Moon Versus Mars?

Founder of Space Architecture as a Discipline

Can NASA Do the Moon OR Mars Without Losing the Other Constituency?

Here is the challenge and the contradiction. Both the Moon and Mars constituencies are intensely passionate about going to their chosen celestial body. Nearly everyone in each camp sees it as a zero-sum game, e.g.: If we try to go to Mars now, we will never go back to the Moon in my lifetime, versus If we stop to go back to the Moon for the next xx years, we will never send humans to Mars in my lifetime.

Well, I have already accepted that I do not expect to see humans on Mars in my lifetime. http://spacearchitect.org/category/newsletter/interview/ Furthermore, I do not see NASA or any other space agency or organization being capable YET of sending humans to Mars in a safe and sustainable way. That far-reaching objective will not be feasible or possible until we acquire decades of experience of humans living on the Moon. It will require that we test all the technology, systems, and subsystems exhaustively on the Moon before sending them to Mars to support human crews.

Sorry if that may sound pessimistic to some Riot readers, but to me, it is highly optimistic. Here is the official or at least newly minted NASA position: https://aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/nasa-chief-pledges-to-remember-mars-while-shooting-for-moon/

So my question is: can NASA maintain the support of both the Moon and Mars constituencies while pursuing the path that Bridenstine tries to articulate? Who would Forget Mars anyway?

You must log in or sign up to reply

Mikkel R HAAHEIM

Concepts Development, Organisation, Operations Specialist

Agreed. The moon should be a priority objective before Mars. Even this should follow construction of facilities in Earth and lunar orbit. Direct surface to surface missions are fine, but it is always a good idea to have parallel segmented routes. More localised transit systems (ES-EO, EO-LO, LO-LS) will allow for lighter, more dedicated assets with larger payload capacities, as well as increased shipping densities (amount of cargo shipped per unit of time). We should then be systematically extending and reinforcing our colonial infrastructure.

Mikkel R HAAHEIM

Concepts Development, Organisation, Operations Specialist

I do not see why we should not be able to establish a Mars colony within our lifetimes, even after committing to a Moon-first strategy. We just need to be committed to continual development.

Sophie Wilson

Next Mission to Mars Nearly Underway: Insight Launch Window Set For May 2018

They still send probes to Mars to explore more of its surface.

Forrest White

Let it be NASA's main mission - to set a colony on Moon. I believe that SpaceX will implement its idea and surely send people there and by 2030 we could see the first human on Mars and return to the Moon.

Responses

Delete Comment

Delete Post