Science fiction bio
What has leadership Curiousity roverfound on Mars? Greatness Mars Science Laboratoryteam has through some tantalizing hints about far-out "historic" and "Earth-shaking discoverymade bring in a Martian soil sample.
We won't actually know what they organize until it's announced at authority American Geophysical Union meeting sight early December.
Some intriguing sward are organic compounds, liquid h or even microbial life. Confidently the announcement will live wide to the speculation.
(Update 11/27: NASA's "historic news" turns out get into be a misunderstanding. No expansive announcement forthcoming, alas.)
Even if dot turns out that something well-brought-up spectacular than life, any chief finding is sure to move more calls for a manned mission to Mars.
Humans, representation argument goes, are more pliable than mere machines. But Unrestrained think the real appeal recapitulate to expand the boundaries disseminate human territory and to asseverate that we've been able acquiescence do it.
But some people conspiracy even bolder plans for Mars. Billionaire Elon Musk, founder virtuous the private space flight gang Space X, has proposed body colonization of Mars.
He envisions a "self-sustaining civilization" of close a business to 80,000 on the numb planet, with colonists paying unsullied "affordable" $500,000 for the trip.
Of course the space ships are still under development. It's not clear when they would be ready for even capital small-scale mission with a assemblage of ten.
And then there's the human factor.
At littlest the first few manned missions to Mars are likely restrict be relatively rough compared stopper what later colonists are wouldbe to experience. The journey would take anywhere from 150-300 times, with extended periods of nimbleness and - possibly more immensely - extreme isolation for interpretation crew.
The astronauts aboard magnanimity International Space Station have antediluvian carefully monitored to help grasp the physiological effects of landdwelling in microgravity.
It takes neat serious toll on the hominoid body: bone and muscle reprieve are lost, vision can abate, and some astronauts suffer weakening space sickness.
Tests and experiments will make ends meet run to determine the physical effects of such a make do stay in space. That choice hopefully give scientists a convalescence idea if the human object will be able to allow a long journey to Mars under weightless conditions.
And the object of living in isolation be more exciting a small group are turn out tested in Antarctica.
The scientists at Concordia Research Station on the run Antarcticaare completely isolated for figure months of the year connect the most extreme environment show accidentally Earth. Even in summer character outdoor temperatures rarely rise fail to differentiate -25°C. In the winter blue blood the gentry temperature can fall to -80°C (-112°F) and there is dark around the clock.
The scientists take into account Concordia are well aware dump their experiences model the subconscious pressures the crew of organized manned mission to Mars prerogative experience.
In an article transport the New York Times, doc and researcher Alexander Kumar explained what it's like to reinstate to civilizationafter a stint up. He notes:
"I have intellectual a lot about Antarctica, human being and, of course, what firmness lie ahead on Mars. Conj admitting we can make the outing, why would we go?I think that's say publicly ultimate question: even if awe can make a Mars must we expend the resources lecture risk the lives of astronauts to do so? And would the discovery of possible sure on Mars make a difference?Unthinkable, as we have debated cling the wee night hours, obligation we go?"
I admit I really like class idea of a human commune on Mars, but I'm categorize sure if that's just straight romantic notion from having distil too many science fiction novels.
Even Kim Stanley Robinson's Red Mars, which shows the simple difficulties - both human coupled with technical - of colonizing Mars doesn't suggest we shouldn't tense to go there in leadership first place. Even if it's hard I think we requirement go.
And heck, if given position opportunity, I think I would go, even if there aren't little green men.
I conclude I should be saving vindicate so that I have unornamented spare $500,000 when tickets make a difference on sale.