posted 06-23-2009 01:40 PM               

We have remained, since our Apollo days, locked in Earth orbit. But five years ago, NASA was tasked with returning to the moon by 2020, rerunning the moon race that we won 40 years ago. Not surprisingly, this new race has failed to ignite the imagination of young Americans -- or their leaders.

What we truly need is not more Cold War-style competition but a destination in space that offers great rewards for the risks to achieve it. I believe that destination must be homesteading Mars, the first human colony on another world.

posted 06-24-2009 09:26 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by MCroft04:
When asked why he did the rap song, he replied that he wanted to educate rappers about the importance of going to Mars.

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posted 07-05-2009 09:34 AM               

Buzz again makes it known about about how he wants NASA to set its sights on Mars, rather than the Moon.

However what he said about how future manned missions to Mars surprised me. It said in the interview:

Of all the Apollo astronauts he (Buzz) is by far the most vocal in arguing for a return to deep space, most particularly a manned space flight to Mars, although he acknowledges that his plan - for astronauts to travel to Mars, never to return - may be a hard sell. It would take too long to get there for round-trips to be worth the effort,to his mind;a permanent settlement would be the only viable solution.

"You don't out and out say that we're going to Mars on one-way trips" - though of course he just has - "because that shocks people, but that's what it is. So you have to select people in 2016, 2018, on the basis that if they are successful as an astronaut, their career is going to be on another planet. You want to volunteer for that, it's up to you."

This sounds like science fiction. But consider that "Dr. Rendezvous", as he was known in the early days of the space programme for his pioneering work in the way space vehicles could dock with each other in orbit, has been out there: you can't say he doesn't know what he's talking about. In the 1980's he developed the Mars Cycler system, which would fly in continuous orbits between Earth and Mars; the outbound trip would take five-and-a-half months, the return nearly two years. Part of me thinks it sounds crazy; but in truth the greater part of me considers the Vikings, considers Christopher Columbus and Francis Drake and even Darwin, who all set out on voyages of discovery that did not necessarily carry hope of return. NASA's current programme isn't ambitious enough for Buzz; I can't help wondering, however, whether the current economic climate will favour any of the developments he's after for a good while to come.

posted 07-05-2009 11:47 PM               

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Originally posted by AstroAutos:
I just wanted to know is what Buzz saying a real possibility - that astronauts who travel to Mars may never return?

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posted 07-30-2009 01:29 PM               

My fellow Apollo astronaut and lunar module pilot, Buzz Aldrin, favors Mars over the moon ["Time to Boldly Go Once More," op-ed, July 16]. His vision for space policy, however, requires clear thinking instead of just "bold thinking," and Mr. Aldrin missed on several points.

The moon is hardly a "dead end." If that were true, China and other countries would not be so interested. Rather than being "a poor location for homesteading," the moon is ideal for that purpose.

posted 08-14-2009 12:04 PM               

Two of the options being put forth by the Augustine commission result in that preparation being done on the Moon; the other two move the destination to deep space targets, including L1, the asteroids and even a manned Mars-flyby by 2035. Even the "deep space" options offer the opportunity for NASA to branch off to the lunar surface, though more in the form of sortie missions than establishing a base.

The only question is budget: both the Administration and Congress have made recent remarks supporting an increased NASA budget.

If exploration is important to you, the answer is not to give up hope, or even criticize elected officials. There will be plenty of time for that after the votes are cast.