Author Topic: LIVE: Dennis Tito's Inspiration Mars Foundation Announcement and Reaction Thread (Read 402712 times)

Blackstar · « **Reply #40 on:** 02/27/2013 05:30 pm »

What is the mean time between failure for the existing water purification system on the ISS?

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #41 on:** 02/27/2013 05:31 pm »

Notes the increasing amount of new vehicles in dev (Commercial Crew). Really are multiple options for what we need.

SLS and Orion are required for Mars for the scientists. But every 15 years WE can fly by Mars.

Says he got an e-mail from a six year old who sent 10 bucks as a donation (ATK Liberty promo video redux). "This is my Apollo". (Six years old?? Bit bright for a six year old.)

Eer · « **Reply #42 on:** 02/27/2013 05:32 pm »

Quote from: Blackstar on 02/27/2013 05:30 pm

What is the mean time between failure for the existing water purification system on the ISS?

Well - that and mean time to repair ...

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #43 on:** 02/27/2013 05:32 pm »

Dr Clark up next.

JimO · « **Reply #44 on:** 02/27/2013 05:32 pm »

I prepared some quotes for some press interviews this morning, as 'talking points', so if anybody needs to use them, feel free:

:

Somebody has to 'push the envelope' to see where they bump into a hard wall, since NASA has become disinclined to take such risks. And perhaps it's too much to expect NASA to be willing to accept the likely price of failure.

I'm proud that there are people who really understand the risks
and the consequences who are willing to step up and take a swing at it.

It took us years to realize, after the euphoria of Apollo, that we still had no clues at all how tough the manned interplanetary mission would be.

Space station experience brought those lessons home, and then offered
the venue to practice solutions to them.

Going directly to Mars right after Apollo would have been suicide.

But now it's merely extremely risky -- about as dangerous as Apollo was
when Kennedy committed to that goal in 1961.

To a largely unrecognized degree, NASA's quiet methodical plodding on the ISS has finally flight-tested and verified the life support hardware for such a long flight with no rest or repair stops.

And we shouldn't overlook that the Russians have verified
the human factor with their own bold 500 day ground simulation.

simonbp · « **Reply #45 on:** 02/27/2013 05:33 pm »

Clark talking about free falling from Mars upper atmosphere?

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #46 on:** 02/27/2013 05:35 pm »

Representing the academia element.

"This is going to be the Apollo 8 moment for the next generation."

Have to keep the crew alive for just shy of 1.5 years in space. But we have a lot to go on via experience. We know crews can survive micro g via long duration.

Going to have to contend with radiation.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #47 on:** 02/27/2013 05:36 pm »

Notes some medical ideas about reducing radiation problems.

"It's a concern, but it's not a showstopper".

Robotbeat · « **Reply #48 on:** 02/27/2013 05:36 pm »

They're contending with radiation potentially with free-radical scavengers. (Such a good idea, it's the ideal solution to the radiation challenge, IMHO. Unfortunately it seems it's overlooked compared to the more sexy over-engineer-the-spacecraft approach...)

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #49 on:** 02/27/2013 05:37 pm »

More on keeping the crew healty, from Jane Pointer. Oooh, she's English!

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #50 on:** 02/27/2013 05:40 pm »

"It's a really long road trip, in an RV and you can't get out for a year and a half."

3000 pounds of dehydrated food. "Hmmmmmmmmm, yummy!" (she said that, honest!).

They'll have to do hours of exercise per day. And they will have to be able to maintain the life support system.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #51 on:** 02/27/2013 05:42 pm »

We must have robustness in our life support system.

"Once they've left planet Earth, they ain't getting off that bus".

Now on to mental health. Longest stay in space is 438 days. Seen the completion of Mars 500. Also notes Antarctica bases.

Blackstar · « **Reply #52 on:** 02/27/2013 05:42 pm »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 02/27/2013 05:40 pm

3000 pounds of dehydrated food. "Hmmmmmmmmm, yummy!" (she said that, honest!).

Just need to loop that soundbite.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #53 on:** 02/27/2013 05:43 pm »

Worked on Biosphere 2. Depression set in during the third quarter. Crew hardly spoke to each other. Could have been dangerous.

Will be offering the crew mental health support, as well as a lot of training before the mission.

Crew selection process will be rigorous.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #54 on:** 02/27/2013 05:44 pm »

She's gone off on a tangent now. Oh, she's talking about her great marriage with her husband and thus they will need a strong couple.

mr. mark · « **Reply #55 on:** 02/27/2013 05:46 pm »

she seems slightly eccentric.

ugordan · « **Reply #56 on:** 02/27/2013 05:46 pm »

Couldn't have they used an... *actual* image of Mars instead of that cartoonish globe?

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #57 on:** 02/27/2013 05:47 pm »

"Man and a woman is important because it represents humanity. And it represents our children, because they will see themselves reflected in that crew. It's all about our children."

Imagine a 13 year old girl, sending a tweet about a woman on near Mars.

This is getting really fluffy.

simonbp · « **Reply #58 on:** 02/27/2013 05:48 pm »

Quote from: ugordan on 02/27/2013 05:46 pm

Couldn't have they used an... *actual* image of Mars instead of that cartoonish globe?

Yeah, that's pretty goofy.

Lar · « **Reply #59 on:** 02/27/2013 05:49 pm »

Quote from: mr. mark on 02/27/2013 05:46 pm

she seems slightly eccentric.

I can't help but suspect that anyone who was cooped up with 'warring factions' for 500 days would be slightly eccentric.

Besides, if she's a Brit??? They're *ALL* eccentric!!! (Hi Chris!)

I have to wonder how effective remote psychological support will be, especially when the comm lag is at the highest...