Recent content by Fission

Even worse, assuming we establish a colony on Mars. The movie "The Martian" is probably a realistic portrayal of what the colony might be unprepared for and what might happen. Many have suggested that establishing a colony would be a suicidal mission. with no chance of rescue. Hollywood can...

Well, if a lunar space station is necessary to support the Artemis program, that will push up the cost probably by hundreds of billions of dollars. As the true cost of this program accelerates, we need to ask up front what the goals of the program are and an outside audit of the projected...

Of course, choices have to be made when preparing a budget. It cannot include everything we might think of. However, it is worth noting the the project to return astronauts to the Moon and then on to Mars with a Martian colony punches a pretty big hole in the budget. Unfortunately, the value...

I strongly support space exploration but, at this point in time, only on a robotic basis which provides far more information per dollar spent. I find it infinitely frustrating that, with all the problems on Earth, there is such a strong push to spend trillions of dollars on a sci-fi fantasy...

Let's accept that there are certain on the ground activities on a alien planet that humans might do better than a robot. Especially if you given the human an alien motor vehicle to get around. The trouble is, the humans need an extensive support network in order to do the work of exploration...

I am not surprised. Although busy, the astronauts are subjected to sensory deprivation. "Astronaut Frank Rubio holds the NASA record for the single longest spaceflight at 371 days." The Mars mission contemplates a journey of at least 3 years and probably for the resent of the colonists lifetime...

You clearly capture the problem: "we would not be going to the moon, or Mars, or beyond until you and I were long dead." If one examines the issue of space exploration you would come to the conclusion that is the best outcome possible. You obviously are all in on the boondoggle which means: "a...

Thank you for the reminder that what has driven us to explore outer space is the search for knowledge. What exactly is out there when we look up at the heavens. There is so much yet to explore. Unfortunately, NASA appears to have sold out to commercial interests that promote colonization of the...

How about an atmospheric layer that blocks sunlight but traps heat. Boils the surface like Venus. Allows excess UV radiation to reach the surface and chokes off life.

Is it even wise to mine others planets? I am totally biased by the movies Total Recall and Avatar. And what happens when the off Earth resources dry up? When does that process end. I am a strong believer in the scientific exploration of space and the development of near Earth applications (but...

I agree that space exploration, not colonization, is a worthy goal. But that is done far better and at less expense by robots. NASA had been doing a great job on the scientific end before the survivalists took control. Speaking of an Earth to come home to, "a single SpaceX rocket flight...

As I mentioned, the manufacturing component is at attractive investment for any NASA connected contracts. They are guaranteed by the government. Contracts for new generations of rockets capable of the mission, capsules, housing on Mars have already been signed. Mission support is probably more...

Establishing a human presence on Mars has been actively pursued by NASA which has pushed the idea that humankind might destroy the Earth and this is the back-up plan. That is described as ""naively optimistic". I see that argument as ignorant. If we turn the Earth into a barren, toxic planet...

This has been the case for urban viewers for decades. I live about 160 miles from NYC and have had good enough viewing to see comets with the naked eye. Now the fires in Canada have obliterated almost all stars. But, apart from the immediate sense of loss there is another issue that may be even...

This used to be a topic for comics or science fiction. Aliens who had wrecked their own world colonizing ours. I believe that Neil Armstrong justified the Mars colonization project on just those grounds. The idea is ridiculous! Anything we wish to know about other planets can be learned far...