You are presumed to be honest and responsible without evidence to the contrary beyond a reasonable doubt… on the balance of probablilties you are justified by 51 % likelyhood.
The Dart mission only used a spacecraft to hit an asteroid and the results according to NASA are that the bump moved the course of the test target was changed.
There is little atmosphere in space and is generally referred to as a vacuum. We are used to seeing the results of explosives as they work on air blasts with destructive force. This may mean that atomic weapons would be muted as an asteroid breaker but it’s very hopeful to have the ability to intercept them.
The next Starship test flight, Flight 10, is scheduled for August 4th, 2025. This flight will be another uncrewed test to gather more data on the Starship’s performance.
Waiting for a crewed test launch, concerned about the Artemis Partner Program in the current geo political atmosphere it’s heartening to know a starship test is coming in August.
1000 Starships
Maintained by space x that 1000 Starships will bring 1 million colonists to Mars. This I
Is for permanent settlement.
The ambitious goal of making Mars a habitable planet and sending a million people there is primarily driven by SpaceX, led by Elon Musk. While other space agencies like NASA have plans for human missions to Mars, SpaceX has the most public and aggressive timeline for large-scale colonization. Here’s a breakdown of the key aspects of this program: SpaceX’s Vision for Mars Colonization: * Self-Sufficient City: The ultimate goal is to establish a self-sufficient, large-scale settlement and a democratic, self-governing colony on Mars. This means not just sending people, but building the infrastructure for them to live, work, and thrive independently of Earth. * Starship System: The core of SpaceX’s plan is the Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy rocket. This fully reusable transportation system is designed to carry both crew and massive amounts of cargo to Mars. * Massive Transportation: To achieve the goal of a million people, SpaceX envisions launching thousands of Starships during Mars launch windows (which occur approximately every 26 months). They talk about launching more than 10 times per day to maximize these windows. * Phased Approach: The plan involves initial cargo missions to deliver equipment, habitats, and supplies before any humans arrive. The first crewed missions would focus on setting up propellant plants (to produce fuel on Mars using local resources), power systems, and rudimentary bases. * Resource Utilization (ISRU): A crucial part of self-sufficiency is In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU). This involves using resources available on Mars, such as harvesting CO2 from the atmosphere and splitting it into its components to create oxygen and fuel. * Timeline: While highly ambitious and subject to change, Elon Musk has spoken about a first crewed mission as early as 2029 and the development of a self-sustaining colony by 2050. Terraforming Mars: “Terraforming” refers to the hypothetical process of transforming a planet hostile to life into one that can sustainably host humans and other lifeforms without protection. While SpaceX’s immediate focus is on establishing a base that uses local resources, the long-term vision of a truly Earth-like Mars involves terraforming. * Challenges: Terraforming Mars presents immense challenges with current technology. Key issues include: * Thin Atmosphere: Mars has a very thin atmosphere with extremely low surface pressure. * Lack of Magnetic Field: Mars lacks a global magnetic field, which makes its atmosphere vulnerable to erosion by solar winds. * Cold Temperatures: Mars is very cold. * Proposed Methods (Hypothetical): * Greenhouse Gases: Releasing greenhouse gases (like CO2, which is abundant in Mars’s atmosphere and polar caps) to thicken the atmosphere and warm the planet. * Artificial Magnetic Field: Creating an artificial magnetic field to protect the atmosphere from solar wind erosion. * Engineered Dust Particles: Some researchers have proposed releasing engineered dust particles into the atmosphere to trap heat. * Localized Habitats: A more achievable near-term approach might be creating localized habitable environments using materials like silica aerogel, which could provide shelter and warmth for small areas. NASA’s Role: While NASA doesn’t have a plan for colonizing Mars with a million people in the same way SpaceX does, they are actively working towards human exploration of Mars. Their goals include: * Scientific Discovery: Understanding whether life ever existed on Mars, characterizing its climate and geology, and preparing for human exploration. * Technology Development: Testing technologies for oxygen production (like MOXIE on the Perseverance rover), developing sustainable food and water systems, power generation, and advanced habitats. * Artemis Program: NASA’s Artemis program is laying the groundwork for long-term human presence on the Moon, which will serve as a stepping stone and testing ground for missions to Mars. In essence, SpaceX is the primary driver behind the “million people on Mars” goal, with their Starship system being the core technology. Terraforming, while a long-term aspiration, faces significant scientific and technological hurdles. NASA, meanwhile, is focused on incremental steps towards human exploration, scientific discovery, and developing the foundational technologies needed for future long-duration missions to the Red Planet.
