How long before you think anyone will prepare to make a trip to mars? What are some problems with such a trip, and to be specific why can't be it be done at this point in time? I've also heard that the best way would be to slingshot around venus, then earth to gain momentum? Is this viable or would that be ignorant to waste fuel and resources going around venus. lol just wandering
2007-06-13 10:21:55 · 8 answers · asked by Wayne 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
not very, just the radiation alone would probably kill the astronauts, they would have to build a very heavy thick space ship to protect them. It would have to be the size of say the Tallest Building and be self sufficient growing its own crops in case they get stranded, 7 months there 7 months back
2007-06-13 10:23:59 · answer #1 · answered by Samantha 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It can be done and we already pretty much know how. The problem is not so much how practical it is; it is when will the world be willing to fund such a gargantuan undertaking.
A ship will need to be built that can take the astronauts there. If we built a nuclear powered vehicle it can be done in just over half the time a conventional rocket will take - and it will act as a power generator as well.
Greenhouses to grow food and habitats for day to day life will need to be launched ahead of schedule so everything is in place when the astronauts land.
The biggest problem is protection for the astronauts while away from Earth. The spaceship will need to be well shielded for starters. Life on the surface will be difficult. Suits will need to be specially developed. One solution for protecting astronauts is to make use of cave systems as habitats.
A Venus slingshot might make sense for a robotic mission with little fuel, but for a manned trip you want to avoid this extra time and just carry extra fuel for a direct trip.
It's all possible, practical and frankly inevitable. The only question is when will it be done?
2007-06-13 12:36:44 · answer #2 · answered by Sirius 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the simpliest way to get to mars is an iron drive,or in other terms a partical drive.that is a very low yield,no fuel is necessary for that,as for the slingshot you would fire a rocket with yourself on it from the spacestaion,with mars being closest,you would go with the opinion off going and not coming back,if you twig a few genes off plants like algi for instance,and you hyper accelerate there growth to make them pump out 30% off there oxygen,then add a few greenhouse gases,then in 30 yrs if that if you really went for it,mars could come habitable,even if it is a monumental task to do so.this comment is based on actual facts off today and could be done if money was available.enjoy your trip too mars and send me a postie.
ps, please note that even though scientists said it would take 100's off yrs to do this,if you really tried and put all your resources it would not take that long.
2007-06-13 10:36:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm with Sirius - - know-how, materials, technology etc. already exist. Would also agree that it's inevitable; Earth's resources are not indefinite - one day we will use this place up and then . . . the impractical part of the journey is always the human part of the equation. Who will pay for it? Who will be in charge? Who gets to go? Those are the real problems that need solving
2007-06-13 14:45:40 · answer #4 · answered by hellyeah 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nobody goes to Mars and lives. They would be cooked alive by cosmic radiation and fast solar protons - and cooked well done by a solar flare's output.
Skylab, MIR, and ISS FUBAR astronauts -still within the Eath's magnetosphere - have a 100% incidence of radiation cataracts after return. The atmosphere at sea equals 760 cm of mercury or 911 cm of lead thickness, or 10.3 kg/cm^2 of mass shielding. A reasonable spacecraft plus its consumables loading doesn't come anywhere near that.
Imagine a brave band of (sworn celibate, snigger) astronauts and astronettes cowering against the massive energetic radiation spew of a solar flare with only a few thin aluminum bulkeads and a thickness of accumulated urine and feces to shield them.
Would you like to spend six months in a small room loaded with folks who cannot shower or bathe? I'm not that fond of anybody, in the line of duty or otherwise. Gals get kinda funky absent routine daily maintenance. Guys stink after changing a tire.
2007-06-13 10:36:33 · answer #5 · answered by Uncle Al 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Slingshot adds too much time. Why waste almost two years ?
2007-06-13 10:29:22 · answer #6 · answered by Gene 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
thats far BEYOND being practical...
2007-06-13 10:24:47 · answer #7 · answered by ♥Brittany♥ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
try a journey to uranus
2007-06-13 10:24:48 · answer #8 · answered by M 5 · 2⤊ 4⤋