Space Policy: Why Mars should be our top priority.

On Sun, 12 Apr 2009 21:40:33 -0500, Jorge R. Frank wrote:

Marvin the Martian wrote:
Tired of all the flame wars? Insane posts? Off topic postings?

Want to try a moderated forum?

Then Get your ass to Mars!

http://OnToMar.org/forum/

A new forum where you can discuss space policy, particularly if you
understand why Mars, and not the moon, should be our immediate goal of
our space program.
http://www.ontomars.org/blog/?m=200903

Why the Moon isn’t a Stepping Stone to Mars

Mars has an atmosphere however thin, the moon doesn’t. A Mars day is 24
hours and 40 minutes, a moon day is about 14 earth days. Temperatures
are different between Mars and the Moon. The new technologies needed to
go to Mars like the simulated gravity tether and large mass aerobraking
to get to the Mars surface, have nothing to do with the Moon. So, other
than they require totally different technologies, the moon has little
to offer in the way of Mars development.

The moon has one enormous advantage: three day return trajectory from
Earth.

Yes. The place where you have no reason to go is quick to get to. Reminds
me of the joke about the guy who lost his keys in a dark place but looked
for them in the light because it was easier.

That means you can learn long-duration planetary surface operations on
the moon without it killing you like on Mars.

The moon, last I checked, isn't a planet. Its a ... moon.

Mars has twice the gravity, an atmosphere, and a day which is about 24.5
hours long. The moon is quite different.

Crawl before you walk.

Walk before you run.

And spend money on projects with no pay back to maximize contractor
profits.


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http://OnToMars.org For discussions about Mars and Mars colonization