Group aims to send 2 humans on Mars mission in 2018
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By John Zarrella, CNN
If newly unveiled plans pan out, a man and a woman may represent humanity on one journey that has never been attempted before: a mission to Mars.
“It’s incredibly feasible. It’s not crazy talk," Taber MacCallum, CEO of Paragon Space Development Corp., told CNN.
MacCallum and millionaire Dennis Tito announced their plans Wednesday to send a couple of earthlings on a 501-day trip in a spacecraft that would fly by the red planet. The proposal was unveiled at the National Press Club in Washington.
The mission would lift off in 2018, they said. It would not involve landing on Mars, making the proposed journey infinitely easier than putting people on the planet's surface, which NASA wants to do later this century. But the spacecraft would pass within 100 miles of the planet.
Tito has founded the Inspiration Mars Foundation, a nonprofit organization spearheading this effort. No stranger to space, the one-time NASA engineer became in 2001 the first space tourist flying on a Russian rocket to the International Space Station.
The public-private initiative could, according to MacCallum, use an existing rocket and capsule.
“If you take existing chemistry and technology and add some improved technologies," MacCallum told CNN, "you can get a mission together.” A life support system also would have to be developed.
The group is not asking NASA for money, he said.
“This is a philanthropic effort to be done for America,” MacCallum said. It could be accomplished for under $1 billion, he said, a figure that’s cheap compared with the tens of billions of dollars a NASA landing on Mars would cost.
At Wednesday's press conference, the panel mentioned selling media rights and finding sponsorship as well as other forms of fund-raising. It was noted that a 6-year-old boy already made a contribution, sending in $10 and calling this mission "my Apollo."
Despite MacCallum’s optimism, pulling off such a feat within five years is no small task.
Besides life support for the crew, one of the biggest challenges would be the return into the Earth's atmosphere. Heat shielding for a high speed re-entry hasn’t been tested. NASA isn’t even testing its new system on the Orion spacecraft until next year at the earliest. Orion is in development to take astronauts back to the moon and on to Mars.
And there’s also concern about radiation exposure. The man and woman whom MacCallum and Tito want to send would likely be a married couple. Because of the radiation risk, MacCallum said, they’d be older and “out of the childbearing years.”
Dr. Jonathan Clark, a former NASA flight surgeon and chief medical officer of Inspiration Mars
Foundation, said the crew should be selected six months to a year before the mission to allow time for a full health screening. And the mission planners will have to prepare for the possibility of a crew member perishing.
"If we wanted a guarantee, we wouldn't be doing this," he said.
Water and oxygen will be recycled in flight, so the crew will be drinking and breathing the same resources over and over throughout the journey, Inspiration Mars representatives said.
"No two people will have ever been more alone than the crew of this mission," Miles O'Brien, press conference moderator and former CNN correspondent, said at the event.
The year for the mission was chosen because Mars then will be 36 million miles away, about as close as it ever gets to Earth.
But consider: The humans who have traveled the farthest from Earth were the Apollo astronauts - nearly a quarter-million miles to the moon. Next to the Mars journey, that’s like a walk around the block.
Still, Tito said Wednesday, "This is a challenging but attainable goal for advancing human ... knowledge. Now is the time."
More: What we've done on Mars, and what's next
CNN's Sophia Dengo contributed to this report.
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Awesome, instead worried about greedy frivilous stuff , this is what humanity should be stting it's sights on.
I can not see a reason why this can not be accomplished with good planning and hard work. And I have no doubt that a private organization can do it at a far lower cost than a government agency. After watching the progress of the space program in the sixties that lead up to our lunar landings I fully expected a manned presence on mars long before the turn of the century. A lot of us had anticipated at the time that lunar colonies to be the norm by the 80's. However politics gutted the space program during the late 60's and early 70's.
Please do this. We need to venture out of this rock ASAP.
Don't forget your lead underwear.
All this wont sound like so much fun when your water tank leaks and there is no way to refill.
