Russia plans missions to Mars and the Moon

[Dieter Schprokets]

I sat down and estimated that Canada's current economy is about 1/2 the size of the USA's in the 1960's, in real terms.

What this implies, is that with today's technology, Canada could quite easily afford an Apollo Program.

That being said, what could the USA accomplish?

The problem with space exploration is political will, and an overly risk-averse culture.

Not money, and not technology.

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[Luksiboj]

I'd rather see a centralised Earth space agency push development than any one country. Last thing we need is another global pissing contest over Mars, between the US, China and Russia.

Couldn't agree on this more!!!
I think that is the only way,ESA sounds great hehe!(Altough there is European Space Agency).Only by joining our forces and working together the space exploration and colonization can be achieveable.I hope we will see such centralised space agency soon!

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[Klaus Lange]

I'd rather see a centralised Earth space agency push development than any one country. Last thing we need is another global pissing contest over Mars, between the US, China and Russia.

Plus countries tend to be dicks when it comes to sharing and playing nice. It'd be great if there was a unified space council, because then there'd be so many biases tugging at the due process that everyone would be discriminated against equally. Yay for level handed treatment!

EDIT: Also, is it just me, or does that timeline sound like 99% impractical posturing? I'll be amazed if the Russians can put their money where their mouth is.

No, they're not dicks. It's called politics. Cruel but true.

Woops, looks like it just got political. Thanks!

"Keep state secret"
:)

I sat down and estimated that Canada's current economy is about 1/2 the size of the USA's in the 1960's, in real terms.

What this implies, is that with today's technology, Canada could quite easily afford an Apollo Program.

That being said, what could the USA accomplish?

The problem with space exploration is political will, and an overly risk-averse culture.

Not money, and not technology.

Exactly. I think during world-wide economic crisis pace of space exploration shall decrease, taxpayers will want save money for current needs.

[jammi]

Exactly. I think during world-wide economic crisis pace of space exploration shall decrease, taxpayers will want save money for current needs.

Thing is, space travel has been on the decline for decades. The economic situation has little to do with the will to take to the stars. The primary reason for the big boom in interest last time was an ideological war between the US and Russia.

Politicians don't like space flight because it costs billions, regardless of the currency, and rarely gives physical pay-outs within a four year time period. Meaning, space flight isn't going to get them re-elected. It's sad, but it's not something the average person identifies strongly with.

"Neat, Candidate X is boosting funding to [local space agency]. He sure has my vote!" May be true for a small niche, but not the majority. Our best hope for viable space travel is private enterprise (ventures with the will and vast pools of capital to develop the technology, such as Virgin Galactic, for example) and countries which... don't have the pressure of regular fair elections, shall we say.

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[JayDee Kasane]

Get yourself ready for space journey:D
But no. Im sure we will not live so long when space will be opened to humans as elevator...

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[Vladimir]

Our best hope for viable space travel is private enterprise (ventures with the will and vast pools of capital to develop the technology, such as Virgin Galactic, for example) and countries which... don't have the pressure of regular fair elections, shall we say.

Hahaha no. Our best hope is getting a government system that doesn't give a crap about what the majority wants, because the majority always wants only bread and circuses. That way we can concentrate on fundamental science without worrying about all this talk how impractical it is.


But anyway, i want to believe. Can't sit on the top and think it'll be that way forever. Roskosmos isn't in the best state right now, but things steadily improve. New kosmodrom is surely being built, new rocket is in development for long enough time for sure, and i want those nuclear engine projects and many other great ideas being unburied already.

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[dodike]

Hahaha no. Our best hope is getting a government system that doesn't give a crap about what the majority wants, because the majority always wants only bread and circuses. That way we can concentrate on fundamental science without worrying about all this talk how impractical it is.

Why should we be spending money for something impractical? Because it makes space-flight geeks excited?

[Rodent]

Why should we be spending money for something impractical? Because it makes space-flight geeks excited?

Eh, no one doubts that if we put in the effort to master intra-system space travel, the returns will be quite awesome...

It just takes a lot of initial investment, and by lot, I mean a lot. One country alone probably cannot shoulder the load. A trans-national space service with joint funding might do the trick, then you can start putting people on Mars and the Moon and stuff....

[SparkyRailgun]

Why should we be spending money for something impractical? Because it makes space-flight geeks excited?

Noone wants to realise the sad truth; That we're probably going to die off on this grave of a planet without making our mark on the universe.:P

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[r3vange]

[color=#FFFFFF]I think it should be a joined venture say JAXA, ESA, NASA and RSA. Even if you look at it, Russia has the means to heavy lift a spaceship big enough to make the flight to Mars even now with for example the Proton rocket which was certified human-grade from day one, as it was planned for the Soviet moonshot. If anyone knows how to launch something into orbit and have it crewed for incredibly long periods of time that's Russia. Nasa could easily provide superior avionics, ESA has a long going program of space habitats and JAXA is amazing in the field of experiments

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