Send seniors on one-way trip to Mars?

CanwllCorfe · 11-22-2010, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conan

Hey there, everybody!

Hey Dr. Nick!

Connair · 11-23-2010, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanwllCorfe

Hey Dr. Nick!

"The kneebone's connected to the... something. The something's connected to the... red thing. The red thing's connected to my wrist watch... Uh oh."

crash_override · 11-23-2010, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger

There's a sitcom in this somewhere.

The Bucket List 2: Out of This World

Sljslj · 11-26-2010, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crash_override

The Bucket List 2: Out of This World

LoathsomePete · 11-27-2010, 12:40 AM

Am I the only one who on first thought after reading the thread title thought "Huh... this seems like an awfully expensive way to euthanize the elderly." Then after reading the article I thought "A planet inhabited by the elderly... not exactly going to be a popular holiday destination."

On a more serious note I do believe that space exploration will be necessary for our survival as a species in the next couple hundred years. At the rate we're going, Earth will be uninhabitable and we will have to start colonizing other places, but I mean I also look at it as the next logical step forward in our evolution as a species. We started in Africa, migrated North, then moved over to Asia, then back to Africa, then into Europe, then we set sail for the New World and Australia/ New Guinea, exploring off world planets would just be a more grand version of what the Vikings did a couple hundred years before that other guy. Hell if we could create the technology to terraform a planet into something habitable like Earth there is no telling how far our species could advance.

MoonlitSunshine · 11-20-2010, 07:32 AM

"I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out O... Ah, ****"

On a more serious note, knowing scientists the "IN CASE OF A MAJOR CATASTROPHE" bit is probably less the actual reasining for it, and more that if they have a reason other than "cause we're pretty damn curious" they're much more likely to get private sector backing. Never underestimate the paranoia of a multi-billionaire!

As for the "Billions could be spent on other things" argument: the billions already exist in the world, and they're not being spent. What makes you think that if they don't spend it on this, that they'll actually spend it on something that will benefit the rest of the world? People are selfish, rich people, doubly so (kinda have to be to get that way) I don't blame them for it, but it's a fact of life that the vast majority of them aren't going to fork out money if they don't stand to profit from it. If Space Exploration works, and a new colony is set up, investors stand to profit majorly from it, so it's possible to get private sector backing. If you can convince the richest people in the world that they stand to gain from increasing the standard of living of the world in general, then be my guest.

On a scientific note, part of me would actually be interested in living on Mars, especially if i'd already lived a full life on Earth. We have no idea how long we're going to live, in fact there are theories that the rate at which we are learning to extend life is fast outgrowing the average lifespan of a human being in a 1st world country. If it increases at this rate, many of us may live to be 200/300, if not indefinitely old. Would you not get bored, after a while? Starting a colony on mars would be difficult, it'd probably be rough for a fair bit, but it would be challenging, and if you were with people who you got along with and worked well with, I personally don't think it'd be that bad. So long as nothing like "The Waters of Mars" happens.... *shudder*

11-27-2010, 12:40 AM	#5 (permalink)
LoathsomePete Cardboard Box Realtor Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hobb's End Posts: 7,648	Am I the only one who on first thought after reading the thread title thought "Huh... this seems like an awfully expensive way to euthanize the elderly." Then after reading the article I thought "A planet inhabited by the elderly... not exactly going to be a popular holiday destination." On a more serious note I do believe that space exploration will be necessary for our survival as a species in the next couple hundred years. At the rate we're going, Earth will be uninhabitable and we will have to start colonizing other places, but I mean I also look at it as the next logical step forward in our evolution as a species. We started in Africa, migrated North, then moved over to Asia, then back to Africa, then into Europe, then we set sail for the New World and Australia/ New Guinea, exploring off world planets would just be a more grand version of what the Vikings did a couple hundred years before that other guy. Hell if we could create the technology to terraform a planet into something habitable like Earth there is no telling how far our species could advance. __________________ Last.FM 101 Albums That May Not Change Your Life, But I Really Like And You Might Too

11-20-2010, 07:32 AM	#6 (permalink)
MoonlitSunshine Dat's Der Bunny! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ireland Posts: 1,097	"I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out O... Ah, ***" On a more serious note, knowing scientists the "IN CASE OF A MAJOR CATASTROPHE" bit is probably less the actual reasining for it, and more that if they have a reason other than "cause we're pretty damn curious" they're much more likely to get private sector backing. Never underestimate the paranoia of a multi-billionaire! As for the "Billions could be spent on other things" argument: the billions already exist in the world, and they're not being spent. What makes you think that if they don't spend it on this, that they'll actually spend it on something that will benefit the rest of the world? People are selfish, rich people, doubly so (kinda have to be to get that way) I don't blame them for it, but it's a fact of life that the vast majority of them aren't going to fork out money if they don't stand to profit from it. If Space Exploration works, and a new colony is set up, investors stand to profit majorly from it, so it's possible to get private sector backing. If you can convince the richest people in the world that they stand to gain from increasing the standard of living of the world in general, then be my guest. On a scientific note, part of me would actually be interested in living on Mars, especially if i'd already lived a full life on Earth. We have no idea how long we're going to live, in fact there are theories that the rate at which we are learning to extend life is fast outgrowing the average lifespan of a human being in a 1st world country. If it increases at this rate, many of us may live to be 200/300, if not indefinitely old. Would you not get bored, after a while? Starting a colony on mars would be difficult, it'd probably be rough for a fair bit, but it would be challenging, and if you were with people who you got along with and worked well with, I personally don't think it'd be that bad. So long as nothing like "The Waters of Mars" happens.... shudder* __________________ "I found it eventually, at the bottom of a locker in a disused laboratory, with a sign on the door saying "Beware of the Leopard". Ever thought of going into Advertising?" - Arthur Dent Last edited by MoonlitSunshine; 11-20-2010 at 07:40 AM.