Trump reportedly interested in a Mars mission after talks with Elon Musk - Polidicks

[quote]For drive-by readers we offer this immediate answer to the question posed in our headline: Almost certainly not, at least in the inaugural address. Maybe later. By tradition, inaugurals are broadly thematic and not specific. President-elect Donald Trump has been studying past inaugurals, according to his aides, so he understands that this is not a State of the Union address with a laundry list of proposals. That said, we feel no shame in plunging forward with speculation about Trump and Mars. It's plausible that Trump could talk about a Mars mission sometime in the very near future. [b]For starters, Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX and Tesla, has made two trips to Trump Tower. He met at least once with Trump and, we’re reliably told, discussed Mars and public-private partnerships.[/b] As we have reported many times, Musk and his people at SpaceX have the bold dream of colonizing Mars, and think they can launch the first human mission to the surface of the Red Planet as soon as 2024 — when Trump, if reelected, would still be in the White House. (We understand that Musk also talked with Trump about other issues, including the need for a smart grid — the kind of infrastructure that would give a boost to the solar energy business, in which Musk is a leader via his investments in the company Solar City.) Musk does not share the same political views as Trump, but both men have had success as motivators. Those of us who are realists may roll our eyes at some of Musk’s most ambitious, outlandish proposals — including his desire to build a fleet of gigantic spaceships taking 100 people at a time to Mars as part of a commercial colonization venture — but we have to acknowledge that this kind of thinking is exciting for young engineers in a way that NASA’s far more plodding, incremental approach to human spaceflight is not. Trump understands the power of a big idea, and the leverage that can come from a cult of personality. He has been interested in John F. Kennedy’s vow to send humans to the moon. He discussed that early this month at Trump Tower with historian Douglas Brinkley. “He reflected on how the Apollo program brought the country together,” Brinkley told The Washington Post this week in a phone interview. “It captures the spirit of the American people. That’s the word he used — ‘spirit’.”[/quote] [url]https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/01/19/will-trump-echo-jfks-moonshot-and-vow-to-send-humans-to-mars/?utm_term=.e5e174d873d2[/url] [t]http://pixel.nymag.com/imgs/daily/intelligencer/2017/01/19/19-trump-mars.w710.h473.jpg[/t]

But where will we all want to move to if Trump gets there first? In all seriousness, this is probably one of the few good things about his administration, though I'm quite puzzled how he intends on getting there while also obliterating the federal government's budget spending.

Do it.

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;51707946]But where will we all want to move to if Trump gets there first? In all seriousness, this is probably one of the few good things about his administration, though I'm quite puzzled how he intends on getting there while also obliterating the federal government's budget spending.[/QUOTE] Through private sector investment and re-directing all of NASAs budget towards a Mars mission. iirc didn't he say that NASA's weather satellites or climate change studies were a waste of money?

We'll need a habitable Mars once we're done with Earth.

[QUOTE=BF;51707997]Through private sector investment and re-directing all of NASAs budget towards a Mars mission. iirc didn't he say that NASA's weather satellites or climate change studies were a waste of money?[/QUOTE] Yes he did, though I fear they'll cut NASA's budget blindly rather than cut out specific things unrelated to space exploration. Though I'm not exactly sure how studying our own planet impedes or wastes studying ways to explore other planets.

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;51708007] Though I'm not exactly sure how studying our own planet impedes or wastes studying ways to explore other planets.[/QUOTE] It doesn't. It's just concern trolling.

"Shit, everybody hates me. I need a distraction. What's something everybody thinks is cool? OH-- I know: Mars and space exploration!"

a manned mission to mars would be a p cool legacy to have when people look back on your presidency

[QUOTE=Govna;51708049]"Shit, everybody hates me. I need a distraction. What's something everybody thinks is cool? OH-- I know: Mars and space exploration!"[/QUOTE] I'm not sure. It could just be that he's interesting in those areas, even moreso after talking with Elon Musk. [editline]22nd January 2017[/editline] [QUOTE=cricket50;51708063]a manned mission to mars would be a p cool legacy to have when people look back on your presidency[/QUOTE] while a mars mission is in no way viable within 8 years, imagine if Trump [I]did[/I] put the actions in motion to start a manned mission to mars. that would be very conflicting.

Don't ever bet against Elon. He'll use any resource he can to achieve goals, even if it means working with Trump.

[QUOTE=The Rifleman;51708077]Don't ever bet against Elon. He'll use any resource he can to achieve goals, even if it means working with Trump.[/QUOTE] All Elon really has to do is say "this will create jobs in the US and you'll get credit" and Trump will sign off anything Elon wants to do.

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;51708080]All Elon really has to do is say "this will create jobs in the US and you'll get credit" and Trump will sign off anything Elon wants to do.[/QUOTE] SpaceX will have to employ massive amounts of technicians and engineers for the building, testing and integration work for the BFR.

