4 ms·

The lack of ethical standards of some people just frightens me. First, he proposes sending some people to their death. I mean, seriously, do you expect to find

The lack of ethical standards of some people just frightens me. First, he proposes sending some people to their death. I mean, seriously, do you expect to find anything but death on Mars with our current level of technology if you can't come back? Second, he's trying to convince people and the passangers/lemmings of the proposed expedition that's it's not actually sending them to death by fake science. Anyone familiar the very basics of statistics knows that you can't talk about 'life expectancy' of four people. And living in (yet to be discovered) lava tubes? Is that his plan? And last, he wants to broadcast the agonizing death of these people worldwide. Am I the only one who thinks that this is, at very least, questionable morals?

arien 17y ago
Well, if you put it like that it sure sounds awful. Why do you assume they will die? I sincerely doubt they'd send anyone to their deaths nor that anyone would accept it, that would be absurd (tho accidents can happen). Consider the amount of effort, time and money such a trip would take. With the right focus, in 50 years we could have the technology to sustain life in space. However, the right focus probably means "if we have something to gain from it". I guess that's why he thinks of a "Big Brother in Space" program that would cover part of the costs. I see the idea has some logic, even if I don't agree completely with it. On a side note, I always heard that Biodomes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed_ecological_system http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed_ecological_system) would be the answer to living on Mars or other planets in the initial phases. Not sure if I'd want to live in lava tubes.
- inklesspen 17y ago
  We've had an awful lot of problems getting biodomes to work here on Earth. I'd want them to be pretty much perfected before we try them on Mars.
  - arien 17y ago
    Well, what makes you think a lava tube is safer? :P I think they'd have to be conditioned and sealed and that might be just as problematic. But what I said before applies here, too. With enough focus and budget we can advance in pretty much any technology we want. The question is, the ones that can make it happen (investors, governments), do they really want to do it? Does it pay for them?
    - inklesspen 17y ago
      I think you may be confusing me with the author of the article; I never said lava tubes were safer.
rksprst 17y ago
I guarantee you that there are tons of people who would be willing to go on a one-way trip to Mars. And no, these won't be crazy people... I am sure a ton of existing astronauts would be interested. In fact, I would love to be part of such a trip (if gf came along, of course). Also, why would they die? Supplies would be sent every couple of months.

arien 17y ago

Well, if you put it like that it sure sounds awful. Why do you assume they will die? I sincerely doubt they'd send anyone to their deaths nor that anyone would accept it, that would be absurd (tho accidents can happen). Consider the amount of effort, time and money such a trip would take. With the right focus, in 50 years we could have the technology to sustain life in space. However, the right focus probably means "if we have something to gain from it". I guess that's why he thinks of a "Big Brother in Space" program that would cover part of the costs. I see the idea has some logic, even if I don't agree completely with it. On a side note, I always heard that Biodomes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed_ecological_system http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed_ecological_system) would be the answer to living on Mars or other planets in the initial phases. Not sure if I'd want to live in lava tubes.

inklesspen 17y ago
We've had an awful lot of problems getting biodomes to work here on Earth. I'd want them to be pretty much perfected before we try them on Mars.
- arien 17y ago
  Well, what makes you think a lava tube is safer? :P I think they'd have to be conditioned and sealed and that might be just as problematic. But what I said before applies here, too. With enough focus and budget we can advance in pretty much any technology we want. The question is, the ones that can make it happen (investors, governments), do they really want to do it? Does it pay for them?
  - inklesspen 17y ago
    I think you may be confusing me with the author of the article; I never said lava tubes were safer.

rksprst 17y ago

I guarantee you that there are tons of people who would be willing to go on a one-way trip to Mars. And no, these won't be crazy people... I am sure a ton of existing astronauts would be interested. In fact, I would love to be part of such a trip (if gf came along, of course). Also, why would they die? Supplies would be sent every couple of months.