General Discussion

struggle4progress

(125,900 posts)

18. We aren't sending a manned mission to Mars in the lifetime of anyone now alive

Thu Sep 29, 2016, 11:40 AM

Sep 2016

The direct costs, and the actual cost of the information obtained, would be prohibitive

The Apollo program cost about $110 billion in current dollars. Missions 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17 -- which actually involved moonwalks -- required about 2 person-months of life-support. A round-trip to Mars with a 6 person crew involves about 126 months of life support. The life support is the major cost, so crudely we might estimate the Mars mission would cost around 7 trillion in current dollars or about 12X current US defense spending

Getting the one-ton Curiosity Rover onto the surface of Mars cost around $2.5 billion. The trip took over 8 months, during which time NO life support was needed. It has now been collecting data for some years, during which time NO life support has been needed

Robotic exploration is practical and affordable

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

32 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Fucking Buzz Aldrin! [View all] longship Sep 2016 OP

What is the problem? exboyfil Sep 2016 #1

Posting from my iPhone often results in an empty post. longship Sep 2016 #3

He's a funny guy jberryhill Sep 2016 #2

I am too afraid to go on most amusement park rides. longship Sep 2016 #4

To the moon, Sibrel! Orrex Sep 2016 #5

I condone violence in this instance. Glassunion Sep 2016 #6

And justly deserved! nt longship Sep 2016 #7

Bart should take some time and listen... Especially the closing chorus Glassunion Sep 2016 #8

Awesome Buzz madokie Sep 2016 #9

When you're his age and can still cold cock an asshole, why not? Stinky The Clown Sep 2016 #16

What a disgrace exboyfil Sep 2016 #26

grow his hair long and he would look just like Willie Nelson. Javaman Sep 2016 #10

When one rolls 18 on charisma, how can one not love him? longship Sep 2016 #11

I thought the use of the f word was perjorative exboyfil Sep 2016 #27

Indeed. He is all that and more. nt longship Sep 2016 #29

Belt AND suspenders Brother Buzz Sep 2016 #12

The person one wants to go to space with! longship Sep 2016 #13

Buzz learned NASA's redundancies well. Brother Buzz Sep 2016 #14

Hell yeah! Buzz!!! NT Adrahil Sep 2016 #15

I was privileged to spend some time with Buzz over a weekend a few years ago onenote Sep 2016 #17

We aren't sending a manned mission to Mars in the lifetime of anyone now alive struggle4progress Sep 2016 #18

Well, NASA seems to be intent on going to Mars. longship Sep 2016 #19

This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague Sep 2016 #23

;-) longship Sep 2016 #24

This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague Sep 2016 #21

Them whats gots noodles gonna use em struggle4progress Sep 2016 #25

I agree but it is still cool to dream exboyfil Sep 2016 #28

2nd on the moon, but 1st to pee on it Nevernose Sep 2016 #20

This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague Sep 2016 #22

No kidding. Ellen Forradalom Sep 2016 #30

He is a... deathrind Sep 2016 #31

reminds me a bit of George C Scott... MFM008 Sep 2016 #32