antenna that could pick up 100+ channels of tv which would be beamed to them personally by NASA.

A video phone for chats (more like e-mailed videos with the time delay caused by the distance) with anyone they want.

Not to mention a high speed (with a delay) internet connection for reading the Cellar, etc. Surfing would be slow, clicking on all those links and waiting for the page to load, but a feed of favorite sites would be plenty fast.

It wouldn't be so bad for an introvert with no family or friends. Plus, there would be plenty of work to do to keep busy.

Shawnee123 · 03-11-2008, 08:11 AM

*revamps resume*

smoothmoniker · 03-11-2008, 08:49 AM

I don't think I could do it. I think the idea is a good one, and certainly within the tradition of human exploration, but I'm not the guy.

So quit emailing me applications, please.

Shawnee123 · 03-11-2008, 08:54 AM

Why can't it be a couple, so in love that the thought of dying in space and sharing all eternity among the stars would preclude any fear of such a final mission? Instead of one person, they could be two really small people. Oh, and they'd have to really be gaga over each other, so they can only have dated about 2 months. Then they'd get into space and he would leave the cap off the spacepaste and she'd nag him about picking up his space boots and he's stop bringing her space rocks and she'd stop listening to him yack yack yack about Survivor...never mind, it wouldn't work.

glatt · 03-11-2008, 08:59 AM

Actually, a couple might be a good idea. I'd be afraid of pregnancy and/or childbirth complications though, so they should be sterile/infertile.

Shawnee123 · 03-11-2008, 09:05 AM

Maybe NASA insurance is progressive: it WILL pay for birth control but WON'T pay for Viagra?

03-13-2008, 04:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Quote:

... and have a crew of only one person.

My question is, if it's likely to be practical and productive, should NASA allow a volunteer to do this?

Yes, NASA should allow Britney Spears to volunteer. The cost to weight ratio of having several people in one person would be practical for them and getting her off of this planet would be productive for us.

SteveDallas · 03-13-2008, 08:34 AM

Imagine the corporate sponsorship they'd get out of it.

toranokaze · 03-25-2008, 09:32 PM

They should hold a contest for it the winner(loser) lives on mars.

Spectacle · 03-26-2008, 02:58 AM

The ultimate martyr for science. The person who does it is stupid.

03-08-2008, 10:09 PM	#2
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	a suicide mission, huh? they should allow 5 people to volunteer and train. cuz 4 are gonna chicken out at the last minute. The question is.....would you do it? Your legacy would be unbelievable. If it was appealing enough? your family provided for for the rest of their lives thru the ownership of the book/movie rights alone? What benefit would be gained by a human that cannot be gotten by robot? How long would you live on mars? a day? a week? a year? indefinitely? i have a few questions. __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

03-09-2008, 01:34 AM	#4
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	I can think of a number of people I'd like to nominate... __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

03-10-2008, 05:26 PM	#5
piercehawkeye45 Franklin Pierce Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,695	Send someone that is going to die in a year or two anyways. Its probably a waste of money but if we are up for it.... __________________ I like my perspectives like I like my baseball caps: one size fits all.

03-11-2008, 08:11 AM	#7
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	revamps resume __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

03-11-2008, 08:49 AM	#8
smoothmoniker to live and die in LA Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,090	I don't think I could do it. I think the idea is a good one, and certainly within the tradition of human exploration, but I'm not the guy. So quit emailing me applications, please. __________________ to live and die in LA

03-08-2008, 10:48 PM	#3
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	According to the article, continuing to send an indefinite stock of supplies would not be hard. In theory you would live out the rest of your life there, or at least a decade or two until they figured out a successfully efficient way to get you back. Also, supposedly communications technologies are good enough that this person would never really be alone, they'd have NASA techs to talk to all day long. Me personally, of course I would never do it. But I can easily imagine lots of people who would.

03-11-2008, 08:10 AM	#6
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Send any volunteer who is qualified. I bet lots of people would be interested. Promise them a kick ass video monitor that would fill up one wall of their Mars hovel, and give them a bunch of entertainment to choose from. A huge dish antenna that could pick up 100+ channels of tv which would be beamed to them personally by NASA. A video phone for chats (more like e-mailed videos with the time delay caused by the distance) with anyone they want. Not to mention a high speed (with a delay) internet connection for reading the Cellar, etc. Surfing would be slow, clicking on all those links and waiting for the page to load, but a feed of favorite sites would be plenty fast. It wouldn't be so bad for an introvert with no family or friends. Plus, there would be plenty of work to do to keep busy.

03-11-2008, 08:54 AM	#9
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	Why can't it be a couple, so in love that the thought of dying in space and sharing all eternity among the stars would preclude any fear of such a final mission? Instead of one person, they could be two really small people. Oh, and they'd have to really be gaga over each other, so they can only have dated about 2 months. Then they'd get into space and he would leave the cap off the spacepaste and she'd nag him about picking up his space boots and he's stop bringing her space rocks and she'd stop listening to him yack yack yack about Survivor...never mind, it wouldn't work. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

03-11-2008, 08:59 AM	#10
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Actually, a couple might be a good idea. I'd be afraid of pregnancy and/or childbirth complications though, so they should be sterile/infertile.

03-11-2008, 09:05 AM	#11
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	Maybe NASA insurance is progressive: it WILL pay for birth control but WON'T pay for Viagra? __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

03-13-2008, 08:34 AM	#13
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	Imagine the corporate sponsorship they'd get out of it.

03-25-2008, 09:32 PM	#14
toranokaze I'm still a jerk Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Little Mexico Posts: 1,817	They should hold a contest for it the winner(loser) lives on mars. __________________ "Without deviation from the norm progress is not possible." - Frank Zappa It is the ignorance of ignorance that lead to the death of knowledge The Virgin Mary does not weep for her son, for he is in paradise. She weeps for the world , for we are in suffering.

03-26-2008, 02:58 AM	#15
Spectacle Observing the Wine Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 85	The ultimate martyr for science. The person who does it is stupid. __________________ I see.

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