Comments on: Buzz Aldrin Speaks Out: Forget the Moon, Let's Head to Mars http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/26/buzz-aldrin-speaks-out-forget-the-moon-lets-head-to-mars/ Mon, 22 Apr 2013 21:34:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Windows 8 Technical Manual http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/26/buzz-aldrin-speaks-out-forget-the-moon-lets-head-to-mars/#comment-9692 Windows 8 Technical Manual Thu, 17 Mar 2011 07:33:35 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/26/buzz-aldrin-speaks-out-forget-the-moon-lets-head-to-mars/#comment-9692 Maybe when Mr. Aldrin comes clean on what the ritual was that he conducted 33 minutes after the Apollo 11 landing was all about, and admits to us what he saw (or admits that he can’t remember what he saw) on the moon, then we’ll pay more attention to what he thinks we should do next. Disclosure now. Maybe when Mr. Aldrin comes clean on what the ritual was that he conducted 33 minutes after the Apollo 11 landing was all about, and admits to us what he saw (or admits that he can’t remember what he saw) on the moon, then we’ll pay more attention to what he thinks we should do next.
Disclosure now.

]]> By: Ed Foster. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/26/buzz-aldrin-speaks-out-forget-the-moon-lets-head-to-mars/#comment-9691 Ed Foster. Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:45:15 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/26/buzz-aldrin-speaks-out-forget-the-moon-lets-head-to-mars/#comment-9691 In a rotating space station or spaceship, the difference between a person's head and feet is great enough that, to more or less balance out coriolis effect and put almost the same gravity at both ends of our intrepid astronaut, the wheel would have to be 150 meters across. Call it 500 feet in diameter, almost 1,600 feet around. The French, interestingly enough, came up with a workable inflated rubber space wheel that would take up only one shuttle load. Add aluminum silicate from the moon, cast in 50 pound plates and launched by electric "slingshot" (sled accelerated by electric motors pulling on an aramid belt), a technical option already studied by NASA. . Easy to do, given that the moon has only one-sixth of the Earth's gravity. Cover the inflated space wheel with the AlSil plates, as many as needed to provide radiation and meteor protection, then hook on the ion/VASMIR/ground based laser whatever, and a living space 10 meters high, 15 meters wide, and 500 meters long could be sent on it's way, with the crew enjoying the eqivalent space of a 40 unit apartment house. With water storage in a central hub composed of space shuttle belly tanks brought into orbit instead of being jettisoned, an emergency cocoon could be positioned in the center of the tank to provide a shelter during major solar flares, with the water providing 100% radiation protection. So, a small lunar program, using off the shelf components, and only enough to create a generating station and the launch apparatus. Three years and it's done. We could be on our way to Mars in 5 or 6 years, for less money than we've wasted on the international space station, an unneeded bureaucratical blunder of essentially no scientific worth. In a rotating space station or spaceship, the difference between a person’s head and feet is great enough that, to more or less balance out coriolis effect and put almost the same gravity at both ends of our intrepid astronaut, the wheel would have to be 150 meters across. Call it 500 feet in diameter, almost 1,600 feet around.

The French, interestingly enough, came up with a workable inflated rubber space wheel that would take up only one shuttle load. Add aluminum silicate from the moon, cast in 50 pound plates and launched by electric “slingshot” (sled accelerated by electric motors pulling on an aramid belt), a technical option already studied by NASA.

. Easy to do, given that the moon has only one-sixth of the Earth’s gravity.

Cover the inflated space wheel with the AlSil plates, as many as needed to provide radiation and meteor protection, then hook on the ion/VASMIR/ground based laser whatever, and a living space 10 meters high, 15 meters wide, and 500 meters long could be sent on it’s way, with the crew enjoying the eqivalent space of a 40 unit apartment house.

With water storage in a central hub composed of space shuttle belly tanks brought into orbit instead of being jettisoned, an emergency cocoon could be positioned in the center of the tank to provide a shelter during major solar flares, with the water providing 100% radiation protection.

So, a small lunar program, using off the shelf components, and only enough to create a generating station and the launch apparatus. Three years and it’s done. We could be on our way to Mars in 5 or 6 years, for less money than we’ve wasted on the international space station, an unneeded bureaucratical blunder of essentially no scientific worth.