Guys...after 2 months of constant nagging wouldnt you want to blow her out the airlock
[:D]
Send a deaf married couple. But there still might be some serious finger-pointing.
I would go, the only thing is that I'm divorced and I don't know of any man that I would ask to go with me. On the bright side, I am past having children, mine are grown and on their own.
Can you send me to Venus and him to Mars? Been together for 42 years and we both need a vacation.
Ok, I'm in. Just talked to my gal and she said she's in as well!!! So stoked!!!! Now we need to figure out what movies to bring, board games and such. And we're going to need a ton of KY, because those 2 other holes are gonna get a little worked.
Can we take alcohol with us? 501 days is a long time. If alcohol is ok, sign me up. Also, I want a hot girl, so we can bang one out to pass time.
If we all believed " It can not be done" then we would still be living in caves, eating dinos and never traveling more then a half days walk from our cave .............................
Right, "eating dinos" ....
I'm 47, my wife (to be) is 37. We're in. I would happily die with her in a tin can 50 million miles from Earth than wither away in an old people's home back here. And, if it is a success, we would be heros. Not even close. Beam us up, Scotty!!!
The mission would lift off in 2018, they said. It would not involve landing on Mars – Isn't kind of pointless then?
Maybe those on death row would volunteer
I hope they have room for the Republicans in Congress.
They want to do WHAT? Send a married couple to MARS? OMG, !The Honeymooners Go To Mars"!!!! LMAO!
"One of these days, Alice, BANG! right to the ... Mars!"
Hey, remember Major Matt Mason? I had all the moon gear. Excellent!
Cancel this project. Will cost billions, for no real reason. Stop goign to MArs. It serves no purpose.
Unfortunately we will be in our late 60s by 2018; otherwise we would both do it in a heartbeat The absence of medical care on a journey of that length would be a major risk no matter what the age
I recommend Oscar and one real close friend.
....there is no way they can do it for one billion dollars and five years. This literally IS rocket science. Maybe 20 years.
Let me get this right....a MARRIED COUPLE....in a TINY CLOSED IN CAPSULE....middle of space...no where to go...and they think that this is some kind of cruise for "marital bliss?" YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! This is no "Love Boat" to Mars! Unless...it a "Carnival Cruise Line" .... just like the one that stank up the docks in Alabama maybe.
What if the couple wants to get divorced midway??
I'm all in but only If I can go with Erin Burnett. Erin, ditch that husband that you can't see spending 500 days in a capsule with and climb on board. I promise to provide you with constant happiness. If you ever get to Sedona, Az give me an email and I'll buy you dinner in my restaurant there. http://www.sedonarestaurants.com
The really sad thing is I'd have an easier chance finding a ride to Mars than I would finding a woman that would want to marry me.
I'll go if I can take Peggy Fleming with me!
So.. they're discriminating against a gay married couple flying? If they're concerned about radiation and fertility, a gay couple might even make more sense since they could store genetic material before the flight as a counter to sterilization. It also makes it easier to send younger crewmembers.
You are correct. They should have a gay couple on the test flight.
Fabulous!
If it is a couple don't they each need their own small rocket so they can fly in dual formation and rendezvous or double up in case of a breakdown?
There could be so much potential with this mission, it's astounding. It could be like the movie "Red Planet" in some of the good ways. Imagine sending in advance small modular satellites with essential supplies stored in them, orbiting them at strategic spots along the path. Utilize a craft like a space shuttle, or at least with the capability to utilize a loading bay and retrieval arm to pluck your next batch of supplies out of space as you get to them. Nobody's drinking recycled urine, and it's like little inter-planetary Mini-Marts! If we can land multiple rovers on the planet, we could certainly pull this off. Get the DOE to resurrect the old 1960's LFTR (Liquid Fuel Thorium Reactor) reactor technology that the Air Force was looking at using in the 50's for a Heavy Strategic Bomber before ICBM's came into play, and you could have a extremely safe portable power source for such a trip. Oak Ridge ran theirs for years without refueling and had minimal issues. This is very exciting stuff! Since it's space, you don't need to deal with all of the NRC licensing bureacratic red tape like here on earth. It's pretty promising.
