Proposed manned Mars mission by 2018

[Varangian (John)]

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/20...nis-tito-mars/

Apologies if this has gone up elsewhere. Be great if it could happen.

[Mckechg (Grant)]

A very good, read... they say radiation is the biggest problem.. I think its going to be funding... :-)

[Stardrifter_WA]

Originally Posted by Mckechg

A very good, read... they say radiation is the biggest problem.. I think its going to be funding... :-)

I agree Grant, I think, in these hard fiscal times, funding would be the primary concern! But, if they want a volunteer....I'll go! Even if was to be a one way trip, I'd still go!

[pluto (Hugh)]

Apart from the technical challenges I think it will come down to whether they can develop a plan to make the most of the media exposure this will generate. Like they talked about in the first press conference, there are so many ways to sell this with tie-ins (like Dr Phil or some kind of reality show) plus more traditional sponsorship and advertising. That kind of money is still flowing freely, though perhaps a little slower than 5 years ago.

I think it's a shame that it has to be done this way and that there is more money to be found when making a movie about going to Mars ($250m for John Carter) than when actually going there but c'est la vie...

[Stardrifter_WA]

Originally Posted by pluto

I think it's a shame that it has to be done this way and that there is more money to be found when making a movie about going to Mars ($250m for John Carter) than when actually going there but c'est la vie...

Sorry Hugh, are you suggesting that it will cost less than $250m to get to Mars? Maybe you should be working for NASA then

Although there are various estimates, it cost NASA between $700m to $1.5b to launch each space shuttle. With all the technical issues, I would imagine that a Mars mission would be substantially more than that. And if you think private enterprise can do it cheaper than NASA, think again. It is private enterprises that supply NASA.

[Ric]

I was reading somewhere that they want a married couple to go.

No worries, me and the missus will sign up, but we have to take the cats as well.

Cheers

[multiweb (Marc)]

Originally Posted by Ric

I was reading somewhere that they want a married couple to go.

No worries, me and the missus will sign up, but we have to take the cats as well.

Cheers

Zero gravity cat litter. That could be interesting.

[pluto (Hugh)]

Originally Posted by Stardrifter_WA

Sorry Hugh, are you suggesting that it will cost less than $250m to get to Mars? Maybe you should be working for NASA then

Although there are various estimates, it cost NASA between $700m to $1.5b to launch each space shuttle. With all the technical issues, I would imagine that a Mars mission would be substantially more than that. And if you think private enterprise can do it cheaper than NASA, think again. It is private enterprises that supply NASA.

Certainly not suggesting it will cost less than $250 million for this mission just that it's easier to fund a ridiculously expensive movie than the next step in human exploration of our celestial neighborhood.

I really don't think you can compare this with the costs involved in an STS mission, they're about as different as vehicles/missions/funding models can get!
Plus suppliers like Lockheed, ULA have had a virtual monopoly and have charged a lot more than they will be able to in the future with competition from companies like SpaceX, Orbital, Bigelow and others.

I'm not sure what it'll cost but I do think that the costs involved with this mission are unknown, and certainly different, as it's never been done before and the companies that are likely to supply the craft, systems, launch etc. aren't the usual players who's costs are more known.

I really hope they can pull it off, both technically and financially.

[astroron (Ron)]

I am not concerned so much with Funding, as much as other problems such as Radiation,lonelyness, and just the thought that if there is a major problem there is very little anyone can do about it.
I have seen estimates from 20 Billion and upwards.
I don't think that even Private enterprise can get there any cheaper.
Anyway best of luck to them if they can pull it off ,I for one would be rooting for them all the way
Cheers