Cosmic Log - Going to Mars ... on a one-way trip
Will the first explorers to visit Mars come back to Earth? Or does it actually make more sense to leave them there? The idea of sending the Red Planet's first settlers on one-way trips has been kicking around for years, and now two researchers have published a paper in the Journal of Cosmology laying out how such missions could play out between now and 2035.
Collected from: Cosmic Log - Going to Mars ... on a one-way trip
Journal of Cosmology
Journal of Cosmology, 2010, Vol 12, In Press
JournalofCosmology.com, October-November, 2010
The Human Mission to Mars. Colonizing the Red Planet
To Boldly Go: A One-Way Human Mission to Mars
Dirk Schulze-Makuch, Ph.D.1, and Paul Davies, Ph.D.2,
1School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Washington State University
2Beyond Center, Arizona State University
Collected from: Journal of Cosmology
Professors urge one-way Martian colonization missions
Mars is by far the most promising for sustained colonization and development, the authors conclude, because it is similar in many respects to Earth and, crucially, possesses a moderate surface gravity, an atmosphere, abundant water and carbon dioxide, together with a range of essential minerals. It is the Earth's second closest planetary neighbor (after Venus) and a trip to Mars takes about six months using the most favorable launch option and current chemical rocket technology.
"We envision that Mars exploration would begin and proceed for a long time on the basis of outbound journeys only," said Schulze-Makuch. "One approach could be to send four astronauts initially, two on each of two space craft, each with a lander and sufficient supplies, to stake a single outpost on Mars. A one-way human mission to Mars would be the first step in establishing a permanent human presence on the planet."
Collected from: Professors urge one-way Martian colonization missions
SPACE.com -- Mars or Bust! One-Way Trip to the Red Planet Could Kick-start Colonization
But would anyone actually want to sign up for a one-way ticket to Mars? Apparently so.
"Informal surveys conducted after lectures and conference presentations on our proposal, have repeatedly shown that many people are willing to volunteer for a one-way mission, both for reasons of scientific curiosity and in a spirit of adventure and human destiny," the researchers said.
Collected from: SPACE.com -- Mars or Bust! One-Way Trip to the Red Planet Could Kick-start Colonization
- Sources
- Cosmic Log - Going to Mars ... on a one-way trip
- Journal of Cosmology
- Professors urge one-way Martian colonization missions
- SPACE.com -- Mars or Bust! One-Way Trip to the Red Planet Could Kick-start Colonization
- SPACE.com Image Gallery: Mars Base of the Future?
- Related
- One-way Martian colonization missions: Proposal would cut costs dramatically, ensure long-term commitment
- NASA and DARPA Plan ‘Hundred-Year Starship’ To Bring Humans to Other Worlds And Leave Them There Forever | Popular Science
- The case for a one-way manned mission to Mars
- Should We Colonize Mars...One-Way? | The Atlantic Wire
- University Relations - WSU Professor Urges One-Way Martian Colonization Missions
- Mars or bust! One-way trip to the red planet could kick-start colonization | MNN - Mother Nature Network
- Colonization of Mars - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia