4 ms·

I see that everyone is realizing the value in this particular PR line, "Mars Ho!". Given the degree of extreme hope I see in the world of intelligent and educat

by M_Grey 10y ago

I see that everyone is realizing the value in this particular PR line, "Mars Ho!". Given the degree of extreme hope I see in the world of intelligent and educated people regarding this issue, I suspect it might work for a while too. At some point though, it's going to become clear that no current group has any real intentions, not to mention clear ideas, to make a Mars colony work.

ravenstine 10y ago
Unless we are fighting commies, I suspect any positive feelings from such PR will end up short-lived. I hope I am wrong, though.
- ohyes 10y ago
  This is a fantastic opportunity! We could come up with the next gen bogeyman for the coming century! Guys, we've got to beat the dragon masters to Mars! There's no telling how much swooping they'll do from that high!
  - bediger4000 10y ago
    For better or for worse we've got "terrorists" as the boogieman for the foreseeable future. But it's a good thought. I just don't see Boeing being able to do this. They've gotten fat on US government defense dollars, they're not going to be able to do anything outside the ordinary, because they'll risk losing those sweet, sweet defense billions. That is, if they can compete with SpaceX,the Air Force will ask why ULA can't do better while it's on the Air Force nickel. That will cause Boeing to shy away from any innovation that the Air Force doesn't overpay for.
bksenior 10y ago
Please, explain to me why your so certain these are empty statements. Im genuinely curious. If I recall correctly, the first stage of the "moon race" was more generalized, especially to the press. Also Musk himself has a pretty strong history of not sharing much of the meat of a plan till it happens.
- M_Grey 10y ago
  We knew how to keep people alive on the way to the Moon, alive on the Moon, and had a reliable way back. We didn't start off the race by declaring our intention to colonize the Moon. So I look at the issues which made Mars 'hard' a while ago, and whether or not they're solved or if Musk is on the way to solving them. Micrometeorite shielding. Not solved Radiation shielding. Not solved Long term microgravity health effects. Not solved Sufficient understanding of the human microbiome to keep it thriving off-world. Not even addressed
  - deleted 10y ago
    [deleted]
Lambdanaut 10y ago
> it's going to become clear that no current group has any real intentions If we're to believe anything Musk has been ranting about for the past 15 years, then he at least has the intention, if not the potential means.

by M_Grey 10y ago

ravenstine 10y ago

Unless we are fighting commies, I suspect any positive feelings from such PR will end up short-lived. I hope I am wrong, though.

ohyes 10y ago
This is a fantastic opportunity! We could come up with the next gen bogeyman for the coming century! Guys, we've got to beat the dragon masters to Mars! There's no telling how much swooping they'll do from that high!
- bediger4000 10y ago
  For better or for worse we've got "terrorists" as the boogieman for the foreseeable future. But it's a good thought. I just don't see Boeing being able to do this. They've gotten fat on US government defense dollars, they're not going to be able to do anything outside the ordinary, because they'll risk losing those sweet, sweet defense billions. That is, if they can compete with SpaceX,the Air Force will ask why ULA can't do better while it's on the Air Force nickel. That will cause Boeing to shy away from any innovation that the Air Force doesn't overpay for.

bksenior 10y ago

Please, explain to me why your so certain these are empty statements. Im genuinely curious. If I recall correctly, the first stage of the "moon race" was more generalized, especially to the press. Also Musk himself has a pretty strong history of not sharing much of the meat of a plan till it happens.

M_Grey 10y ago
We knew how to keep people alive on the way to the Moon, alive on the Moon, and had a reliable way back. We didn't start off the race by declaring our intention to colonize the Moon. So I look at the issues which made Mars 'hard' a while ago, and whether or not they're solved or if Musk is on the way to solving them. Micrometeorite shielding. Not solved Radiation shielding. Not solved Long term microgravity health effects. Not solved Sufficient understanding of the human microbiome to keep it thriving off-world. Not even addressed
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]

Lambdanaut 10y ago

> it's going to become clear that no current group has any real intentions If we're to believe anything Musk has been ranting about for the past 15 years, then he at least has the intention, if not the potential means.