I'm not sure that's true and you need to look at the history leading up to the Apollo space program. So far no astronaut or passenger has died on a Spacex craft, a claim that Nasa cannot make. (Two shuttles, launch pad fire, and the unbelievable fortuitous return to earth of Apollo 13) Have you not seen the videos of Nasa rockets exploding on the launch pad or slightly after launch in the early days of the space program?? And yes the manned space program had a pretty good safety record until that launch pad fire which laid bare a whole bunch of shortcomings in safety protocols and the actual design and manufacture of the capsule.
Neither does the Moon. Doesn't seem to be stopping anyone from looking for caves to shelter in for manned base operations.
My view is that we need space exploration for the growth of mankind, especially for mineral extraction. Continuing to mine the Earth has huge consequences of which we don't yet fully understand, especially when it comes to ocean mining. Were toying with a system that has been in place for millions of years, the backdrop of our evolution, our very existence.
Asteroid mining is the future, but the base of ops will be in orbit somewhere, not on Earth. Mars is both closer to the asteroid belt and farther away from solar radiation than the Moon, which makes it an attractive proposition.
you're right, I was giving him more credit than he deserves
Sure there are problems to solve. But no one is going to bother solving them until there is a very good reason to. Such endeavors provide the reason. Whether by man or by nature, the land on Earth will eventually become un-farmable. We may lose our built in radiation shield. Wouldn’t faster transportation be nice? How about water in places where there simply is none? This stuff has to be solved eventually - working on it to make Mars a reality will extend our lease here, perhaps by centuries or millennia. Not to mention all the commercially viable developments which happen on the way, making BIG MONEY for the big corps who only care about short term quarterly gains. Without the Apollo missions computers would not be what they are today, and likely no internet. It’s incredible what came out of the space race, and we need another one. Or technology will stagnate and no more wealth can be created (only moved from one pocket to another).
Let’s not forget the substantial difference in travel time to the relative destinations using currently available technology. At less than 2 weeks, Apollo 17 is I believe the longest duration human mission outside of the Van Allen belts.
IINM, even with impeccably precise timing of launch windows and no technical issues, the shortest one way trip to Mars - available only every 26months, is estimated to take a minimum of 80 days; orbital mechanics* is such a bitch.
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IINM, even with impeccably precise timing of launch windows and no technical issues, the shortest one way trip to Mars - available only every 26months, is estimated to take a minimum of 80 days; orbital mechanics* is such a bitch.
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Indeed, who’s game to volunteer for that totally uncontrolled and -literally - astronomically expensive lab experiment.
Even thorough testing of any survivors of such a singular event, or long term exposures, can’t possibly assess the potential generational effects of almost certain genetic damage.
While not anywhere as deeply entrenched in the sci-fi genre as some, I can still enjoy a decent tale; but i think the magic technologies that defy our current understandings are nothing more than fanciful macguffins.
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How soft we have become. 😀 It will be slow, it will be dangerous, and there will be tragic accidents. There will be people who will happily sign up. 400 years ago people sailed in rickety little sailing ships across vast stretches of open sea, in what was their equivalent unknown, the sea is hardly a friendly place for people with none of the modern navigation aids, technology and structural materials we all take for granted. (Think of those later early voyages to places like Australia and New Zealand in the 18th century which would have had similar time scales to a trip to Mars I guess.)
I guess we will see in the coming years. I don't think I will live long enough to see a colony on mars with a projected time line about 25 years out, but possibly there will be a manned flight by 2030?
Shielding is going to be an issue, no real doubt about that.
I guess we will see in the coming years. I don't think I will live long enough to see a colony on mars with a projected time line about 25 years out, but possibly there will be a manned flight by 2030?
Shielding is going to be an issue, no real doubt about that.
I don't think we have become soft. Unlike 50 years ago where technology was more or less considered a solution to our problems, we now know there are consequences. When was the last time the average person dipped a cup in a local stream and took a drink? I live adjacent to one of the five Great Lakes, 20% of the worlds fresh water and most people buy bottled water to drink. If someone does drink water from the tap, it's usually filtered. We are the lucky ones. Just think of the people that have to carry jugs of water for a mile or two. There's a problem to solve, Mr. Musk.
The reason technology has many of its “consequences” is that for the most part it has stalled and people/companies chose to take the easy/immediately profitable way out. One result is most of the surface water being toxic, among others.
I completely agree with that but the one thing technology will never solve is greed. But maybe that's where AI comes in.
AI wont solve greed either. Only ethics and values will, and I’m afraid that starship has sailed.
And remember what Quark said about technology development in the episode “Little Green Men”.
And remember what Quark said about technology development in the episode “Little Green Men”.
Talk about prescience. And having the entire Martian planet to themselves.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morlock
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morlock
If I was the richest man on earth and nothing else I can have here, then why not dabble with the impossible, he is a typical South African, dare where no one has gone. Go for it Elon, you don't have to be liked, do what you feel is an achievement no one else could afford or even dream of.