Ideally, the real life adventure would be far more interesting than that dog of a film, Red Planet. What were they thinking?
Cal, God is a creation of organized religion to keep man under control. The Earth did not form 3 or 4,000 years ago, and there was no Adam & Eve in some magical garden. The bible is a book, written by man to control man. We evolved like everything else on this planet. Granted we may have been seeded here, inseminated into primates from some lifeform from another planet, or just plain evolved...
Yes, Navyvet, and I'm a troll, not the caricature I helped you create in your mind.
This is stupid!!!! Do you really think I want to get stuck in a small tiny place with my wife for 6 months? I will kill her before the space shuttle takes off!!! The nagging will never stop.
I can just see it. The man comes back from Mars and they say "Where's your wife"? He shrugs and goes "Ooops"
They will more then likely hold a lottery from all the couples they r interested, and pick 1 lucky couple!
all you m0rons can go to mars and stay the fk there
I'd rather be considered a moron than proved to be a coward.
I see no purpose in this whatsoever. If the fly by doesn't fry you, the re-entry could. Aren't there a few convicted child molesters that could qualify?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ea31xmJktVg
If I have to be stuck for 1002 day with a woman, she better be phenomenally good looking with an outstanding body and a libido that can kill a buffalo. I on the other hand would need cases of Viagra and enough ice pack for my balls of steel.
People get real serious around here when it's time to ride.
We figured out that Crabbie's Ginger Beer mixes perfectly with bourbon during this convo. We're ready. I flew my first plane at 9.
Mars sounds exciting but it is missing one important creature comfort I cannot live with out" OXYGEN"
Bring you spouse with you and she will suck whatever oxygen you have left in you.
We're a bit too young, but If I ended up going with my wife, we'd end up playing D&D the whole time... Not a bad way to kill two years.
At last,we can go to space since the Moon expedition
I think it´s a great idea, why not? This is like Total Recall LOL
who gives a flying F&*&*K about mars feed the poor damn stupid a%^&^
Until you can guarantee that wherever you send your money isn't going to waste it or give it to the wrong people, your just contributing to a complete waste of money.
If we feed the poor, they'll keep breeding like rats. Let the poor starve, or better yet, let's eat the poor–it's the "other" dark meat.
In regards to heat shields and re-entry, the capsule does not have to come back to an Earth landing, the people do. The capsule orbits Earth. A remote controlled transfer vehicle locks onto an escape port, passengers enter and the much smaller, already in existence (Soviets have it) vehicle with its two passengers comes back to Earth.
Send all the alternative gender preference folks there; the colony will be dead within a generation. good riddance. Now if we get just get Obama to volunteer....
Why does it have to be a man and a woman?
Right, how about a human and an animal, then you could have genetic engineered offspring populate mars. Let's see a homino-porcus hybrid.
They have plenty of those here on Earth.
What happens if they decide they want a divorce during the flight? Fifty percent of marriages end in divorce. Better to send an unmarried man and woman to Mars.
I opened a mars bar today and you'll never guess what I discovered.
Martians love vodka.
Almost 2 years in zero g? No thanks. That would get really old really quickly
TMZ, I mean, CNN is looking out of this world for front page news stories now?
Great......
BD
Sounds awesome... but, 2 operational problems exist.
1. The global takeover of the U.S. which is imminent won't provide for space exploration as, the globalist's aren't pro space exploration.
2. With the above said, there won't be a U.S. in 2018.
..............Pessimistic?. nope, I'd love to see this happen, I'm just being realistic.
I estimate that within one decade, most of the "new" atheists will have come to know Jesus Christ and accept Him as their personal Lord and Savior. Only then will they be able to post intelligent comments on the CNN science blog. Wait and see.
ooo, mr carter, mr carter.............
barack and MOOchelle want to head home............
