I didn't want to start a new thread so thought I'd resurrect this one.
Did anyone see a BBC four documentary, I'm sure it was a repeat I saw as it was on at some ridiculous time early this morning but it was about how preparation is going for the first manned mission to Mars. They say it's provisionally set for 2033 (I'd be 51!!) but it was amazing seeing just how much work is going into planning and hopefully executing it.
From the challenges of spending more than a year or two in space and on Mars to having enough water to drink (there is research ongoing about recycling urine to use as water as well as looking to extract water from solid waste), how to survive solar flares and their resulting radiation, the psychological effects of being in a confined space with the same people for so long to actually landing on Mars itself which is one of the biggest challenges and then if we get that far, to survive for approx a year on Mars!!
They showed that there are dust storms that occur on Mars that can potentially go on for months and engulf the surface and that some of the particles in Mars area carcinogens so the space suits are being redesigned.
It was incredible seeing the amount of research that's going on here on earth and the number of teams involved looking at every little stage of the mission.
The one thing they still haven't figured out is how to get the astronauts back home! It got me thinking that we've done some amazing things in terms of space travel and the curiosity landing on Mars had got to be right up there. If we manage to send a manned mission up there in my lifetime I'd be in awe.
Apparently according to the Dr that landed curiosity, we could have a manned expedition to Mars within ten years if we wanted to but it would be at the expense of the astronauts safety, but herein lies the problem, at what point do we say the benefits outweigh the risk and give that mission the green light? I know I wouldn't be brave enough to be amongst the first in that rocket going to Mars having what I assume would be a one way ticket.
Just curious as to what others thought and whether you think a manned mission well ever be possible? I don't have a lot of knowledge about this sort of stuff, relativity and time and time shifts really do bend my mind and I had to watch the movie interstellar more than once and even then never really got it! However, I find space, space travel and discovering our universe absolutely fascinating. Watching that documentary really made me think how small we are in the grand scheme of things and how much there is out there to be discovered and I've for nothing but respect and admiration for those people that do it!
Edit: it was the horizon man on Mars documentary which was first shown in 2014 so it's a couple of years old! Still bloody interesting though