On Wednesday 02 November 2005 21:09, Robin van Spaandonk wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Since the ISS isn't doing a great deal of good science where it
> is, why not use it to go to Mars? Since it's already in Earth
> orbit, it should cut down on the cost considerably.
>
I would love to go to space.....in a real ship.....which, regrettably, the ISS
is not. The ISS is a large kluge put into an unsafe orbit not much higher
than a balloon could fly if it had any atmosphere. In fact, a company called
JP Aerospace is planning to do just that. Called "America's 'other' space
program!", it is quietly building proof of concept models of its space travel
by dirigible system. Back to a Mars vessel! We need a large ship. Molto
largo! It needs to have a rotating ring incorporated into the structure to
provide artificial gravity (unless we want to admit to possessing a working
Podkletnov/Li device). It needs a real space propulsion system, not some
damn chemicals that yield no real propulsion gain but take up ninety percent
or more of the 'rocket' Only nuclear systems offer any hope of that, and I
am afraid that only the Chinese are capable to do that at this time....they
are the only ones with the guts. Unless of course Dr R Mills can come to our
aid with a large hydrino 'black light' rocket!
It also has to have a grand amount of shielding, not from the reactor
which puts out, say, X amount of radiation; but from the 100X or so
radiological and microparticulate environment of deep intrastellar space
between us and Mars or any other planet we would want to visit. A big enough
ship could also carry aboard it a space tether system for multiple visits to
the surface of interesting places, Mars included. Alternatively it could
carry a scaled down nuclear thruster system in what amounts to a planetary
shuttle. We probably don't want to admit to being able to build one of these
now, but for smaller gravity wells what we want to admit to would do for
Mars. Such a ship would not be a one shot throw away. We could keep such a
ship in service for decades, learning in intrastellar space lessons that
would serve us when we develope better interstellar systems. Interstellar
travel will have to wait for us to outgrow our religion of
Einsteinianism...or find a way to shrink space ahead and expand it in the
rear of our craft.
Large ships have another advantage as well, better morale. A large ship
would be like a home and at least feel secure....and could carry backups for
more critical systems.
The Russians know very well that interpersonal crew problems magnify on
small ships. Really small ships are a perfect recipe for murder, and that is
seemingly the limit of the creativity bankrupt view of the American
government in this matter.
But then this same government sents our troops in rag top jeeps to fight
fanatics in Iraq armed with RPGs...sniper rifles....recoilless rifles....40mm
AT guns...cherry bombs in pepsi bottles....molotov martinis....HMGs...LMGs
........not to mention W.......M......D....................sssshhhhhhhhh.
If the oil companies want to sell that gasoline and won't be placated any
other way, use the chemicals for a fleet of dumb boosters to get the parts
of the main ship into orbit where it can be assembled by a crew living on the
ISS......use the ISS as a construction shack!
Standing Bear