It is an interesting talk for the sake of talking. The truth is, it will not happen for the following reasons: 1. Private sectors have not yet tried to launch any rockets beyond the earth orbits. 2. There is a lack of enough knowledge to develop the system than can help to sustain life for 501 days.
First of all, we need to do more research on how to expand and improve the existing international space station, so that we can make it as an aircraft launch pad. If we can develop the technology to launch rockets from international space station and try for the moon first...then there could be some probability that we would able to send someone for Mars mission. I was curious, why married couple? Why not only one? Why should you take risk of two lives?
Research, research, research ... It's time to stop thinking and start doing! We'll figure out the details when we get there. Boy, kuma, it's a good thing you weren't on Columbus's ship: "Uh, you know, Chris, we really should do some more research before we make such a long voyage. I mean, it could be dangerous. There are so many variables ...."
Hey Cal, listen–I don't think we have enough knowledge to do that. I wouldn't jump to the pool without the knowledge of how to swim nor knowing the depth of the pool. Boy Cal, this is a childish 'suicide'.
I'm just screwing around, kuma. Relax.
Not too tough...Fly the parts up to the space station, assembly, launch from space station and return to space station..no special reentry vehicle needed. Or set up a Moon Launch Base...much less gravity to worry about.
You are wrong on point 2. Humans have flown well over 500 days in space.
Somebody call the wambulance, my space ship's on fire.
How do we apply. Wife and I get along very well. Would love to go.
I nominate Barack and Michelle Obama, but only as long as they leave right away.
"But the spacecraft would pass within 100 miles of the planet."
So what's the point of making it a manned mission? In this scenario I doubt there is anything humans could do better than automated sensor systems. Actually probably less useful than an unmanned mission.
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If you're going to spam, can you at least try to spell the words correctly?
What if they get a divorce before the launch??
Operation Adam and Eve, maybe they its was a malfunction....Only The LORD can create...
TRUTHABOUTTHECIA.ORG
Group aims to send 2 humans on Mars mission in 2018
TRUTHABOUTTHECIA.ORG 'S OFFICAL RESPONSE:
' They'll be Divorced By the Time They Get There ' ! …................................... TRUTH
Think About It – There in a ZERO Gravity and there WERAING DEPENDS FOR ZERO GRAVITY IN A ZERO GRAVITY !
Hell, one wrong move and they have 'floating feces' in SPACE !
THAT Ladies and Gentlemen is: ' UN-Reconcilable Differences ' in SPACE ! ….... TRUTH !
Unbelievable !
Keith Grant
TRUTHABOUTTHECIA.ORG
Dear Lord, forgive those posting here who do not yet know you. They know not what they do. Amen.
I wish I could be young enough, with my soulmate and travel to Mars.. Wow, that would be really awesome. I envy whoever gets chosen, but wish them the best and safe travel.
A suicide mission pure and simple. And the manner of death will not likely be quick and painless.
If you're not going to land there,why bother?
Sign me up! My wife and I are in our 30's, have three kids, and maybe a couple more in the next five years... but if you send our whole family and include some cameras, we'll do some reality TV Lost in Space for ya! The commercials will probably pay for the whole trip plus a few more sequels...
"A life support system also would have to be developed." – That is the key phrase of the article. This will take more than five years to develop. I doubt this missionwill happen by 2018, but maybe by 2030.
"Honey look – it's Mars!".
"Keep pushing Joe, I am not done yet".
"Joe?!?!? Who's Joe?!?!?"
are they serious, married people? Do they want the husband to commit suicide when he gets there?
501 Days in a cheaper rocket than NASA can build, I think I will pass.
Cool! What an exotic way to die!
How about Mr. and Mrs. Barack Obama? Oh, wait, the departure is not until 2018. Never mind.
The people posting on this blog need to open a Bible once in a while and stop watching so much Sci-Fi Channel Grow up!
I agree. Science has become a secular religion. Concerning the world's problems, people think, "oh, the scientists will think of something", as if life is a tv show where the solution comes in the nick of time.
I want to go, but my wife does not want to.
