5 ms·

I don't think the one-way thing is real. SpaceX wants to re-use their vehicles. It wouldn't make sense to leave spacecraft on Mars.

jeffbee 4y ago
Considering the energy cost of the return trip, it makes abundant sense.
- diebeforei485 4y ago
  Propellant for the return trip can be made on Mars using the Sabatier process. This has been known for decades. (This is why the engines for Starship are designed to use methane). https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Direct https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Direct
  - mrguyorama 4y ago
    The CONCEPT has been known for decades. Who has put a fuel processing facility on mars? I think there was some minor chemistry experiment on one of the rovers to go in that direction. The raw energy required to make that fuel, using ANY conceivable process, is extreme though. What energy solution has been proposed? How much solar acreage do you need? How will you keep the dust off the panels? Will there be any option other than sending panels from earth? All the needed prereqs have zero practical knowledge with them. Nobody has even had the chance to work out kinks yet. It doesn't matter how much elon wants to do something, new shit takes a lot of time, money, and effort to shakedown.
    - kayodelycaon 4y ago
      > How will you keep the dust off the panels? Assuming there are people involved, give them a broom. ;)
      - twiddling 4y ago
        Sweep if you want breathable air and time in the lead lined room.
    - diebeforei485 4y ago
      > Who has put a fuel processing facility on mars? No one, because it hasn't been required or even feasible yet. We don't have the ability to send that sort of payload to Mars yet. > How will you keep the dust off the panels? I hear Tesla is working on a humanoid robot.
  - londons_explore 4y ago
    But it's probably cheaper to just make a new ship. It's mostly made of iron and steel, that we have here on earth in abundance. One day, the economics of return trips will work out. But to begin with at least, all trips will be one-way.
    - diebeforei485 4y ago
      Unmanned trips on Starship will definitely be one-way to begin with. It's highly unlikely that trips with humans on board would be one-way.

jeffbee 4y ago

Considering the energy cost of the return trip, it makes abundant sense.

diebeforei485 4y ago
Propellant for the return trip can be made on Mars using the Sabatier process. This has been known for decades. (This is why the engines for Starship are designed to use methane). https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Direct https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Direct
- mrguyorama 4y ago
  The CONCEPT has been known for decades. Who has put a fuel processing facility on mars? I think there was some minor chemistry experiment on one of the rovers to go in that direction. The raw energy required to make that fuel, using ANY conceivable process, is extreme though. What energy solution has been proposed? How much solar acreage do you need? How will you keep the dust off the panels? Will there be any option other than sending panels from earth? All the needed prereqs have zero practical knowledge with them. Nobody has even had the chance to work out kinks yet. It doesn't matter how much elon wants to do something, new shit takes a lot of time, money, and effort to shakedown.
  - kayodelycaon 4y ago
    > How will you keep the dust off the panels? Assuming there are people involved, give them a broom. ;)
    - twiddling 4y ago
      Sweep if you want breathable air and time in the lead lined room.
  - diebeforei485 4y ago
    > Who has put a fuel processing facility on mars? No one, because it hasn't been required or even feasible yet. We don't have the ability to send that sort of payload to Mars yet. > How will you keep the dust off the panels? I hear Tesla is working on a humanoid robot.
- londons_explore 4y ago
  But it's probably cheaper to just make a new ship. It's mostly made of iron and steel, that we have here on earth in abundance. One day, the economics of return trips will work out. But to begin with at least, all trips will be one-way.
  - diebeforei485 4y ago
    Unmanned trips on Starship will definitely be one-way to begin with. It's highly unlikely that trips with humans on board would be one-way.