... cause the moon is too mainstream 🙂

First let's do this on the moon and then ... and only then I will take this kind of news seriously, about Mars or whatever other planets, asteroids or dimensions.

I read this today and was going to post it, but I found it interesting in that they were going to make a reality show of it. I think they said one way trip and equipment and people will slowly start to move out every year or two. I think it is manageable but you really have to get along with your mates or it could be like that Apollo 18 movie 🙂

I agree with SolCommand on this one, I would need to feel that this equipment you need to rely on for your life needs to work and last for two years. Prove it can all work on the moon and then make the leap to Mars. Doing this sort of thing is all about the quality of the equipment and it being 100% reliable and durable. Will be interested to see what comes of this, and if there is a member of SSC that goes up on this project that would be awesome. 

Yeah you get to become a legend/pioneer but you never will get to reap the benefits of it because you are on a one way trip, they said 2 yrs on Mars would mess you up physically to the point that Earth's gravity would be too much for you if you returned. Why not wait until we can simulation Earth's gravity in the pods on Mars?

Have to say I don't think I would go as you could never go outside without a suit on and be stuck in the same location for the rest of you life.

Even if it was to happen (which I doubt), and even if I wished to go (hmm... ), they wouldn't let me on board. My body is far too old and wrecked to withstand the launch, let alone anything else. Besides, you wouldn't get me anywhere near a reality show, even if it was broadcast Live from the Mars Hotel (which is part of Rude Astronauts by Allen Steele... a very good read, as is his Coyote series).

NASAs jumping on the mars mission + colony band wagon
http://science.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/07/18107568-its-time-to-get-serious-about-going-to-mars-nasa-says?lite

On a side note NASA made a new much less toxic more efficient rocket fuel.

Think we need a new space shuttle first, darn cutbacks.

Just pay the russians for a ride.

Seems they have a reason to:

@6 minutes and 25 seconds and from there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide_in_Earth%27s_atmosphere#Current_concentration

 

In May 2013 for the first time in the scientific recording station in Mauna Loa, measurements reached 400 ppm.^[12] Sir Brian Hoskins of the Royal Society said this milestone should "jolt governments into action".^[13] The National Geographic noted that the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is this high "for the first time in 55 years of measurement—and probably more than 3 million years of Earth history".^[14] This level had only been reached in the Arctic in June 2012, and according to the global monitoring director at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Earth System Research Lab, "it's just a reminder to everybody that we haven't fixed this, and we're still in trouble."^[15]

 

Combine.

I'd chose to go into jail rather than sitting for 1 year in a rocket with the prospective of most probably not seeing my native place and culture any more. Well, better neither of these choices of course 🙂

There is nothing to do for men or women on Mars. Surely any advanced robots or nanobots can do much better and cheaper. it's time to get rid of this space "sentimentalism" or misplaced romanticism, and do some serious space exploration, like the projects Curiosity and similar robot vehicles. No need to be there to collect and even see the data, the machines can do that for us. Deep space is not a vivable place for human kind, or one must build a bunker around his body. Not very appealing for any development.

XenonS

You do have some good points Xenons.

For all intents and purposes getting to Mars might be a total waste of time, but from a technology standpoint it would be worth it to test new ideas and propulsion. I mean they say they have found planets with hubble that could sustain human life. That is what we should be checking out. Put a nuclear reactor on the back of a satellite and send it off as fast as we can move it.

We run into the age old problem of the light-year everything is just to dang far away for us to explore so staying within our own system is about all we can do, unless those people at Area 51 is hiding something. We could simulate a mars environment for human testing on endurance for trips, but I think robots should be the main vehicle for now until we can perfect the ability for humans to stay long periods without going crazy or risk of death if something minor happens.

Well, what I forgot to say is: the machines have to come back with interesting data for us humans to see and analyze. And yes, a geologist or astronaut will do much more quality researches than any machine can do. But at what a price and risk? The moon was a giant leap only if we proceed the right way, I mean, what we need is new rocket technology or we won't go anywhere. Taking 6-8 monthes to go to Mars (which could be done today) is not a big progress IMO.

XenonS