Reply #54: What has any of this to do with a manned mission to Mars?

[immoderate]

All those innovations you are touting were developed right here on good old earth, by people who had never been to space. Requires money, imagination, hard work, and money. Oh did I mention money? Notice I didn't mention space ships. Take Bell Labs for instance. They developed transistors, lasers, cell phones, networking, and UNIX, without a space program. They also did Telstar. But that was the space program.

Computers and banks(?) precede any space program. Remember UNIVAC? You got me with weather satellites. :) But my point is none of this required missions to other planets.

By the way, if you're looking for zero gravity, you won't find it anywhere on Mars, or the moon, for that matter.

I have heard about materials that can only be produced in zero-g. An alloy of aluminum and lead is the example I've heard cited. Matter of fact, it's the only example I've heard cited. That and crystals. But I have not seen any "alumilead" or super-symmetrical crystals here on earth.

I imagine that there are some things which require zero-g or the vacuum of space to manufacture. What's wrong with earth orbit? Not expensive enough?

Five year lifespan for water? I'm truly puzzled here. I didn't know that water could wear out.

I'm not against science, space exploration, or discovery. But I am against manned exploration until there are suitable vehicles, and propulsion systems to make it practical. Better systems than the shuttle could be developed to achieve earth orbit. (All this assumes we won't go broke (or broker) in the meantime.

Nadin, I've read your stuff here for years and I enjoy your posts. You usually make more sense.

--imm