[QUOTE=WillerinV1.02;51708068]I'm not sure. It could just be that he's interesting in those areas, even moreso after talking with Elon Musk.[/QUOTE] Based off what exactly? Trump's administration is one of the most anti-scientific in American history, whether we're talking having Scott Pruitt as the head of the EPA, Rick Perry as head of the DoE, Rex Tillerson as SoS what with has background as an Exxon CEO, his cuts towards nuclear science and our nuclear arsenal, his hostile stance towards climatologists in the scientific community and research concerning climate change, Robert Kennedy is going to be heading a vaccination panel (Kennedy is, for the record, a loathsome anti-vac fuckwit), etc. I'm more skeptical of this. I think he's just doing it as an attempt to take the negative attention off of himself in the short term. If there's any genuine interest here, it's not in the endeavor itself for the sake of scientific advancement (as it should be). Trump is the embodiment of a malignant narcissist. Being known as the president that sent Americans (and humanity) to Mars has obvious perks with regards to forging a legacy for himself. And yes, he can also brag about "creating jobs"-- distracting from all the jobs he's slated to cost this country with his policies.

[QUOTE=Govna;51708101]Based off what exactly? Trump's administration is one of the most anti-scientific in American history, whether we're talking having Scott Pruitt as the head of the EPA, Rick Perry as head of the DoE, Rex Tillerson as SoS what with has background as an Exxon CEO, his cuts towards nuclear science and our nuclear arsenal, his hostile stance towards climatologists in the scientific community and research concerning climate change, Robert Kennedy is going to be heading a vaccination panel (Kennedy is, for the record, a loathsome anti-vac fuckwit), etc. I'm more skeptical of this. I think he's just doing it as an attempt to take the negative attention off of himself in the short term. If there's any genuine interest here, it's not in the endeavor itself for the sake of scientific advancement (as it should be). Trump is the embodiment of a malignant narcissist. Being known as the president that sent Americans (and humanity) to Mars has obvious perks with regards to forging a legacy for himself. And yes, he can also brag about "creating jobs"-- distracting from all the jobs he's slated to cost this country with his policies.[/QUOTE]Cool dude good for you, still pretty sure Trump is genuine about this though

If Trump wants to fund the ITS then I don't see a problem with that. He may be anti-science in general but I think rockets are probably a bit exempt from that because everyone thinks rockets are pretty cool, regardless of their general scientific views. [video=youtube;0qo78R_yYFA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qo78R_yYFA[/video]

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;51707946]But where will we all want to move to if Trump gets there first? In all seriousness, this is probably one of the few good things about his administration, though I'm quite puzzled how he intends on getting there while also obliterating the federal government's budget spending.[/QUOTE] Spending US$20b on a space program is nothing in terms of the US federal budget.

[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;51708000]We'll need a habitable Mars once we're done with Earth.[/QUOTE] Unless the Moon is to collide with Earth, the bottom of the Pacific is still more habitable for us than Mars will ever be. It is probably less researched too.

[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;51708000]We'll need a habitable Mars once we're done with Earth.[/QUOTE] Haha that's a great joke. Even forgetting the extreme cost of travelling to Mars and the many dangers that voyagers would face on just the travel there, Mars has such an insignificant magnetic field that you would eventually receive terminal cancer from the constant pounding of cosmic and UV rays. Also, not only would terraforming Mars be so close to impossible that it may as well just be impossible, the atmospheric pressure on Mars is so low that it is just as bad as the vacuum of outer space (the low gravity would also have extreme effects on human health over the long-term). And then there are even more problems, like the dust on Mars being very dangerous for equipment and even accidental inhalation. Space is really cool, but 'colonising other planets' and 'manned interstellar travel' need to be called out for what they are - science fiction. Humanity would best be served by protecting the Earth for future generations, rather than the pipe dream of setting up colonies on inhospitable planets.

[QUOTE=BF;51708347]Haha that's a great joke. Even forgetting the extreme cost of travelling to Mars and the many dangers that voyagers would face on just the travel there, Mars has such an insignificant magnetic field that you would eventually receive terminal cancer from the constant pounding of cosmic and UV rays. Also, not only would terraforming Mars be so close to impossible that it may as well just be impossible, the atmospheric pressure on Mars is so low that it is just as bad as the vacuum of outer space (the low gravity would also have extreme effects on human health over the long-term). And then there are even more problems, like the dust on Mars being very dangerous for equipment and even accidental inhalation. Space is really cool, but 'colonising other planets' and 'manned interstellar travel' need to be called out for what they are - science fiction. Humanity would best be served by protecting the Earth for future generations, rather than the pipe dream of setting up colonies on inhospitable planets.[/QUOTE] Setting up a colony on mars is perfectly possible, what are you talking about?