]]> By: Abram http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/26/buzz-aldrin-speaks-out-forget-the-moon-lets-head-to-mars/#comment-9690 Abram Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:31:32 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/26/buzz-aldrin-speaks-out-forget-the-moon-lets-head-to-mars/#comment-9690 VASIMR Paper http://rocket.itsc.uah.edu/u/cassibj/VASIMR Mars in as little as 39 days http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/roundup/online//2003/0903_p4_5.pdf VASIMR Paper
http://rocket.itsc.uah.edu/u/cassibj/VASIMR

Mars in as little as 39 days
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/roundup/online//2003/0903_p4_5.pdf

]]> By: Abram http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/26/buzz-aldrin-speaks-out-forget-the-moon-lets-head-to-mars/#comment-9689 Abram Fri, 21 Aug 2009 18:40:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/26/buzz-aldrin-speaks-out-forget-the-moon-lets-head-to-mars/#comment-9689 chemical rockets use huge amounts of fuel... chemical rockets max speed 10,000 MPH Ion engine 200,000 MPH but very fuel efficient but very low power.. VASIMR Plasma rocket 650,000 MPH max very fuel efficient with more power then an Ion engine. A 30KW test I think http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rn7wNxg9_Xk 149KW test http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zSou_r-W9Q lunar Tug http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXofYP_VfUg chemical rockets use huge amounts of fuel…
chemical rockets max speed 10,000 MPH
Ion engine 200,000 MPH but very fuel efficient but very low power..

VASIMR Plasma rocket 650,000 MPH max very fuel efficient with more power then an Ion engine.

A 30KW test I think
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rn7wNxg9_Xk

149KW test
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zSou_r-W9Q

lunar Tug
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXofYP_VfUg

]]> By: Khalexus http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/26/buzz-aldrin-speaks-out-forget-the-moon-lets-head-to-mars/#comment-9688 Khalexus Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:34:37 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/26/buzz-aldrin-speaks-out-forget-the-moon-lets-head-to-mars/#comment-9688 41. Anonymous: "Where does the money come from you say? Pull out of all offensive military operations, halve the inordinately grotesque military budget (still leaving more than enough for a more than ample defense should the need arise), and divert the newfound wealth to NASA." ^This. Although, in a perfect world I'd go one step further - unite the entire world in a joint space project. With funds from all countries involved, with the best minds at work - we'd be there in no time, I think. Unfortunately, it's not a perfect world so it's very much unlikely to happen. But just imagine what we could achieve, if all the world united to work on space population, instead of bickering around. We'd have the funds, we'd have the manpower, and we'd be able to achieve much in (relatively) little time. 41. Anonymous:

“Where does the money come from you say? Pull out of all offensive military operations, halve the inordinately grotesque military budget (still leaving more than enough for a more than ample defense should the need arise), and divert the newfound wealth to NASA.”

^This.

Although, in a perfect world I’d go one step further – unite the entire world in a joint space project. With funds from all countries involved, with the best minds at work – we’d be there in no time, I think. Unfortunately, it’s not a perfect world so it’s very much unlikely to happen.
But just imagine what we could achieve, if all the world united to work on space population, instead of bickering around. We’d have the funds, we’d have the manpower, and we’d be able to achieve much in (relatively) little time.

]]> By: Earl S. Wynn http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/26/buzz-aldrin-speaks-out-forget-the-moon-lets-head-to-mars/#comment-9687 Earl S. Wynn Sat, 08 Aug 2009 20:08:52 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/26/buzz-aldrin-speaks-out-forget-the-moon-lets-head-to-mars/#comment-9687 I volunteer to be one of the first settlers. No questions asked. I'm ready. Lets go. Right now. I volunteer to be one of the first settlers. No questions asked. I’m ready. Lets go. Right now.

