Author Topic: Education in space  (Read 2558 times)

Offline khallow

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Education in space
« on: 02/25/2008 09:52 pm »
The thread on ISRU potential for the Moon and Mars spurred me to wonder how we can use the less tangible benefits of space exploration especially to improve the economic viability of colonies to these two worlds.

I think Martian colonization efforts in particular will suffer from economic problems. Aside from an unknown but large quantity of science output, there's little on Mars of economic value to Earth at this time. This will hinder early development since Mars will be, for a while, a one product town. However, the science potential is itself an intangible resource to be used for other things. That science can be leveraged through creating an education industry. I think Mars has a much better potential than the Moon to establish a university. My take is that even in the absence of life, Mars has much greater scientific potential than the Moon does. It's just a far more complex body. Further, as well noted throughout this forum, the ISRU potential for Mars is much better than the Moon. That means a lower threshhold to create a self-sustained presence on the surface.

So here's a short potential timeline to give some idea of how student rotations would work (times can be many months off especially since I don't fully grok the timing for transfer orbits between Earth and Mars):


  • Year 0, people land on Mars and establish a first base.
  • Year 10, we should both have a good idea of where to set up long term colonies and the effects of long term living on Mars. Select a site for a permanent colony and college. Also, by now we should close to establishing a Mars cycler (as popularly proposed by Buzz Adrin).
  • Year 11.5, first group of students leave Earth. First colony established prior to this time.
  • Year 12,  first students arrive on Mars.
  • Year 13.5, progress of first group of students evaluated. Second group sent. Size of the group can be altered or the group postponed for two years, if there are serious problems with the first group.
  • Year 14 second group arrives on Mars.
  • Year 15.5, first class graduates and leaves for Earth. Third class leaves Earth.
  • Year 16, first group returns to Earth. Third group arrives at Mars. Each additional class operates on the same 4.5 year plan (later perhaps reduced to a 4 year cycle with better propulsion technology).Second class is about halfway through.
  • Year 17.5 second class graduates and leaves for Earth. Fourth class is on its way, etc.


I'm thinking maybe starting with 1 student for every 4 potential instructors in the base. Possible degrees will be a limited selection of masters degrees as supported by base faculty. STudents are likely to be older than usual graduate students (due to greater maturity and reduced risk from radiation exposure).

Students would be supplemental manpower and would have or learn important technical and engineering skills so they can back up other base members in essential colony operations. As we understand the health consequences of living on Mars, it's likely that students or instructors will chose extended stays on Mars. After a few rotations of students, we'll have a good feeling for the long term viability of the program and what sort of education experience the place can offer. Economically, I think you might even get paying students, if you can reduce the cost of the program to around $1-10 million a year per student, including transportation to and from Mars.

Also, education is a product that tolerates well the restricted travel conditions of going to Mars. I really can't think of anything else that can take 4-5 years to "make" and yet retain considerable value when returned to Earth.
Karl Hallowell

Offline guru

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Re: Education in space
« Reply #1 on: 08/06/2008 06:43 pm »
I think if we considered starting a program like that on the moon instead, it would be more affordable - but still unaffordable to all but the richest industrialists and oil barons.  At least on the moon, you can rotate many times more students/researchers because you don't need to wait for proper orbit alignment.  Academicians could come for a couple of weeks instead of a couple of years at a time to get their materials and data.  The actual process of education could still take place on Earth, where living is much cheaper, and the facilities would only need to 1/52 as big as on Mars to move the same number of people through in a given amount of time.  Lunar colonists could charge more the equivalent of rent, as opposed to a lower lease type rate, and thus bring in more revenue.

Looking at the cost, that's a twenty million dollar education (rock bottom) using today's technology.  Most medical specialists don't spend more than a half a million over twelve years for their degrees, and they typically make that back in a couple of years.  I'm not sure what a student could do that would bring in $20 million over the course of his/her lifetime that he/she couldn't learn to do better on Earth.  That doesn't mean I still wouldn't love to do a post doc on Mars.

Now, if someone else were to pick up the tab (e.g. if there was a competitively awarded government scholarship for "Scholars in Space"), I could see this picking up a little bit of steam in a couple of decades.


Offline khallow

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Re: Education in space
« Reply #2 on: 08/07/2008 06:09 pm »
My assumption with this post was that there was money  being spent on a Mars settlement anyway. At that point, what products can such a colony provide to the rest of the Solar System? As I see it, the big product over the next century is science. Education makes a good value add given those circumstances. Keep in mind that in addition to learning, the students have productive jobs at the settlement. So as I see it, the value would be 1) their labor, 2) education and research, and 3) some additional physiological data.

As far as times go, I don't see the first manned landing on Mars before 2030, after 2040 is more likely. That means we're probably speaking of a Martian college no sooner than 2050.

The lunar camp idea seems very workable and achievable sooner than 2050. It should be able to service numerous universities at once.
« Last Edit: 08/07/2008 06:11 pm by khallow »
Karl Hallowell

Offline timothyz

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Re: Education in space
« Reply #3 on: 04/24/2013 07:08 am »
I think if we considered starting a program like that on the moon instead, it would be more affordable - but still unaffordable to all but the richest industrialists and oil barons.  At least on the moon, you can rotate many times more students/researchers because you don't need to wait for proper orbit alignment.  Academicians could come for a couple of weeks instead of a couple of years at a time to get their materials and data.  The actual process of education could still take place on Earth, where living is much cheaper, and the facilities would only need to 1/52 as big as on Mars to move the same number of people through in a given amount of time.  Lunar colonists could charge more the equivalent of rent, as opposed to a lower lease type rate, and thus bring in more revenue.

Looking at the cost, that's a twenty million dollar education (rock bottom) using today's technology.  Most medical specialists don't spend more than a half a million over twelve years for their degrees, and they typically make that back in a couple of years.  I'm not sure what a student could do that would bring in $20 million over the course of his/her lifetime that he/she couldn't learn to do better on Earth.  That doesn't mean I still wouldn't love to do a post doc on Mars.

Now, if someone else were to pick up the tab (e.g. if there was a competitively awarded government scholarship for "Scholars in Space"), I could see this picking up a little bit of steam in a couple of decades.
This would be quite fun and i must say that this would be an innovative idea to study in space, The students will have more information about space and they an have a look at the universe more realistically. But this idea need to be more developed as this would really be expansive.

How to upgrade your training skills?
« Last Edit: 12/30/2013 06:14 am by timothyz »

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