NASA Scientists Plan The Human Mission to Mars: Colonizing the Red Planet | Legal Press Releases
| NASA Scientists Plan The Human Mission to Mars: Colonizing the Red Planet |
| Thursday, 30 December 2010 20:17 |
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NASA Scientists Publish and Plan: The Human Mission to Mars: Colonizing the Red Planet Edited by Dr. Joel S. Levine, NASA, Senior Research Scientist, Science Directorate, and Rudolf E. Schild, Center for Astrophysics, Harvard-Smithsonian The Human Mission to Mars: Colonizing the Red Planet December 29, 2010 (MMD Newswire) -- The last of America's space shuttles will blast their way into the history books in 2011. Then there are the plans to cancel all of NASA's astronaut-related programs, thereby bringing a remarkable 50 year chapter in space exploration to an end. Yet every ending heralds a new beginning, and the next chapter, 55 of them to be exact, begins with a bold new book, The Human Mission to Mars and concludes with the Colonization of the Red Planet. In this just released 970 page text (edited by NASA Senior Research Scientist Science Directorate Dr. Joel Levine, and Dr. Rudy Schild of the Harvard-Smithsonian), 120 top scientists including four astronauts (two of whom walked on the Moon), and dozens of NASA scientists, technicians and engineers, present a bold and daring vision of tomorrow: The Future is Mars. As detailed in this roadmap to the Red Planet, The Human Mission to Mars, will generate a technological revolution, inspire generations to come, and will be the first step to the human colonization of the cosmos. Our Destiny is Space "Our destiny is to become a space-faring civilization" writes Apollo 14 Lunar astronaut Dr. Edgar Mitchell, the sixth person to walk on the Moon. "We stand on the threshold of shedding the bonds that have tied us to Earth since the very beginnings of the planet's history. In the last 40 years, we have looked back at Earth from space, walked on our moon, sent robotic probes to most of the planets and have explored the depths of our galaxy. Why? Humanity has always had an insatiable appetite to know, for adventure and a remarkable curiosity to explore the unknown."
"The time is now" writes Robert Zubrin, president of the Mars Society. But what of the challenges of entry, descent, landing technology, and the architecture for the human exploration of Mars? Already designed or anticipated writes NASA's Bret Drake and Walter C. Engelund and colleagues. Human Factors, Micro-Gravity, and Radiation Human factors may be the most unpredictable. How would astronauts react to prolonged isolation and the specter of mother Earth, receding and growing smaller, becoming a blue-green dot which slowly disappears into the blackness of eternal night? What can we predict about the psychology, stress, and behavioral health of astronauts and crew on what may be a one-way mission to Mars? Hysteria? Depression? Panic? Or cool professionalism? The answers to these questions and more are provided by the top experts in the world. And what of the prolonged and deleterious effects of space radiation and micro-gravity on the heart, brain, muscular-skeletal system and the human genome? Most astronauts upon returning to Earth from long duration missions suffer significant muscle and bone loss which initially makes walking and even standing difficult. As detailed in this text by over two dozen scientists and doctors, the biomedical risks of a human mission to Mars are enormous; but these challenges have been anticipated, and they too may be overcome. The Mars Base And once upon the Red Planet, where will they live? Within the depths of ancient Martian lava tubes--reminiscent of the underground caverns and cathedrals of darkness and painted light where dwelled ancient woman and man as they carved out a new world which gave birth to our own. "Location, Location, Location!" explains Dr. Penelope J. Boston, is of the utmost importance in creating a human habitat and base for the scientific exploration of Mars. Lava tubes is one solution. Importing self-sustaining surface structures is another. But we should not expect these sojourners to the stars to someday return to Earth. Martian Microbes & Disease The search for life on Mars is just one of many scientific objectives, explains NASA senior scientists Joel S. Levine and James B. Garvin. As we now know, microbes and viruses can survive in almost any conceivable environment, no matter how toxic, cold, poisonous, or radioactive. When those from the "Old World" explored and conquered the "New World", they brought with them "new" diseases which wiped out the natives by the tens of millions. Mars, too, is an Old World, as old as Earth, and Martian microbes and viruses may lie dormant beneath the surface of the Red Planet--microbes which might infect and kill astronauts, and cause plague if brought back to Earth. However, as explained by NASA's Catharine A. Conley and colleagues, Mars, too, must be protected from contamination. To Boldly Go: A One Way Journey A Human Mission to the Red Planet is not a suicide mission, but it may be a one way journey. In what is perhaps the most controversial chapter in this 970 page book, Drs. Dirk Schulze-Makuch and Paul Davies explain that the best way to obviate the need for years of rehabilitation for returning astronauts, and to ensure a continuous commitment to the exploration of Mars while reducing costs, is to plan for the establishment of a permanent outpost. "The astronauts would be re-supplied on a periodic basis from Earth with basic necessities, but otherwise would be expected to become increasingly proficient at harvesting and utilizing resources available on Mars. Eventually the outpost would reach self-sufficiency, and then it could serve as a hub for a greatly expanded colonization program." But who would want to take part in a one way mission? Perhaps