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Town Hall
Let's Get Some Mars (January 2011)
You read all about the pros and cons (and, don't forget, the impossibilities) of a mission to Mars in this month's article, "To Mars or Not?" Now it's time for you to weigh in. When do you think humans will make it to Mars? What will it be like when we get there? Think sensory: touch, smells, sights, sounds (?), tastes (??). Or should we just forget about it and concentrate on our own planet?
And if/when humans do achieve a mission to Mars--are you going to be on that space flight?
I think that with-n 200 years the humans will get to my home in Outerspaceolopolis, Mars. Love your mag!
(January 5, 2011 - 9:51 pm)
I think we will never make it to mars. It is far away, and we are not in the situation to fund that sort of project. If we got there, I would assume it would be dry, feel like the inside of a space suit, taste like the inside of a space suit, smell like the inside of a space suit, and sound like a scratchy radio in our ear (which it is). But we should just forget about it. Overpopulation is not a problem. Texas, Antarctica, and the West aren't stuffed. Have you seen how big they are? It isn't a problem. Yet. But a few people might go there one day. I would never be on that flight. I would be the chicken in the support room shouting "NO GO! NO GO!" and freaking out. I would be the brains, not the brawn! The only person I positively know would be on that flight (possibly sabotaging?) would be Kokopelli. I wouldn't go on, because it would be very sticky. . .
PostScript:It would taste like space food.
(January 8, 2011 - 7:27 pm)
I agree, it would be hard, but I definetly do not think it is impossible. How many people thought going to the moon would be impossible? I'm not sure if it's a good idea RIGHT NOW, but in around ten years... I would not be the one getting space sick, I would be the one going "EWEWEWEWEWEWEW" every time someone gets space sick, hiding in a corner somewhere trying not to get near anyone. Yes, I am that scared of vomit. So... I'm not going to Mars, but in 2020 maybe someone else will!
(January 9, 2011 - 9:46 am)
I totally agree with you about the funding! By the way, I too would be the chicken in the support room.(:(:
(January 9, 2011 - 5:02 pm)
Really, well I think we will never make it to mars. It is far away, and we are not in the situation to fund that sort of project. If we got there, I would assume it would be dry, feel like the inside of a space suit, taste like the inside of a space suit, smell like the inside of a space suit, and sound like a scratchy radio in our ear (which it is). But we should just forget about it. Overpopulation is not a problem. Texas, Antarctica, and the West aren't stuffed. Have you seen how big they are? It isn't a problem. Yet. But a few people might go there one day. I would never be on that flight. I would be the chicken in the support room shouting "NO GO! NO GO!" and freaking out. I would be the brains, not the brawn! The only person I positively know would be on that flight (possibly sabotaging?) would be Kokopelli. I wouldn't go on, because it would be very sticky. . .
PostScript: It would taste like space food.
Please don't copy and paste text from Word documents here. It creates a lot of gobbledegook that we have to fix. Thank you! --Ed.
(February 3, 2011 - 9:28 am)
going to mars would be interesting but i dont think we should be concentrating on that right now. if we save our planet we wouldent even have to live on mars or learn about mars or care about mars.
(January 9, 2011 - 3:18 pm)
yeah but just in case....
(January 16, 2011 - 3:49 pm)
hmmm...Maybe I can be the first cat on mars.........
(January 9, 2011 - 4:15 pm)
nope. dogs will.
(January 16, 2011 - 3:51 pm)
i think that humans shouldn't go to Mars. Why? Because the people who would have to go on the Mars mission would have to go through years of nothing, but working and living in a space ship! Plus I think some things such as Mars are better left mysteries.
(January 9, 2011 - 4:51 pm)
If we are planning to go to another planet why not fix ours first? Why pollute another planet if we don't fix ours first? Then we would jusst have two gradually dying planets. So before you go to Mars, fix your own home first. don't pollute the home of the supposed martians.
(January 9, 2011 - 4:56 pm)
I agree. I mean, why should we start polluting other planets if we can't even fix this one?
(January 11, 2011 - 9:20 pm)
yeah thats the spirit.
(January 13, 2011 - 8:21 am)
yup.
(January 16, 2011 - 3:53 pm)
Totally! I so agree. everyone is all like, "We gotta get to Mars 'cause earths gonna get like in Wall-E and we're gonna die" so why dont we just TAKE CARE OF THE PLANET?!
P.S. Note that was an interrobang... I LOVE YOU MUSE!
(January 27, 2011 - 6:56 pm)
A warning to you do not go to Mars! The martians will secretly sneak back onto your space ship and consume all the Cheetos on Earth! Save our Cheetos! How do I know? I am writing this in the future.
(January 9, 2011 - 4:59 pm)
Umm you are aware that it says you posted this commet in january of 2011 witch is in the PAST just sayin
(January 12, 2012 - 8:07 pm)
well i must confes that the idia of going into space is a remarcoble idea. but it is as equily hard to echeve. there are so many costs to doing so and it tackes a lot of dedication. space travle is expesive, wether it's to the moon or to mars it's expesive. amerika is not in a finatial positon were they can make such an investment. and since space travle it not vittle, at least not yet, the likly hood that a mition of such porportions shal hapen in the near fucher wre is always the posobiill hapen is near zip. yet thelity of it hapening for amerika has the tecnolagy. there are so many factors to consider, ohwell, maby one day
(January 10, 2011 - 7:55 pm)
Well, I guess it's no secret that I'm pro-space based on my Muserology...