One wonders why Taber and Jayne aren't listed as already having been chosen. They are two of the original Biosphere 2 participants as well and have spent a lot of time together in a confined (though much larger than a spaceship) space.
Barry and Michelle?
And now!
If you change "Jesus Of Nazareth" to "Jesus Of Mars", the New Testament becomes a decent science fiction novel.
Jesus loves even you.
In any Mexican prison I bet there's lots of Jesuses who'd want to love me.
Yes, Agony, I'm sure that's true. Thank you for sharing.
A manned flyby is pointless – Any robotic mission could do just as much for a lot less That doesn't even get into the fact that by today's tech standards, the people going would have about a 25% chance of survival.
Pointless deaths to learn virtually nothing new.
I think the whole point is to see if humans could survive the trip...
Havn't we already wasted enough money on space dirt?
I nominate Newt Gingrich.
Man and Woman would have to be sterile,no one to deliver a brat
well based upon the stats for marriage this has got more than a 50% of being epic failure.
501 days? Wow, that is sure to get boring. Better include a two year supply of condoms for the lucky couple!
after the first time he says something wrong, he won't need then anymore.
Why? Total waste of money
If a private company lands on Mars and plants it's flag. Does that make it belong to that company? I really hope not.
Does america own the moon?
Mars, and rest of the universe, belongs to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Cal, first off, let me say that love Jesus and I love my church. But do you not realize that all you are doing is using the Lord's name in vain? Afterall, what are you trying to accomplish by such statements? Do you really think your edifying someone or that someone will say "He's right! I never thought about that! I will dedicate my life to Jesus right now because Cal made that statement!". Second of all, you are an embarassment to those of us who actually try to live by the Bible. Jesus was a gentleman and never imposed himself on anybody. He was there for those who accepted him and simply passed by those who didn't. The only time you see Jesus even so much as being stern with someone was when he drove the money changers out of the temple (we are not in the temple) and when he was addressing his apostles. The Bible says to share the GOSPEL – that is the good news about Jesus. The Bible doesn't say to interject God into every conversation in a manner that is both akward and abrasive. You are not doing God any favors, you are giving His church a bad reputation, and I really wish you would strive to be more like Him.
Actually, all I'm doing is trying to get a reaction, Ron, because I'm bored. It's called trolling. Thank you for taking the time to play.
This is a typical US huckster, much like televantelist, Jim Bakker, of about 25 years ago in Carlot, NC, trying to scam dumb Americans out of money...a real scam artiste at work!
I want to take my wife there with me. This is the only way I'll get her exclusive company. I hope they do not make it ever for three people – my mother-in-law might try to sneak in, I am afraid.
What r U? A dumb putz or something?
He's no Putz, but Johnnybegood is a royal AH.
I am up for it.
You're going to confine two married people to a small craft for over a year? You're crazy. They will kill each other within a week.
Well that escalated quickly.
I just hope they are both sterile as not to introduce a major problem to the mission. A BABY!
First make sure the conservative gene has been breed out of them...no reason to start anew with low IQs.
I hope it's a gay married couple.
Space AIDS.
So do I, Stephen. That would be funny. I hope the Pope finds the true Jesus.
Hope the Pope will take one of his bishops
I fed my wife some beers, she's ready. We're in...
It won't take 501 days, trust me.
Concerning the couple that will volunteer for this mission; Here's a weird but plausible scenario.
What is the Male figure shoots into the bathroom, thinking the noise coming from that corner of the spaceship was actually an alien intruder. Would this be murder or manslaughter, considering mars would be outside the jurisdiction of our earthly legal system. ?
Good point. The Federation of Planets must have that stuff codified.
does a 'couple' have to be married or does civil union qualify?
They must be married, otherwise it's fornication.
They may be married at blast off but after over 500 days cooped up in a space craft they would be hiring divorce lawyers once they get back.
I think they should send a young couple and see if it is possible to reproduce in space.
I nominate my wife, and any other man. Earth wont miss her.
"Get you ass(es) to Mars!"