]]> By: Anonymous http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/26/buzz-aldrin-speaks-out-forget-the-moon-lets-head-to-mars/#comment-9686 Anonymous Thu, 06 Aug 2009 21:20:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/26/buzz-aldrin-speaks-out-forget-the-moon-lets-head-to-mars/#comment-9686 I think that it would be better to multitask our efforts. First, we establish a reasonably self sufficient, permanent, manned base on the moon. The experience and data gained from this endeavor will be valuable in any attempt to do likewise on mars, and it will also give us a better, lesser gravity launch pad for the mars mission which can be developed while the moon base is operational. Lesser gravity will be a bonus because, as Khalexus has said, it will require much less energy for liftoff. Where does the money come from you say? Pull out of all offensive military operations, halve the inordinately grotesque military budget (still leaving more than enough for a more than ample defense should the need arise), and divert the newfound wealth to NASA. If gov’t had it priorities straight, instead of spending disgusting amounts of taxpayer money blowing to hell anyone who disagrees with them, we’d probably be there already. Hopefully with an actual sane man in the Oval Office we’ll get somewhere now. also, if we were to actually harness gravity (and not just centrifugal force, mind you), do you really think the only thing it's good for is walking around on spaceships? think big, people! i'm thinking of propulsion systems,(pulling the entire ship forward in a vacuum, or just pushing the ambient air backwards in an atmosphere) and bulletproof vests that work, not by cushioning the impact but by pushing the bullet away so it never hits! even the sky isn't the limit. i'll leave you to consider theoptions available. imagination workout, begin! 1,2,3,1,2,3,1,2,3,other leg, 1,2,3,1,2,3,1,2,3, feel the burn! lol. back to serious now. few related links which may explain buzz's reluctance to return to the moon, or may just simply make you smile. http://triptychr.deviantart.com/art/Moon-program-parked-for-good-130133792 http://hijinksensue.com/2009/08/03/lo-fijinks-what-happens-on-the-moon/ I think that it would be better to multitask our efforts. First, we establish a reasonably self sufficient, permanent, manned base on the moon. The experience and data gained from this endeavor will be valuable in any attempt to do likewise on mars, and it will also give us a better, lesser gravity launch pad for the mars mission which can be developed while the moon base is operational. Lesser gravity will be a bonus because, as Khalexus has said, it will require much less energy for liftoff. Where does the money come from you say? Pull out of all offensive military operations, halve the inordinately grotesque military budget (still leaving more than enough for a more than ample defense should the need arise), and divert the newfound wealth to NASA. If gov’t had it priorities straight, instead of spending disgusting amounts of taxpayer money blowing to hell anyone who disagrees with them, we’d probably be there already. Hopefully with an actual sane man in the Oval Office we’ll get somewhere now.

also, if we were to actually harness gravity (and not just centrifugal force, mind you), do you really think the only thing it’s good for is walking around on spaceships? think big, people! i’m thinking of propulsion systems,(pulling the entire ship forward in a vacuum, or just pushing the ambient air backwards in an atmosphere) and bulletproof vests that work, not by cushioning the impact but by pushing the bullet away so it never hits! even the sky isn’t the limit. i’ll leave you to consider theoptions available. imagination workout, begin! 1,2,3,1,2,3,1,2,3,other leg, 1,2,3,1,2,3,1,2,3, feel the burn! lol. back to serious now.

few related links which may explain buzz’s reluctance to return to the moon, or may just simply make you smile.

http://triptychr.deviantart.com/art/Moon-program-parked-for-good-130133792

http://hijinksensue.com/2009/08/03/lo-fijinks-what-happens-on-the-moon/

]]> By: Khalexus http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/26/buzz-aldrin-speaks-out-forget-the-moon-lets-head-to-mars/#comment-9685 Khalexus Tue, 04 Aug 2009 01:15:11 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/26/buzz-aldrin-speaks-out-forget-the-moon-lets-head-to-mars/#comment-9685 re: 38. mochilla. Good lord, people STILL go on and fervently deny the Apollo 11 moonlanding? For goodness sake, grow up, you people are absolutely ridiculous. You know, I actually feel like now it's a good option to land on the moon - just so you moronic, ignoramuses can be proven wrong at last. Bah, but I'm sure even then you dolts would try to explain it off by claiming the "leftovers" were planted when the next people landed there. Back to topic at hand, I'm all for getting humanity to Mars and beyond. I sincerely hope I can live to see it in my lifetime, even if I'm not involved or relocated. Just to see it, and know humanity will evolve out in the stars. I don't think a permanent moonbase is such a ridiculous idea - after all couldn't it serve as say a repair/re-supply station, without having to land back on earth? It's all been touched before by previous comments, but launching from the moon would require much less energy and fuel than to launch from the earth. re: 38. mochilla.

