As well we should:
Posted on 04/27/2017 2:29:39 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
American astronauts may be walking on Mars in the next eight years, or ideally the next four, if President Donald Trump has his way. But the new timetable has baffled experts in space travel.
(AUDIO-AT-LINK)
The surprise announcement — or rather instruction — took place this week during a live video conference between President Trump and veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson, who is currently aboard the International Space Station.
During the conversation, Trump asked Whitson when it would be possible to send a human to Mars. She gave a careful and detailed answer explaining that a trip to the Red Planet might be possible sometime in the 2030s.
Not good enough for the White House. "Well, we want to try and do it during my first term or, at worst, during my second term, so we'll have to speed that up a little, OK?" Trump replied. There was awkward laughter from outer space. "We'll do our best!" Whitson promised, grinning.
According to Professor Tom Pike of Imperial College London (who worked on the 2008 Mars Phoenix Lander), the NASA timetable cannot easily be shortened. "I wasn't quite sure whether [Trump] was mis-speaking. Maybe he meant the moon, [not Mars]?" Pike says. "He's got to do it on a realistic timescale, and with the budget that gives it the funding that it would require."
One of the biggest constraints is the return journey, according to Pike. Compared to the Moon, Mars has much higher gravity, and a substantial atmosphere. So a rocket for the return will probably need to be sent to Mars well in advance. That plan is still at an early stage.
That is not the only matter to be overcome. "The issue is not just sending a man or woman to Mars," Pike says. "[Currently] even the space station is out of reach. The American astroanauts now there are there courtesy of the Russians, since the end of the shuttle program. So to go from essentially zero [to Mars] — this is a stretch."
And during winter, when the sun is cold.
No and no one here is suggesting that we do that
.
We will never have any reason to go to Mars.
This is childish nonsense. (aside from the massive waste of cash we need here on Earth)
.
The Pocono Mts (going there tomorrow for a sanity day trip) have been invaded by NY’ers from what I heard. I haven’t been there in about 20 yrs though. :)
Ah, yes, that was good thinking.
Yes, lots of them there but not many illegal aliens.
The American astroanauts now there are there courtesy of the Russians, since the end of the shuttle program. So to go from essentially zero [to Mars] — this is a stretch."
I agree.
Make it one way, a volunteer and lots of material to grow his own food, many have debunked the movie The Martian, vacuum won’t completely kill plants.
EM Drive
Brain fart.
There is no reason to send humans to mars right now. For the cost of this endeavor, we could put an aircraft carrier into orbit.
Trump was kidding with the astronaut, but...
If democrats were to take everything Trump says seriously, Hillary would be in prison by now or in hiding.
Exactly.
If they can’t produce... shutter NASA.
They’ve had 50 years and cannot even return to the moon. They have eight years to put up or shut up. Imo they’re not up to it. All their accomplishments are contracted out to 3rd parties, even the Russians! They have eight years. If they don’t produce then their charter is canceled. Standard business practice.
Sub-zero kills the human intestinal bacteria the Martian was using to fertilize and colonize the martian sand he planted the potato eyes in.
Eight years of Obama didn’t help anything that was truly and uniquely American.
There was a few guys that did some scientific tests using vacuum chambers on Youtube and found out that yes there was a chance in certain cases.But then we won’t be sending actors into space with an agenda for dramatic content.
And i meant whst i said, its a one way trip considered until advanced travel times evolve.Who knows, we might have FTL speeds within 20 years.
So...Taco Tuesday, then?
Of course he was kidding. PRI is full of bovine excrement for trying to make anything at all out of this. Here is the entire videoconference, cued up to the Mars comment:
https://youtu.be/M_D4i3CLNqU?t=432
When asked how long it will take, Dr. Peggy Whitson starts her answer by saying "as your bill directed," so clearly both parties understand the timeline involved. The President Trump says he wants to speed it up, okkkkk? then smiles broadly, as does both Ivanka and astronaut to his right. The laughter from the space station is genuine, not awkward at all.
I haven't been a diehard "defund NPR" but it's crap like this that may change my mind to axe the entire Corporation for Public Broadcasting, NPR, PBS, PRI, the whole lot.
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