Mars One

Mission

It is Mars One's goal to establish a human settlement on Mars.

"Human settlement of Mars is the next giant leap for humankind. Exploring the solar system as a united humanity will bring us all closer together.
Mars is the stepping stone of the human race on its voyage into the universe. Human settlement on Mars will aid our understanding of the origins of the solar system, the origins of life and our place in the universe. As with the Apollo Moon landings, a human mission to Mars will inspire generations to believe that all things are possible, anything can be achieved."

Would you, dear forum member, be interested in a one way trip to Mars?
Maybe current responsibilities prevent that commitment. Family, friends, work, council tax arrears, a lifetime ticket to Aston Villa. But do you have any ideas that could be contributed and hopefully adopted to make life easier for those who are ultimately chosen.

What if the Sanctum Zone started an Indigoogoo campaign to fund a forum mission to Mars how would we do it - and would it be better than the Mars One effort?
How about another scenario: A space race between SZ and the TPV - Who would ultimately succeed?

Partly tongue in cheek or humorous but also an opportunity to float serious ideas on a subject that combines the need for sound technology with a grand imperative to get the psychology right - else all will be for naught.

Is it feasible? Their way or the SZ way.

Here: www.mars-one.com/mission/roadmap

They would have to terraform , possibly by redirecting water heavy asteroids into collision with Mars and a hell of a lot at that before considering any one way trips as life is not sustainable there long term. The atmosphere is too thin and they'd be looking at cancer even if they had plenty of food and water. The asteroid collisions over time could build up the atmosphere.

Return trips should be possible with the right windows. The tech isn't beyond us, it's the money which would be a barrier.

I find the whole subjecrt fascinating Andy.
But like you I have reservations. You picked up on the water aspect and I would agree that it is an important factor that seems to have been overlooked. OK it exists in sufficient quantities (or does it? - I'm no expert but I haven't seen any definitive science for that yet)
Regarding a protective atmosphere: Could Mars missions carry sufficient protection against long term exposure to nasty rays from space?
Building up the atmosphere: Would it be possible? Consider the lack of a significant magnetic field on Mars; to permanently lock a gaseous field around the planet needs a rotating, molten iron core - which seems to be lacking...as far as I know. Will any artificial atmosphere eventually just be whisked off into space.
I agree we have the Tech. Finance is a whole new game and has its own freaky eccentricities. But I also believe the psychology of exploration in a new epoch will be the deciding factor. I look to history for the pointers. And the deciding factor, success or failure, in colonisation, always seems to rest on the shoulders of the colonists themselves rather thand Tech or Finance,

I meant to use water heavy asteroid collisions to increase the atmosphere not water specifically.
It is poss to make temporary inflatable habs but not long term, CO2 scrubbing will only work so long.
The best option would be to dig underground. It'd be like making a base on the moon I'd expect similar concerns.

andyh wrote:
What about a subsurface habitat that is powered by surface photelectric energy gathering tech.
A subsurface community would have the benefit of protection (from naughty rays) by X metres of geology but artificial light (provided by surface solar panels etc) supplying a subterranean community.
In other words; would the community benefit from a Cargo shipment of (banned) sun bed UV lighting strip tubes. (Large)

Solar power would be fine but you'd need improved panels and some way of cleaning martian dust off them automatically.

The Mars One project seems to have solved that problem (dust on the solar panels) Andy.

---

The Rover for the Mars One mission is not a scientific Rover. It is a capable and powerful tool, with a robotic hand to carry out a wide variety of tasks. The Rover is accompanied by a trailer, which is used to transport landing modules and for power generation.

In contrast to the scientific rovers dispatched to Mars to date, the Mars One Rovers' tasks will be focused more on utility, the deployment and maintenance of the human Settlement on Mars:

Autonomous travel to locate the most suitable location for settlement.
Measure the amount of water in the soil.
Move the Landers to the preferred locations on the trailer.
Remove protective panels from the Landers.
Unroll and lay down the thin film solar panels.
Extract (from the Lander) and assist with inflation of the Living Unit.
Connect the air tube between the Life Support Unit and the Living Unit.
Deposit soil in the Support Unit for water extraction and remove the dry soil.

---

I also remember reading that these rover vehicles would clean the solar panels but don't have a link at the mo.
I don't know how realistic their solutions are but its a start of sorts.

I can confirm that the Martians would view such attempts as 'invasion' and likely retaliate.

They are a quiet bunch, generally, but you really don't want to go pissing them off by erecting tents in their back gardens. Not unless they ask you to do so, which they never would, as they're a bit mardy like that.

This endeavour is doomed. DOOMED I tells ya!

However, I do vote we send sketti up first, just to be on safe side. I mean, what have we got to lose?

LOL Abs - I expect this response sums up a Martian response:

"You can't invade us, we fucking live here, you barstards"

Colonialism: The Cunning Use of Flags by Eddie Izzard

Make sure we send Psketti up with a flag, that should do it