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In reply to the discussion: Dennis Tito To Announce Private Human Mars Mission [View all]longship
(40,416 posts)25. I love the Lagrangian point solutions!
The interplanetary superhighway!
Before putting people on any planet, we ought to build a permanent outpost at the Earth-Moon L2 point. Energy requirements would be minimal (to keep it there). It is a stable location where we could learn how to build things, even really big things.
It is accessible from Earth, so supply missions would be within reach. And because the Lagrange points are connected, it would form an on ramp to just about any destination in the solar system. As long as you don't mind a long trip. But it wouldn't take a lot of fuel; just time. Maybe we can raise chickens for eggs.
Good eaten, both chickens and eggs. But what will we do for bacon and hash browns?
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"robotics to set up shelter" is not something that's been available for 20 years
muriel_volestrangler
Feb 2013
#17
Solar sails and electric propulsion have never carried anything as large as a human capsule
muriel_volestrangler
Feb 2013
#26
For that, you'll either need an active planetary core or a STAR WARS-type magnetic field
derby378
Feb 2013
#45
Some kind of 'global government' will be needed to set rules if we do start colonizing other
pampango
Feb 2013
#40
The more I think about it, the more I expect the UN not to be involved in such a process.
Bucky
Feb 2013
#41
So very cool trip to Mars, though I wish they would set-up on the floor of our Oceans first.
Sunlei
Feb 2013
#37
There's a country in North Africa where a bunch of people would like to send their President to Mars
slackmaster
Feb 2013
#42