What are your thoughts on Mars One?

Im not against dreaming or anything, its loads of fun. But whenever I dream I always try to link the dream to reality somehow.
A manned mission to Mars is probably very possible and all. But its more than likely a one way trip. And how long would that man/woman, or group of men/women last once they got there? Im sure any person or group going to mars is in for one hell of a miserable trip. Sure sounds exciting and all. First few moments, maybe even weeks if your a basket case would be extremely exciting.
Anyone ever read what it was like for people who sailed across the ocean back when ships were all made of wood? How you had storms in the ocean that could capsize your boat, or days when you were running low on resources and the crew ended up eating the remains of others?
I think the main problem we have with colonizing other planets is that these ideas are all currently fantasy, and with fantasy you only imagine the good. What happens when you get to mars? After going through hell to get there, you may even have a few other groups of people who want to claim certain areas of mars... contact with the folks back on earth will be pretty limited, and whose going to enforce laws upon people who launched off to mars!? You might get people "settling" in different areas of mars, leading to limited gene pools, theoritically leading to the creation of new "races".
I myself feel that rather than terraforming planets for mankind to live on, we form ourselves for the planet. In other words, dont send human beings to mars... Send AI's or artificial beings that are genetically engineered and given the proper equipment to actually colonize the place and produce tons of fuel from the planet, and all the asteroids and matter floating around between earth and mars. Sign a "treaty" with these artificial beings right from the start and allow them to form their own country so we dont go thru what england and the colonies in the americas went thru back in the day.
Think about what space travel does to the human body. Its absolutely horrible for you. Bone and muscle tissue will disappear rapidly. They have people in the zero gravity environment exercise approximately 3 hours a day to help prevent this from happening. That really limits our efficiency. Not only do we have to sleep a minimum of 7 hours a day, we also need 3 hours of exercise a day. I dont know about you, but I find it awfully difficult to do any other task while exercising. Cant really get much brain work done during those three hours, doubt I could do any paperwork, or math homework while trying to work my muscles with intense exercise. We would be better off with some sort of AI that did not require sleep or exercise and that isnt limited by many of the things we humans are.

 

If I didn't have a kid, I would totally sign up for something like that. It's extremely exciting and it would be an awesome way to die, if things don't work out so well. The excitement of going into something so unknown, inhospitable and to be part of the first group of people to do so, does not compare to any other type of adventure. It's probably a terrible idea, but such an appealing terrible idea, one that I'm completely unqualified for. I'd be the first to die lol

Also I don't think there's anything wrong with reproducing in Mars. No kid asks to be born into this madness, I don't think it really makes a difference what planet you're on, if we're looking at it from an existential point of view. If anything, someone born into it, is more well adapted than a transplant. It would probably not be a good idea to do it while people are still getting acquainted, but I don't think it's "morally wrong". Now I need to go to sleep.

 

Almost all of your questions are answered in the link I posted

Hmmm....good points about reproduction on mars. At least there's no war there? (Yet.)

 

It seems you need people for that :biggrin: Hey Mama, did you find out about the universal migrator already?

 

http://www.mars-one.com/news/press-releases/mars-one-begins-work-on-simulation-mars-home-for-crew

 

I think if plant life grew on Mars it could only be by technology and manipulation.

My personal belief is that they are wrong - don't have the right - to tinker with planets. Habitation on Mars, if possible, would be for only a select population of Humanity (such as scientists, specialists) and I would expect there to be a highly controlled breeding program for future generations. I don't see it as a luxury or privilege .. I think it's asinine. I wouldn't envy those people in the least.

 

Which right are you talking about in regards to tinkering with lifeless planets, gina? What is wrong about trying to colonize a planet with no plant or animal life?