thousands. The online Journal of Cosmology, which currently features all the chapters of The Human Mission to Mars, has received over 400 emails from men of all ages volunteering to boldly go, and from women who have volunteered their husbands. Sex in Space? A permanent Martian base populated by old men is not realistic. Colonization requires women of breeding age. Otherwise, the colony dies. But what of the problems that may arise if there is sex in space? The chapter "Sex on Mars" has the answers: "Performance of the sex act during a journey to Mars, may require potentially complex sexual gymnastics. On the other hand, any difficulties associated with sexual intercourse in space may turn out to be an easily solved problem of docking and entry as human are notorious for inventing ways of having sex despite all manner of logistical impediments." However, what impact will sexual activity during a mission to Mars have on team dynamics and morale? And what if an astronaut became pregnant during the journey? Would the fetus be viable? How would this impact the crew? NASA has no policy regarding sex in space and its repercussions. One possibility is to send men and women in separate space crafts, or for all crews to consist only of happily married couples. Another solution is to train astronauts to share and share alike. Free love on Mars? How would the folks back on Earth react to that? The First Martians? As detailed by NASA scientists, Tore Straume, Steve Blattnig, and Cary Zeitlin, the human testes, ovaries, and genome will be subjected to radiation, micro-gravity, and markedly adverse environmental conditions as they traverse space and once humans settle on Mars. It is also highly likely subsequent genetic alterations will be passed on to offspring born on the Red Planet. If a child is conceived and born on Mars, we can predict at least three outcomes including: 1) The child may suffer from mild to gross genetic, physical, and intellectual abnormalities. 2) The child will be completely healthy. 3) Due to environmental influences on the genome, although the child will be completely healthy and normal it will be so different from children born on Earth, that it may appear abnormal simply because it is adapted, to varying degrees, to the Martian environment. The child will not be defective. Nor will it represent a new "race". Rather, it may represent a new species of humanity: The first Martian. Paying for the Greatest Adventure in Human History A Martian base will require periodic supplies from Earth. However, a thriving colony can also grow and manufacture its own food. Abundant supplies of water may lurk just beneath the surface. Moreover, a Martian base may become self-sufficient and even generate a profit. Many believe that the main obstacle to The Human Mission to Mars, is cost. Who will pay for it? As explained in the chapter "Marketing Mars", the answer is: Private corporations. With U.S. Congressional approval, The Human Mission to Mars must be marketed as the greatest adventure and the most exciting sporting event in the history of humanity. Over $160 billion dollars in funds can be raised through marketing, advertising, merchandizing, sponsorships, and the licensing of broadcast and naming rights. How much might Google or Microsoft pay to "name" the first Martian space ship ferrying humans to Mars: the "Microsoft Explorer"? or the "Google Search Engine"? --names which will go down in history. And what of TV-broadcasting rights? Mars-related clothing, toys, movies, books, games, and so on, are all potential sources of income which can more than cover the costs for a Martian adventure. Also, the first nation to put men and women on Mars will have a legal right to all territory they explore, including mineral and land rights, and the right to sell property and even form a government. How much would you pay to own a piece of the Red Planet? Money is no object. The objective is Mars. Many believe the U.S. Space Program was born on October 4, 1957, when the Soviet Union launched the first Earth-orbiting artificial satellite, Sputnik 1. Dogs, not humans were among the first to journey through space; chosen because, like humans, they were already adapted to long periods of inactivity. In less than 12 years the United States launched a technological revolution, creating a space-program basically from nothing, and achieved what many believed an impossible dream. On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 and the first humans landed on the Moon. Three years later, on December 7, 1972, Apollo 17, Lunar Module Pilot Harrison Schmitt was the last man to arrive on the lunar surface. Forty years later, Dr. Harrison Schmitt explains why we must put a geologist on Mars. Our future is Mars As detailed in this just published road map to the Red Planet, a Human Mission to Mars will launch a technological and scientific revolution, inspire billions of men, woman, and boys and girls world wide, and make humans a two planet species. The human mission to Mars is the future, our destiny, and the first step to the human colonization of the cosmos. Onward to Mars! ### What is the next step? ##### The Human Mission to Mars: Colonizing the Red Planet (Edited by Dr. Joel S. Levine, NASA, Senior Research Scientist, Science Directorate, and Rudolf E. Schild, Center for Astrophysics, Harvard-Smithsonian and Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Cosmology) is written by a veritable "who's who" of the top scientists in the world. The entire text can be read, online, for free, at: http://JournalofCosmology.com/Contents12.html For a limited time the hardback book edition can be purchased at a significant discount at the Journal of Cosmology website. The Human Mission to Mars: Colonizing the Red Planet, Permission is granted to reproduce this article in whole or in part. For more information, visit: http://JournalofCosmology.com |
