Let's go to Mars?

[Gameface]

https://lightyears.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/23/why-we-shouldnt-wait-to-go-to-mars/?hpt=hp_c2

In the opinion piece “​

Mars can wait. Oceans can’t

,” published recently on CNN.com, Amitai Etzioni says that we should defer Mars exploration because the seas have a higher priority. While I have the highest regard for ocean exploration, the fact of the matter is that there are numerous agencies – including the U.S. Navy, the navies of other countries, academic institutions, research organizations, corporations​

and James Cameron personally

– that are more than adequately financed and equipped to carry it out.

The idea that we need to suspend space exploration in order to provide the necessary resources to probe the oceans is categorically absurd. So let’s call it like it is: The argument that we should explore the oceans instead of space is not a call to search the seas, but simply a disingenuous way to give up our effort to reach the Red Planet.​

Is going to Mars a worthwhile endeavor? Some see space exploration as a complete waste of time and money. I, on the other hand, think it is simply the most important thing we as humans can be doing. It is, in my opinion, the key to long term human survival (tens of thousands of years worth of survival).

It honestly hurts me to know that so many people would just look away from the stars and pretend the we have nothing to do with them and they have nothing to do with us. To me that idea is absurd. I guess we can all just wait around to get discovered by a species smart enough to explore space. I would much prefer to be that smart species and find intelligent life in the dawn of their existence.

So break my heart and tell me why it doesn't make sense to explore space.

 

[Deleted member 365]

I don't think the issue that people have is whether or not we should be exploring space (and going to the Red Planet) it's the issue that we haven't developed the technology to explore space fast or efficiently. Isn't a one way trip to Mars something 7-9 months? What is going to power that spaceship for that long? And then comes the problem on how to get them back home...

Well, and then there's the fact that space exploration is just too damn expensive. Bang for your buck? You can build a lot more jets, bombs, and start more wars than with spending money on space exploration.

I agree though, space exploration is very important. Hopefully in the next few decades economic power houses like China, India, Brazil, and Russia will make space exploration a priority and push us back into the space race... Or force us to join with them...

 

[franklin]

Anti-NASA sentiment is a juvenile phenomenon that usually passes with aging.

 

[Gameface]

The guy who wrote that opinion piece has solutions laid out for all the problems you mention.

I've been following Zubrin for well over 10 years. He is balls deep in Mars exploration. He has conducted extended simulations of setting up the initial shelters and living in them, all sorts of stuff. I love the guy. I want to live long enough to see humans who live (are born, live and die) somewhere other than Earth. I used to say I wanted to retire on Mars. That was about 15 years ago. Since then we have taken zero steps to actually putting people on Mars. I no longer entertain the fantasy that I could ever step foot on another world. In other words, a somewhat significant part of my "soul" has died.

 

[The Black Swordsman]

There is a lot of space exploration going on. Just not man operated. Lots of drones are being sent.

Mars, Titan, Europa and Callisto are all worthy of exploration.

Mars is suspected to have a lot of water frozen under its surface. Also it has about 2% the atmosphere that earth has. They are studying it a lot.

The other three are moons that are thought to be able to have life.

 

[DutchJazzer]

And then comes the problem on how to get them back home...

screw bringen them back home. humans did send various animals in space to die.
so why not send humans this time. just give some volunteering astronauts a 1 way ticket.

 

[DutchJazzer]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPn-lTytfGo

 

[pickledXgrandma]

Dont really understand what going to Mars can bring the human race that is useful. Seems like people get our money to fund their curiosity

 

[NUMBERICA]

Dont really understand what going to Mars can bring the human race that is useful. Seems like people get our money to fund their curiosity

lol. totes, dawg. what has curiosity gotten us besides all knowledge to this point?

 

[NUMBERICA]

The key to the survival of our species is finding another berg to carry us. Mars, Omacron Persei 8, whatever, we're sure defiling the land that the good lord provided us with.

 

[pickledXgrandma]

The key to the survival of our species is finding another berg to carry us. Mars, Omacron Persei 8, whatever, we're sure defiling the land that the good lord provided us with.

Do you think we will ever have the technology to get us to another planet where it will be stable for us to live? Just curiosity. I just feel like if we do ever have that technology it will be so far down the road we wont have enough natural resources to accomplish anything with it. Just a thought.

 

[NUMBERICA]

Do you think we will ever have the technology to get us to another planet where it will be stable for us to live? Just curiosity. I just feel like if we do ever have that technology it will be so far down the road we wont have enough natural resources to accomplish anything with it. Just a thought.

So we should just not try? Seems in line with how you view and disparage 'curiosity'.