When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I've never tried before. - Mae West

Dexter · Worst Poster of Always

Nuclear Powered Mars Vessels!

Pizza · Sheriff of Paddy's

Way to know how to link to something Dexter.

Jason · Only in cartoons

These nuclear space vessels, if they exist (you fail at linking), are the way to go in terms of long-distance rocket travel. The weight and expense of liquid rocket fuel is absurd.

Since we're on the topic, I think the first travelers to Mars should have a one-way ticket. It's just too costly to send people both ways at this point.

john31584 · Zinc Saucier

Good luck finding volunteers for a one-way trip to Mars.

Jason · Only in cartoons

I have absolutely no doubt that people would line up for that assignment.

john31584 · Zinc Saucier

Also, with water being relatively abundant on Mars, it's not much of a stretch to think that fuel for the return trip could be manufactured on the planet.

DEATHPIGGIE · I'm fat and nobody likes me

GOOD NEWS EVERYBODY.

Dexter · Worst Poster of Always

I'd so go to mars on a ship filled with Russians saying vessel.

Jason · Only in cartoons

john31584 wrote:

Also, with water being relatively abundant on Mars, it's not much of a stretch to think that fuel for the return trip could be manufactured on the planet.

Eventually? Sure.

By 2020, when NASA is supposedly going to do this? I wouldn't count on it.

john31584 · Zinc Saucier

2020 is the goal for a return to the moon.

A manned trip to Mars is set for 2030, at the very earliest.

-- Edited by john31584 on Monday 2nd of November 2009 07:46:35 PM

john31584 · Zinc Saucier

But yes, given the current state of NASA, I wouldn't trust them with much more than a potato gun at this point.

Jason · Only in cartoons

NASA: "Derrrrr whoops! I guess we just wasted $200 million because we can't tell the difference between metric and English measurement! Durpty blurpty bloo"

john31584 · Zinc Saucier

We should give them some bottle rockets to play with, and if nobody loses an eye, we'll talk.

I can see the headlines now: "Preliminary tests of the bottle rocket ignition system (a $1.00 lighter) are scheduled to begin in 2013, and cost $30 million"