A modest proposal - for Mars

Come on Del......it's not that far!

All suggestions to turn the sands of Mars into a giant kitty litter box aside...

I'm not sure how easy it would be to find someone who has an incurable & deadly ailment with high odds of surviving at least 20 months (1 year training + 6 months travel time plus a couple of months looking at rocks) in good physical shape without Earth-based medical treatments. And who is technically savvy enough to be well trained. And who is mentally healthy enough not only to go on such a mission, but also to end it. And end it at the "best" time - not mid-trip when boredom and melancholy is likley to set in.

But they do have to really accept that at some point the time will come to bite down on a cyanide capsule or else die unpleasantly from pain / starvation / thirst / suffocation / etc. A lot of people believe firmly they're up for that call, but when actually faced with it...not so much. It could go very ugly indeed.

I don't know how psychologists would screen candidates for that.

Anyway...that all ended up on a depressing note, didn't it? Ugh. Sorry.

Still, if I could sign up - I'd do it! Heck, I've already started building my own spacesuit. I mean, yeah, right now it's just a pair of coveralls spray-painted silver and the helmet is made out of some flattened beer cans and a scooter windscreen. But I'm way ahead of the rest of y'all!

Had you asked this question a year ago, I might have responded with a "Yes, I'd go, even if healthy, simply for the shear excitement of it"

Lately, however, I've come to question the appropriateness of the Mars mission.

Given that I am Mechanical Designer, an astronomer, a rabid telescope builder and a big supporter of the Hubble rescue mission, even I am a bit surprised by my about face on the Mars mission.

Frankly, with or without well people to go, we have some far more urgent and serious technological challenges here on Space Ship Earth.

For one thing, developing a commercially viable Hydrogen Fuel Cell is far more important to our well being and quality of life than a trip to Mars. Besides, we have yet to maximize the potential of robotic machines. Why risk people at this early stage? Why invest on the costly life support systems people require, reduce the useful payload and risk failure because if the increased complexity?

The inevitable technology spin-offs of such a modern "Manhattan Project" on a fuel cell would do more to further our economic well being as a nation than the short-lived ego satisfaction that might be ours should a Mars trip succeed.

I'm healthy and I'd still love to go. However, I'm concerned about the kind of world we will be leaving our kids. A trip to Mars does little to calm my concerns. IMO, the money is better spent elsewhere.

I agree. I wish we would put half as much money into trying to improve the conditions existing on this planet as we do for war and for space exploration. The spin-offs would be enormous and have far reaching consequences.

war and space exploration?

That's an interesting slice of the budget pie.

Just about the only things we spend less on than space are Indians and the environment.

Concur - and with almost as dramatic an about face from me, too. Also quite a surprise...

From what I have observed, most people want to be close to their family during their last hours. Money and fame doesn't really matter anymore. I am not sure that you would find many candidates willing to die alone on a cold planet.

Here is my opinion,

Our planet Earth is baking from heat by our activities. Definately we should pay more effort to improve our relationship to our earth.

Moon and Mars trip is a political reason. U.S. is challenged again by China this time.

However, moon trip has its pay off in terms of resources to Helium-3 for fusion reactors.

Mars trip - I dont know, but we shouldnt sit duck either. Columbus wasnt sitting duck. And so Marco Pollo and Vikings. I think its our nature to extend our comfort boundaries.