This Is Only a Test
April 11th, 2003 - 11:28 am
Russia is going to simulate a voyage to Mars by confining six cosmonauts for 500 days in a simulated space craft. They will be accompanied by three tons of water and five tons of food, and all the life support equipment they would have on such a voyage. The simulated spacecraft will contain 4500 square feet. Russian officials feel that, if the Russian economy keeps growing, it might be possible to launch a crew to Mars in 2018. Russia is willing to accept a foreign (probably American) crew member for this test.
Now let’s stap some nuclear-powered rockets to that baby and go.
As for the American crew member to particiapate, I have the perfect suggestion:
Senator Hilary Clinton!
(Your story reminded me of the Vaughn Meader “First Family” album about the Kennedy’s in the White House. At a “news conference” Kennedy(Meader) is asked:
When will we send a man to the moon?
Kennedy: Whenever Senator Goldwater wants to go.)
I’ve been reading “The Case For Mars” by Zubrin, fascinating pitch of his Mars Direct theory that can put us on the surface within 10 years, for only $50 billion, with technology available now. He also says the trip can be done in 180 days, with an extended stay on the surface. Fascinating book if you are into that kind of stuff
Is there anyone else who feels guilty for secretly rooting for the Russians and the Chinese to actually be successful with there new space ambitions? It seems competition is the only way for our space program to get off it’s keester.
I don’t feel guilty as much as I feel ashamed. And my enthusiasm for other nations’ programs is hardly a secret. That being said, I’ve little doubt that we could build a kick-ass space program if we were really put to it. Some competition in that field is just the thing to get us kick-started. It’s sure a hell of a lot less messy than the other possible trigger — the Doomsday Asteroid ™.
One element of the Russian effort that’s not mentioned is radiation exposure. Are they going to point an x-ray source at the capsule for the duration? Those are the effects that I’m really worried about.
Remember that in space the walls and the ceiling count towards the 4500 square feet.
Atlas 3 rocket launches from Cape Canaveral
A Lockheed Martin Atlas 3B rocket has launched a telecommunications satellite to serve the Asia-Pacific region. The rocket roared away from its Cape Canaveral launch pad at 8:47 p.m. EDT (0047 GMT).
Mars-smars…..this is money in the ank.
Ed
500 days in zero G? They’d be cripples when they got there and hospital cases on return. Until bone loss is fixed once and for all it’s a show stopper.
500 days in a 4500 sqft tank? Bah…that’s just three Westpac submarine deployments! Piece of cake!