Buzz Aldrin: "We Should Build a Settlement on Mars."

He was the second man to walk on the moon behind Neil Armstrong, and has since become the cultural icon that the reclusive Armstrong never wanted to be. And now, speaking in Paris on Tuesday, Buzz Aldrin believes that the first to visit Mars should settle there.

Aldrin compares humanities desire to visit Mars to our travel from Europe to the Americas. Those original pioneers knew that they would probably never return to their homes, but set out regardless.

"They need to go there more with the psychology of knowing that you are a pioneering settler and you don't look forward to go back home again after a couple a years," he said. "At age 30, they are given an opportunity. If they accept, then we train them, at age 35, we send them. At age 65, who knows what advances have taken place. They can retire there, or maybe we can bring them back."

Mars has been the focus of much attention this year given the successes and challenges facing first, the Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity, and later the Phoenix Mars Lander. Add to that the three orbiting spacecraft, Mars Odyssey, Mars Express, and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, and Mars is definitely on the agenda.

Buzz Aldrin referred to the “nearer terrestrial conditions” that exist on Mars compared to “the Moon and any other place.” Given recent discoveries of the existence – whether it is past or present – of water on the planet, and the geological similarities to Earth, astronomers and scientists from all across the planet hope to eventually send astronauts to the Red Planet.

"If we are going to put a few people down there and ensure their appropriate safety, would you then go through all that trouble and then bring them back immediately, after a year, a year and a half?” said Aldrin.

Visits to Mars are already on drawing boards at NASA and other space agencies worldwide. But the cost to send even an unmanned explorer with materials for future human visitors are bring many to hesitate about the wisdom of such actions; let alone sending the humans. Many critics of sending humans believe that sending unmanned probes and explorers offer just as much in the way of scientific discovery, without the exorbitant cost.

Future unmanned missions to Mars include the Mars Science Laboratory which is set to launch in 2009, and is essentially the older, smarter brother of the Mars Rovers. The Phobos-Grunt will be visiting Mars’ largest moon Phobos, and missions being headed by Finland, Russia, NASA and the ESA are all set to launch between now and 2020. Needless to say, by the time we ever consider launching humans to Mars, we’ll have enough info to get us there safely.

Aldrin also commented on what he believed were the disappointing Space Shuttle program and the International Space Station. The shuttle "has not lived up to its expectations, neither has the space station," said Aldrin.

Posted by Josh Hill.

http://www.physorg.com/news143972922.html

Comments

[nepharous]

I don't wnat to hear about "the expense" of a Mars mission. If the US can waste TWO TRILLION DOLLARS on Iraq, bail out the banking industry for 700 Billion and give Isreal 4 Billion a year for defense we can cerainly afford to go to Mars. We have built a civilization in a glass house with no insurance policy. Mars is our future.

[EvilCosmicMonkey from Knoxville]

nepharous, I quite agree. We managed to keep the Apollo program going ( even with drastic budget cuts ) while we were involved in that OTHER unpopular war. The shuttle program had its day, then it got turned into a moving van to orbit. It's time for SERIOUS Lunar - Martian exploration !!! The money for that bailout could've been used for that. We need to become a " 2 - planet civilization ", then expand outward from there.

[Saudi]

Enough assemblable facilities and equipments should be deployed on Mars first, When people make it all the way to Mars they can build a good settlement and resting place before making the long journey back home again.

[BUZZ's DADDY]

Buzz has not even been to the moon. Though he faked the moonwalk and also the moon golf.

Maybe he drank coke there too and the cans can be dound by the current Indian mission. Maybe the Indians would drop the flag on same spot (if there is any)

[Barrie O'Leary]

What would man do on Mars, anyway? Very little. It is one thing to see Mars exploration as a matter of national prestige, but what will happen to the first man on Mars when he has a toothache? Or cancer? Or just a broken bone? He'll have a companion, will he?
We humans are sexual creatures. We'll need sexual partners. What happens when they have a tiff? They will, you know. Guess what. Who might be the first murder victim on Mars?

[jer35mx]

That's a good point, the money amounts that are managed in the US projects, now, the problem is the men healtness, in those times, the travels from Europe to America, the men life was putted at risk with frequency, now it's other way to take it.

[Saudi]

Since Mars atmosphere is not hospitable anyway and just as bad as that of the moon, why not to concentrate just on the closest and make colonies up there? You will learn a lot with much less cost and difficulties.

At later time approaching Mars will be more attainable with better knowledge, experience and more developed and advanced technologies.

Some time bigger and over stretched step makes you fall down,

Exactly like what you did in Iraq.

[EvilCosmicMonkey from Knoxville]

Mars is marginally more hospitable than Venus or Mercury, 1 has a ceiling of sulfur clouds over seas of lava, & 1 is an arid, moon - like planet with extremes of temperature betwixt day & night. Compared to that, even with duststorms, thin atmosphere, high doses of UV, etc., Mars looks downright homey. Europa & Titan may be more apt to house life, but for the time being, Mars is closer. It's also a neat spring - board to the asteroids & outer Solar System.

Hopefully, we won't treat it like we're treating Earth. People littering in Valles Marineris should be fined !!!

[EvilCosmicMonkey From Knoxville]

We should also send the MATERIALS for a settlement, equipment, etc., 1ST, then they'll be waiting there ( barring some accident or being buried by Martian sand, whatever. ) for the arrival of Earth settlers & colonizers. Just keep the stuff packaged until they can get to it.