And *nothing* beats it for sheer coolness!

With the possible exception of the deep sea exploration like the Alvin, which while still terrestrial, has the advantage of having found life that might as well be alien.

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They've only done it six times counting Pheonix, and have been the only space agency in the world to do so successfully. How is that not impressive?

It'll cost too much for a Mars colony or heck even to land a few people on Mars, hell I don't even think we'll get that far. Simply because the American public will get fed up with the moonbase first (Since after all, we are going back in 2020).

Why? Is there any profit in it? Why would private industry pour money into something that they can't profit from?

I can't see that they would, either. The payoff from the research involved to too far removed. Even though there have been many commercialized applications originating in the space program, those have been ancillary to the goals of NASA and too serindipitous to count on for profit.

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I am an American. That's the way most of us put it, just matter of factly. They are plain words, those four: you could write them on your thumbnail, or sweep them clear across this bright autumn sky. But remember too, that they are more than just words. They are a way of life. So whenever you speak them, speak them firmly, speak them proudly, speak them gratefully. I am an American. ...a tradition

Indeed, can't wait till the HROV Nereus goes back to the Mariana Trench this year. Kinda crazy, more people have been to the moon than to the bottom of the ocean.

Like Beagle 2?

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Staun ma groon al nae be afraid
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Sweat an bluid hide ma veil awe tears

Not at all; you can fit more people in a moon lander than in one of those tiny subs!
I'd do either, in a heartbeat. I got to see the Alvin, once, docked at Woods Hole.

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"The only abnormality is the incapacity to love"
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In a heartbeat I'd go in space, but not to the depths of the sea. I have issues with "the locker". Someone would have to kidnap me to get me down there.

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I am an American. That's the way most of us put it, just matter of factly. They are plain words, those four: you could write them on your thumbnail, or sweep them clear across this bright autumn sky. But remember too, that they are more than just words. They are a way of life. So whenever you speak them, speak them firmly, speak them proudly, speak them gratefully. I am an American. ...a tradition

I don't see it that way at all, the Bathyscaphe Trieste was the equivalent of the Lunar Module. Both could fit two people, I think the reason we haven't sent humans back to the Trench is clearly because we wish not to.

Never been quiet that north so no such luck, but I've never seen a shuttle launch from KSC either. Both are going to be retired in few years, I have to say I'd choose to see the shuttle of the two. Probably why we haven't been back to Challenger Deep, its easy to take the ocean for granted as its right here waiting for us and thus space exploration is so much more popular.

As for going to the depts of the ocean or into space, sign me up for either.

You do know they're both equally dangerous, depended upon a craft for your ultimate survival right? How can you be okay with spaceflight but not getting in a submarine? If anything, spaceflight is probably more dangerous.

Yup, I know that. Hey, you are asking that rational thought be applied to a phobia? No way. (If one throws clowns in that sub, that would be an instant heart-stopper for me.)

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I am an American. That's the way most of us put it, just matter of factly. They are plain words, those four: you could write them on your thumbnail, or sweep them clear across this bright autumn sky. But remember too, that they are more than just words. They are a way of life. So whenever you speak them, speak them firmly, speak them proudly, speak them gratefully. I am an American. ...a tradition

Wow, that's an interesting mental picture.

Ain't it, though?

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I am an American. That's the way most of us put it, just matter of factly. They are plain words, those four: you could write them on your thumbnail, or sweep them clear across this bright autumn sky. But remember too, that they are more than just words. They are a way of life. So whenever you speak them, speak them firmly, speak them proudly, speak them gratefully. I am an American. ...a tradition

It's not impressive because they could have done more had they put the appropriate effort into it.

It'll only cost too much under current programs. The Xprize showed us that we could reach space for a lot less than NASA spends doing it. Didn't have the same capabilities as NASA's operations but that just means there's room for improvement. Private industry's a lot more concerned with lowering costs than the government is as the $1.60 rolls of toilet paper at the Air Force Base up the road from me can attest.

Tourism. Branson's already prepping to send people into low orbit for more than I've made in my entire life. I'm thinking Mars could be the highest priced resort in the solar system.

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During the journey we commonly forget its goal. Almost every profession is chosen as a means to an end but continued as an end in itself. Forgetting our objectives is the most frequent act of stupidity.
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All good socialists have villas in Southern France. That's not the point.
-Eurosocialist

What exactly is appropriate effort exactly? Sending a manned crew to Mars as soon as possible without learning anything about the planet first?



Lowering costs isn't always a good thing, especially when it comes to compromising safety. Of course I'm not saying Branson would do such a thing, he's rich enough to pour his money into it to make it work. Once space tourism eventually becomes competitive just you wait, the wild west days of private spaceflight are sure to be dangerous. Then of course there is the natural risk involved, a potential disaster could set the industry back for years. Which is why space tourism wont get beyond orbit anytime soon (at least not without the aid of the space agencies. Though that isn't likely to be competitive or sustainable as a result of limited capacity).


Uh huh, but first you know, you have to spend a couple of years pipping potentially billions of dollars in getting everything ready for such a resort. You have after all the spacecraft to get lots of people there, satellites in orbit, high cost employee's, and you have to learn how to build on Mars to weather dust storms and other dangers. Then once you've had your share of accidents, deaths, cost overruns, you've got to recoup those costs and hope it is profitable enough to do so.

Oh, you mean Spaceship 1/2? Hardly impressive, the feathered wing is the only idea that wasn't recycled. Otherwise your talking about a concept that's been around since the 60's as the X-15 program. It made sense that the winning designed used was something that was already proven but Spaceship 1/2 could hardly reach the ISS.

Oh, and speaking of the ISS. Whenever the next private spacecraft comes around with such capability to reach the station, they shouldn't. Unless of course they wish to contribute to the cost of maintaining the ISS. Which so far the tourist who've visited haven't.

Anyway, I think space tourism has a long way to go in just getting to orbit before we even begin to talk about Mars. Besides I don't see space exploration and space tourism at odds, indeed I think space tourism can only benefit from the knowledge that space exploration uncovers. After all, somebody has to set the groundwork, and I doubt private industry wants to pour money into a program that doesn't make them any money.

Well, there isn't that much going on in *most* of the deep ocean. The really cool bits are around the deep sea vents; that's where Alvin generally went (I *think* it's retired, but I'm not sure). The thought of life that is not dependent on the sun gives me shivers. I'd like to see it.

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please click and help the eggs hatch!

"The only abnormality is the incapacity to love"
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