Good lord, people STILL go on and fervently deny the Apollo 11 moonlanding?
For goodness sake, grow up, you people are absolutely ridiculous.
You know, I actually feel like now it’s a good option to land on the moon – just so you moronic, ignoramuses can be proven wrong at last. Bah, but I’m sure even then you dolts would try to explain it off by claiming the “leftovers” were planted when the next people landed there.

Back to topic at hand, I’m all for getting humanity to Mars and beyond. I sincerely hope I can live to see it in my lifetime, even if I’m not involved or relocated. Just to see it, and know humanity will evolve out in the stars.

I don’t think a permanent moonbase is such a ridiculous idea – after all couldn’t it serve as say a repair/re-supply station, without having to land back on earth? It’s all been touched before by previous comments, but launching from the moon would require much less energy and fuel than to launch from the earth.

]]> By: Matthew C. Tedder http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/26/buzz-aldrin-speaks-out-forget-the-moon-lets-head-to-mars/#comment-9684 Matthew C. Tedder Mon, 03 Aug 2009 22:16:06 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/26/buzz-aldrin-speaks-out-forget-the-moon-lets-head-to-mars/#comment-9684 Yes. the Moon is a money hole.. It has almost nothing of value and numerous added expenses (e.g. abrasive soils and lighting that's either fully lit or pitch black). Mars, however, has plenty of water ice, good soil for growing, lots of sun and wind for power generation, and plenty of raw materials for building (e.g. iron ore and oxygen rich perclorates). Definitely send the first missions as one-way missions but building craft for return voyages should be practical once manufacturing infrastructure exists. It's only got 38% of Earth's gravity so getting back up can be cheaper.. And God forbid global warming occur from industrial pollution.. I am willing to bounce to the surface and start the work.. Yes. the Moon is a money hole.. It has almost nothing of value and numerous added expenses (e.g. abrasive soils and lighting that’s either fully lit or pitch black).

Mars, however, has plenty of water ice, good soil for growing, lots of sun and wind for power generation, and plenty of raw materials for building (e.g. iron ore and oxygen rich perclorates).

Definitely send the first missions as one-way missions but building craft for return voyages should be practical once manufacturing infrastructure exists. It’s only got 38% of Earth’s gravity so getting back up can be cheaper.. And God forbid global warming occur from industrial pollution..

I am willing to bounce to the surface and start the work..

]]> By: mochilla http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/26/buzz-aldrin-speaks-out-forget-the-moon-lets-head-to-mars/#comment-9683 mochilla Mon, 03 Aug 2009 22:15:02 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/06/26/buzz-aldrin-speaks-out-forget-the-moon-lets-head-to-mars/#comment-9683 Buzzz, what a hipocrite you truly are. Instead of admitting with one foot in your grave that the whole "moon landing" was a complite scam in order to set people to do some real research in this field and truly advance the knowledge for the sake of the whole humanity, you still go around spreading the same old lies and giving us lullabies. I guess, the one thing you're afraid most about "repeating" a moon landing is that there would be no lunar modules, nor the us-flag, nor any other consequent gear found on the moon, since you pricks took some nice shots with Stanley (God have mercy on him) in a sandy beach studio. At least Neil Armstrong had the decency to shut up and not give any more comments on your "glorious" endeavour. You truly are a miserable drunk, I pity you. Hey, btw I think there might be a rotten tomatoes award waiting for your ingenious footage of the earth "seen from the moon", or something... seriously Buzzz, the problem is that your scam is exactly 40 years old, which makes your playing with the camera iris even so more ridiculous. Sorry. Buzzz, what a hipocrite you truly are. Instead of admitting with one foot in your grave that the whole “moon landing” was a complite scam in order to set people to do some real research in this field and truly advance the knowledge for the sake of the whole humanity, you still go around spreading the same old lies and giving us lullabies. I guess, the one thing you’re afraid most about “repeating” a moon landing is that there would be no lunar modules, nor the us-flag, nor any other consequent gear found on the moon, since you pricks took some nice shots with Stanley (God have mercy on him) in a sandy beach studio. At least Neil Armstrong had the decency to shut up and not give any more comments on your “glorious” endeavour. You truly are a miserable drunk, I pity you. Hey, btw I think there might be a rotten tomatoes award waiting for your ingenious footage of the earth “seen from the moon”, or something… seriously Buzzz, the problem is that your scam is exactly 40 years old, which makes your playing with the camera iris even so more ridiculous. Sorry.

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