News Elon Musk wants to put millions of people on Mars.

[zerofay32]

I would go in a heartbeat. The possibility for seeing things only a few other people would see is very seductive. As a photographer I'm constantly working around the fact that every inch of this planet has been shot to hell. (billions of photographs are taken every year) but to tread new ground and see new things would be truly a dream come true for me. Unfortunately, my professional skill set (Airplane Pilot, Photography) is not useful on any sort of space flight... oh, but the possibilities.

 

[Artlav]

Unfortunately, my professional skill set (Airplane Pilot, Photography) is not useful on any sort of space flight...

With a 100 people crew, some less useful people should be fine. Besides, there is a thing called PR, for which a photographer is useful.

Also, don't underestimate the martian atmosphere - you can fly in it with sufficient determination (and length of runway).

 

[zerofay32]

Eh. I probably wouldn't pass any sort of psych screening they would have. (not much of a team player, I would want to find a way to go off and just live on my own. First martian hermit)

And the wife wouldn't be happy unless she could come too.

 

[Urwumpe]

Eh. I probably wouldn't pass any sort of psych screening they would have. (not much of a team player, I would want to find a way to go off and just live on my own. First martian hermit)

And the wife wouldn't be happy unless she could come too.

Being an introvert isn't the worst in spaceflight. Remember Michael Collins. Maybe somebody is needed who likes spending the day, sitting alone in the spaceship and keeping everything running fine for an emergency start.

 

[N_Molson]

Yeah. And it can be useful when you spend one month in a cramped rover with a RTG as an unique companion à la "The Martian"

Ask yourself about mental sanity when you begin to hug the RTG though... :hmm:

 

[Artlav]

Ask yourself about mental sanity when you begin to hug the RTG though... :hmm:

Well, you need something to keep your hot bath hot in the martian cold...

 

[Shifty]

Ask yourself about mental sanity when you begin to hug the RTG though... :hmm:

The introduction of variation through mutation and then selective pressure from the harsh environment: the slow way to Martian adaptation. Everybody hug the RTG, then put on some James Brown!

 

[Donamy]

"I feel good !!!"

 

[Pipcard]

The landing of the ITS "spaceship" really seems like a modernized version of older sci-fi illustrations.

Elon Musk intends to use a crane (I'm guessing an internal system) for disemarking and reembarking on Mars.

[ame="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/781206685553528833"]Elon Musk on Twitter: "@BArtusio Three cable elevator on a crane. Wind force on Mars is low, so don't need to worry about being blown around."[/ame]

 

[Thunder Chicken]

Just a thought - is there any plan for an abort system for ITS? Losing 100+ crew in a pad fireball probably would impact SpaceX's stock value, I think.

 

[boogabooga]

...would impact SpaceX's stock value, I think.

No, SpaceX is private, AFAIK. Shareholders would probably have something to say about the whole colonizing Mars thing if it were otherwise.

 

[Thunder Chicken]

Even still, they are using NASA ground support and facilities. Shareholders may not, but stakeholders have say in acceptable launch abort.

Also, how far back would one need to stand from the ITS booster at lift-off to ensure that you don't burn your eyebrows off if it explodes on the pad? The in-orbit fuel launch is fuel on top of fuel.

 

[MaverickSawyer]

Uhm... 6 miles or so, if my math is right.

 

[Urwumpe]

Uhm... 6 miles or so, if my math is right.

Sounds right. Also the ITS spacecraft should have more than enough Raptors for aborting the launch, if my math is right. It might be one of the slowest pad aborts in history, but it could work.

 

[RGClark]

With a 100 people crew, some less useful people should be fine. Besides, there is a thing called PR, for which a photographer is useful.

Also, don't underestimate the martian atmosphere - you can fly in it with sufficient determination (and length of runway).

Just hope you don't get sent into the "B-Ark"!

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSid-p0Xlk0"]The B-Ark: HHGG Original TV series - YouTube[/ame]

Bob Clark

 

[Notebook]

Haven't seen Freddie Jones for ages, he used to be all over UK telly.

Still going, I'm glad to say:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freddie_Jones

N.

 

[IronRain]

Nasaspaceflight.com: ITS Propulsion – The evolution of the SpaceX Raptor engine

 

[jthill]

Nasaspaceflight.com: ITS Propulsion – The evolution of the SpaceX Raptor engine

Am I reading this right? The 1/3-scale demonstrator version has a 27MW fuel pump?

In the full flow staged combustion cycle, almost all the fuel is first burned with a tiny bit of oxidizer in the fuel preburner to generate hot gas. Then, all that gas mass is put through the turbines, to drive the turbopumps, which are used to feed the preburners. […]The Raptor demonstrator turbomachinery is capable of producing 27MW of power

 

[Urwumpe]

Am I reading this right? The 1/3-scale demonstrator version has a 27MW fuel pump?

Yes. A RD-170 has a 150 MW turbopump.

EDIT: This math-weighted lecture hand-out might be interesting to understand why and how those shaft power levels are achieved:

http://www.spaceatdia.org/uploads/luca/SSME Turbomachinery 2010.pdf

 

[zyates87]

So...still no ITS on OrbitHangar?