Thursday, September 01, 2005

New Format Notice

Dear Readers,
I am changing the comments utility from "Haloscan" to Blogger's comments program. So if you have comments on the blog that you wish to copy, please do so by monday (Labor Day). That evening I will be dropping all of the comments as I do not have the time to copy them all and replace them on the new system. If you want to make a comment between now and then, please use the comments link in the signature/date line immediately following the body of each post. Sorry for the inconvenience.
gary d. goodwin
ADDENDUM: As of 9/11/05 all comments may now be made by clicking on the word "comments"

2 comments:

Mike Coppi said...

Man on Mars by 2019
BASIC PLAN - TO REDUCE COSTS - BEFORE RETIRING STS FLEET [2011]
MODIFY THE SPACE SHUTTLES FOR A MANNED MISSION TO MARS

Send 3 Shuttles to Mars
......by Michael J. Coppi, X711mjc@cs.com, 01/05/09

As a former Aerospace Engineer with the Space Transportation System, I envision that the U.S. can complete a manned Mars mission (landing/return) within ten years. Such could also be accomplished on a much lower budget (in relation to a 100% newly designed program), by using existing hardware (the 3 Space Shuttles as primary components [+ some new equipment]) and including backup systems to ensure mission success.

OUTLINE SYNOPSIS:

A. Discovery to Mars - Atmospheric Penetration, Landing, Return-to-Orbit Module

B. Atlantis to Mars Orbit - Docks with + Returns Excursion Crew to Earth

C. Endeavour Accompanies as Contingency Rescue - Backup of All Elements

X711mjc@cs.com, 909-370-3723

From a concept originally proposed 3/15/2005 by Michael J. Coppi
- Mike Coppi, BSAE, Cal Poly Pomona, 1982
.......................
Addendum --

Seed Mars Now!

.........by Michael J. Coppi, X711mjc@cs.com, 01/05/09

We must begin now to prepare Mars for future colonization by Humans.

The 'search for life' program is now anticlimactic at best, moot at worst. It almost seems a waste to keep sending sterile launders. In fact the uncertainty that all landers have been 100% sterile puts in question the source of any "life" ever found. Remember too that meteorites from Earth may have already seeded Mars in the distant or recent past..

Future probes should be deliberately "contaminated" with any and all organisms that have the slightest chance of surviving and taking root in the Martian environment.

Life forms accustomed to Arctic/Antarctic locales are obvious prime choices.

The simplest method of delivery would be to shield the probe for entry into the Martian atmosphere, then allow it to crash to the surface.

More sophisticated soft landers could even provide nourishment and/or shelter for moss, grass, microbes, even insects.

There's certainly CO2 in the atmosphere to possibly support some hardy polar algae, moss or plant from Earth that can survive with just the moisture from ice that's been found just beneath the Martian surface. Eventually leading to simple grasses. More plants = O2 added to atmosphere for eventual animal life.

Terra-Forming efforts must start now!

by Michael J. Coppi, X711mjc@cs.com, 01/05/09

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