This April will mark 50 years since Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space. I think that people will walk on Mars before the hundredth anniversary, in 2061.
We've already begun the necessary planning for a trip to Mars.
We've had people in space continuously for 10 years on the International Space Station, where we're learning how to fix the radiation and bone loss problems.
By building the station itself, we've shown that many nations can collaborate on a space project, making cost less of an issue. (It's too expensive for any one nation to undertake alone, anyway.) And we've proved that we can assemble a large structure in orbit around the Earth, piece-by-piece.
We've started simulations on Earth to see how people get along under these conditions. (And people have spent the winter at bases in Antarctica under similar conditions for decades without many problems.)
And we've tested plasma rocket engines that could cut the trip in half from six months to three. This year or next, one will be tested on the space station to see how it functions in actual space conditions.
And along the way, who knows what we'll find? In the 1970s, scientists studying the atmospheres of Mars and Venus discovered that dust kicked up by asteroid impacts or nuclear explosions could create a long-term winter effect that would kill crops and cause mass starvation. They reported on this nuclear winter effect, which led to arms reduction treaties being passed.
The same thing happened with the discovery of Venus' massive greenhouse effect. A doctor trying to cure a disease in one patient looks at previous studies done with people who had the same disease to recommend a medicine. If we want to fix pollution in our planet's atmosphere, it'll be easier if we understand how the atmosphere of other planets work, so we can compare conditions.
But we need a commitment. Governments can change their minds about these issues if the people, especially young people, don't show that they care. So it's up to all of us if we want to make an expedition to Mars happen. We've got to make it happen.
Who's with me?
(January 11, 2011 - 1:54 pm)
Is that you? YOUR MUSEROLOGY WAS AMAZING!!!!!! I'm your biggest fan, girl!
(January 18, 2011 - 1:05 pm)
Yup, it's me. Thanks!
(January 20, 2011 - 8:15 pm)
That was a LONG post, KaiYves...
(January 27, 2011 - 6:58 pm)
I'm with you there
(February 19, 2012 - 11:36 am)
NO! NO! NO MARS! NO MARS! WHAT ABOUT OUR OWN PLANET WHO'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT ATMOSPHERE IS DISINTEGRATING BEFORE OUR OWN VERY EYES?!?! SHOULDN'T WE SAVE IT?! THERE ARE LIVING THINGS ON THIS PLANET! AND, ACCORDING TO ALL THE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH DONE ON MARS, THAT'S MORE THAN MARS CAN SAY! SAVE THE EARTH! SAVE THE EARTH! SAVE THE EARTH! SAVE THE EARTH!
(January 15, 2011 - 8:29 am)
okeydokey P.S. mars rules
(January 16, 2011 - 3:59 pm)
And what if going to Mars will help us save the Earth?
(January 18, 2011 - 8:25 am)
What if I turned into a squirrel and danced the Thriller? My point is, that is a what if question. And I respond to it with one word: HOW?
(January 19, 2011 - 5:26 pm)
YES! YES! YES MARS!!!!!
(January 18, 2011 - 1:07 pm)
I really think we will make it to mars.soon too! buti don't think i'llbe on it.(archeaology guy.)P.S.love this magazine
(January 16, 2011 - 3:46 pm)
DO NOT POLLUTE MARS. OR KOKOPELLI WILLMAKE TOXIC SLUDGE PIES!
(January 16, 2011 - 3:57 pm)
I think we should not go to mars because when (not if) the space shuttle runs out of fuel we will have to fill out a lot of paperwork and that would not be fun.
(January 16, 2011 - 4:57 pm)
We will get to mars because it is a dream that must be achieved!
(January 17, 2011 - 4:54 pm)
Why is your name purplel? do you like purple?
(January 27, 2011 - 7:00 pm)
I think that we should go to Mars. I read all the comments put up before before this, and a lot of them say that we shouldn't go to Mars because we need to save our planet first. How does that have anything to do with going to Mars? I don't oppose saving our planet at all, but can't we do that and send humans to Mars at the same time?
(January 18, 2011 - 4:19 pm)
I agree with you Katie. If we send humans to Mars, that means less people on Earth, which means less pollution, less need for buildings and cities, less need for food, less monocultivation...And who says we would pollute Mars, anyway? What if the humans who go there are very careful and don't pollute?
(January 19, 2011 - 3:47 pm)
Yes, but my point is, that our Earth problem is bigger than it seems.
(January 19, 2011 - 5:27 pm)
I know what the earth problems are. And I still think we could go to Mars and fix that stuff at the same time.
(January 19, 2011 - 7:55 pm)
I agree withwhat Katie G. is saying.