Well better to use resources on cool shit instead of military.

[QUOTE=eirexe;51708351]Setting up a colony on mars is perfectly possible, what are you talking about?[/QUOTE] Yeah as a temporary thing for half a dozen people at the most, but that's it. The lack of a magnetic field is the real killer.

[QUOTE=BF;51708347]Haha that's a great joke. Even forgetting the extreme cost of travelling to Mars and the many dangers that voyagers would face on just the travel there, Mars has such an insignificant magnetic field that you would eventually receive terminal cancer from the constant pounding of cosmic and UV rays. Also, not only would terraforming Mars be so close to impossible that it may as well just be impossible, the atmospheric pressure on Mars is so low that it is just as bad as the vacuum of outer space (the low gravity would also have extreme effects on human health over the long-term). And then there are even more problems, like the dust on Mars being very dangerous for equipment and even accidental inhalation. Space is really cool, but 'colonising other planets' and 'manned interstellar travel' need to be called out for what they are - science fiction. Humanity would best be served by protecting the Earth for future generations, rather than the pipe dream of setting up colonies on inhospitable planets.[/QUOTE] You've got a point - thwarting the climate change should be a priority. But everything else you said... Do you realize we actually have a space station in orbit where people live outside of Earth's atmosphere in a state of near-complete weightlessness? Colonizing Mars isn't going to be fast, cheap or easy, but it's definitely not impossible. As it stands, we definitely have the means to begin with this project.

[QUOTE=BF;51708347]Haha that's a great joke. Even forgetting the extreme cost of travelling to Mars and the many dangers that voyagers would face on just the travel there, Mars has such an insignificant magnetic field that you would eventually receive terminal cancer from the constant pounding of cosmic and UV rays. Also, not only would terraforming Mars be so close to impossible that it may as well just be impossible, the atmospheric pressure on Mars is so low that it is just as bad as the vacuum of outer space (the low gravity would also have extreme effects on human health over the long-term). And then there are even more problems, like the dust on Mars being very dangerous for equipment and even accidental inhalation. Space is really cool, but 'colonising other planets' and 'manned interstellar travel' need to be called out for what they are - science fiction. Humanity would best be served by protecting the Earth for future generations, rather than the pipe dream of setting up colonies on inhospitable planets.[/QUOTE] There are already lots of ideas on how to survive on Mars and create a colony, it's just getting there safely that is the problem but it is an issue which is constantly being looked at with already a few possible ideas, one being (iirc) an electric shielding around the ship to destabilize/deflect the ionising radiation which is the main issue for humans. Other than that we are set

[QUOTE=AntonioR;51708229]Unless the Moon is to collide with Earth, the bottom of the Pacific is still more habitable for us than Mars will ever be. It is probably less researched too.[/QUOTE] Actually this is also a fair point. With their government's complete disregard for climate science, residents of New York should better prepare to live their lives as a subaquatic species.

[QUOTE=BF;51708397]Yeah as a temporary thing for half a dozen people at the most, but that's it. The lack of a magnetic field is the real killer.[/QUOTE] [URL="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7Uyfqi_TE8"]Thousands[/URL]

[QUOTE=Govna;51708101]Based off what exactly?[/QUOTE] The fact that trump is reportedly interested in a Mars mission. Like, I get your hesitation dude. But sometimes there's not much to it. Sometimes the situation is simply what it appears to be. I dunno whats so hard to believe about a smarter, more articulated person than Trump talking him into believing in something. If you have a hateboner for Trump and just [I]can't[/I] accept anything positive from him, look at it that way. Elon Musk talked him into it.

Mars can't be terraformed its d e a d your best hope is to find the nearest earth looking planet and have dr eggman on your team.

[QUOTE=Trebgarta;51708513]After what he is planning to do with Earth, do we really trust Trump with Mars??[/QUOTE] Well by the time we get there hopefully he'll be out of the office.

[QUOTE=BF;51708347]Haha that's a great joke. Even forgetting the extreme cost of travelling to Mars and the many dangers that voyagers would face on just the travel there, Mars has such an insignificant magnetic field that you would eventually receive terminal cancer from the constant pounding of cosmic and UV rays. Also, not only would terraforming Mars be so close to impossible that it may as well just be impossible, the atmospheric pressure on Mars is so low that it is just as bad as the vacuum of outer space (the low gravity would also have extreme effects on human health over the long-term). And then there are even more problems, like the dust on Mars being very dangerous for equipment and even accidental inhalation. Space is really cool, but 'colonising other planets' and 'manned interstellar travel' need to be called out for what they are - science fiction. Humanity would best be served by protecting the Earth for future generations, rather than the pipe dream of setting up colonies on inhospitable planets.[/QUOTE] Have you read any history? Humans seems to have a habit of overcoming the impossible.