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Inspiration Mars Ship Using Human Waste as a Radiation Shield

Posted March 03, 2013 6:13 PM

From Engadget:

Dennis Tito is planning an ambitious private flyby of Mars for 2018 that will carry all kinds of logistical challenges during its proposed 501-day span, not the least of which is shielding the crew from radiation without consuming valuable resources. The team's solution is a clever one, if not especially pretty: human waste. While the walls of the Inspiration Mars spacecraft will initially be lined with water-filled bags to guard against cosmic rays, their contents will be gradually replaced with er, byproduct that will be dehydrated through the bag (possibly using polyethylene) to reclaim and purify water for drinking. As water-based materials are better at stopping radiation than metal, the approach theoretically represents the best of all worlds with less bulk, a simpler life support system and maximum room for supplies. If the Inspiration Mars group can keep the bags working at high efficiency in space, it won't have to worry about its travelers' safety; their comfort with being surrounded by their own waste may be another matter.

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Guru

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#1

Re: Inspiration Mars Ship Using Human Waste as a Radiation Shield

03/05/2013 7:41 AM

Sounds like a pretty crappy shield to me......

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Guru

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#2

Re: Inspiration Mars Ship Using Human Waste as a Radiation Shield

03/05/2013 7:47 AM

How rich is this guy? Even going back to the moon seems to be beyond the capability of governments, and Mars is 100 times as far away. And 2018 is only 5 years off.

(Maybe we have a lot of radiation shielding here???)

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Guru

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In reply to #2

Re: Inspiration Mars Ship Using Human Waste as a Radiation Shield

03/05/2013 8:06 PM

Well I suppose, as is usually the case, he has sold certain rights and materials to other investors to defray costs....He runs a fund that developed 'quantitative analysis' to direct tech investing methods.... his net worth is probably under 200 mil.....but there is no shortage of money in the private sector with 1,210 billionaires sporting a combined net worth of 4.5 trillion dollars...and quite a few are interested in the 'Final Frontier' as an area of interest and investment...

http://www.parabolicarc.com/2011/03/10/brin-bezos-top-forbes-list-space-billionaires/

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