What are thegreat challenges faced by our species today? I think most people would agreethat the list would include the monitoring and preservation of our environment, the feeding of the hungry, the minimizing of the effects of natural disasters,the improvement of medicine, the education of the young and the prevention ofwar. All of these challenges are tied into the larger goal of ensuring ourspecies survives.
How can spaceflight help us with those goals?
With satellites, we can find information on arable land, watersheds, climate and weather prediction to help farmers grow more food. We can track the flow of ocean currents and find the best places to fish. We can see and react to the calving of ice shelves in Antarctica, the increasing deforestation in Africa, and the spread of oil spills such as the one in the Gulf of Mexico this summer in real time and determine the next areas that will be in danger. We can find buried water sources in areas suffering from droughts. We can track animals to understand their migration patterns and how our own activities may effect those. We can measure the amounts of greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere and the size of the ozone hole in Antarctica. We can predict the path of hurricanes in time for evacuation warnings to be issued. We can obtain quick, accurate assessments of the damage to an area after a natural disaster to aid rescue workers. With GPS systems, lost people can find their way back home, and distress signals can be quickly pinpointed and responded to.
We can learn about our body and its systems, and the devices and treatments we create to help keep our Mars voyagers healthy can benefit the lives of the sick and injured here on Earth. We can discover how to keep people sane, calm, and healthy in a confined spaceship, and we can apply those same lessons in a Chilean mine. We can make sure people know what science is capable of and inspire more children to study it.
We can pool our resources with other nations to work on space projects and realize we aren't so different after all. We can create joint missions that that thaw Cold Wars and help stave off nuclear apocalypse. Ex-fighter pilots can find themselves serving on a space station with people they were trained to shoot down. This greater spirit of cooperation between nations can ensure that the increased amounts of food we produce can get to those who need it and that aid can cross borders when natural disasters strike. We can show the people of the world images of how small, fragile and unique our planet is and unwittingly ignite social movements that lead to campaigns for disarmament and environmental protection laws.
We can discover the magnitude of threats like greenhouse warming, ozone depletion, nuclear winter, solar superstorms and flares, and asteroid and comet impacts that we may not even have considered without data from space.
We can land on and divert the orbit of asteroids to ensure they do not impact our planet. We can establish colonies on other worlds so that even if such unthinkable events do occur, somewhere, humans will survive. We can harvest solar energy in Earth orbit, where the sun shines 24/7 and no atmosphere dims the full power of the sun's radiation.
All of these things except those mentioned in the last paragraph have already occurred, and those are fully possible according to our present knowledge of physics and engineering. All of these previous things are done by the space programs of various nations. In the United States, NASA manages to preform all of these functions every year on one tenth of one percent of the total federal budget and the equivalent of one precent of the defense budget.
We can do all of these things with one tenth of one percent. Imagine what we could do with more.
(January 21, 2011 - 9:49 pm)
Could an editor kindly get rid of the strange junk that happened at the top of my post when I pasted it in from Word? Thank you.
Oops, didn't notice that. Please don't post from Word! It makes strange junk happen, as you now know. Thanks! --Ed.
(January 22, 2011 - 6:55 pm)
Much long, no?
And don't get me started on the typos! But If you were considering it, I would not hesitate to support you in your [maybe] goal to become head of NASA. It would suit you. Maybe you could convince them to keep the Space shuttle.
Yeah, it's possible, but only after we get out of this economy and people have a renewed interest in space missions. The fire seems to have died, and people only care a little.
Please don't copy and paste text here; just type your comments directly in. Thanks! --Ed.
(February 3, 2011 - 11:22 am)
A short,short time ago...I thought that we would never make it to Mars! But as I research it like my favorite muse, Urania, I saw at NASA's website that we might make it to Mars at 2022!!!!!!!!!! I would luv to do that! I LOVE YOUR MAGAZINE!
Peace to all the muses and Urania And the Editors,
Kerstin A.
(January 29, 2011 - 2:12 pm)
I can go to Mars every day. My miniature Mars diorama is big enough for me to walk on it. Remember I'm 2 inches and 1 centimeter.
(February 3, 2011 - 9:47 am)
I have already been to Mars. Remember, I am really from Planet Astrexia in the Andromeda Galaxy...
(February 18, 2011 - 3:56 pm)
if youve read The Ilistrated Man by Ray Bradbury, i garente you, you wouldn't go into space.
if youre reading it stop now, spolyer alert
these astronots are in space and there ship stalls and there left flowting helples in space. they are all flowting in the empty blacknes with a limited suply of air, but they can talk to eachother by means of phone. there all faling in difrent derections, some are screaming so the others can't talk, one man kills the guy who is screaming becse he knowes that there all going to die eventuly. astroyds zip through space and rip of lims if you get in there way. all of them eventuly can no longer talk to echother and they all fall in difrent derections. one lone astrenot berns up in earths atmesfear. Thosens of miled below peaple look up and say look a shooting star, and unbenownst to them they make a wish on a berning astronot.
eversince i herd that story i dont wish on shouting stars.
(March 3, 2011 - 5:59 pm)