Well would a tariff opportunity speed things up … Tic…
The Artemis program is currently underway, with several missions planned to establish a sustainable presence on the Moon as a stepping stone for human missions to Mars. Here’s an update on its progress and the outlook for a Mars landing: Artemis Program Status: The Artemis program is organized into a series of increasingly complex missions. Here’s the current status of the initial missions: * Artemis I: This uncrewed test flight successfully orbited the Moon and returned to Earth in November 2022, serving as the first integrated test of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion spacecraft. * Artemis II: This mission will be the first crewed flight of the Orion spacecraft, sending a crew of four astronauts around the Moon. It is currently targeted for launch no earlier than April 2026. * Artemis III: This mission aims to land astronauts on the Moon’s South Pole region. It is currently scheduled for mid-2027. This mission will use the SpaceX Starship Human Landing System (HLS) to transport two astronauts to the lunar surface. * Artemis IV: This mission is planned for late 2028 and will involve docking with the Lunar Gateway, a small space station that will orbit the Moon. Astronauts will transfer through the Gateway to the HLS for their descent to the lunar surface. * Artemis V: Planned for March 2030, this mission will also dock with the Gateway and is expected to involve a longer stay on the lunar surface, contributing to the establishment of a permanent lunar habitat. When to Expect a Landing on Mars: The Artemis program’s long-term goal is to prepare for human expeditions to Mars. While there isn’t a specific date set, NASA’s planning indicates that a crewed mission to Mars could plausibly happen in the mid to late 2030s. * Some sources mention a potential three-year crewed expedition to Mars with a return planned between 2035 and 2038. The duration of the stay on Mars could vary from 90 to 500 Earth days, depending on favorable return windows. It’s important to note that the timeline for Mars missions is more fluid and depends on the success of the Artemis lunar missions, the development of necessary technologies, and continued funding. The experience gained from establishing a sustained presence on the Moon, including testing technologies and understanding the challenges of long-duration deep space missions, is crucial for the eventual human exploration of Mars.
Spacex is a private contractor brought along by NASA to commercially provide service to space projects and development. The company is involved with the Artimas return to the moon program that will send four people back to the moon and have two of them land.
The view that we cannot rely on the earth to preserve our species existence drives Spacex through its founder Elon Musk. The view is strengthened by many nations taking it for strategic purposes that would result in permanent occupation of the moon and it used as a base to do the same on Mars.
This is incredibly expensive and dangerous . The view that we would be better served making earth a better cared for and safer place is mitigated slightly by the advance of science involved in space exploration.
The question is asked often how can something come from nothing such as the Big bang? Albert Einstein and many other theoretical physicists have come up with a lot of science but mostly theory and science is meant to replace theory with either better theories or facts. We feel they are on the cusp of answers of the questions like is something coming from nothing at this time with the deployment of space telescopes rovers and missions manned and unmanned and within possibly a decade a manned mission to deeper space including the rocky planet Mars.
The second attempt to launch the new heavy lifter taking the O’Ryan lunar system on a test mission around the Moon and back to a hotter entry back into the Earth’s atmosphere and safely to the Earth again was scrubbed today. Saturday September 3rd 2022’s scrub came from a 2 to 3 times higher hydrogen mixture in the ambient air inside the rocket that was considered safe. A four percent level is the limit that the triangle of ignition is considered unlikely. The three elements air hydrogen, oxygen and ignition. Last Mondays launch attempt had the issue being dealt with manually and was focused around a quick disconnect coupling.
NASA believes that an automated process needs to take the place up the manual. It is yet to be determined if the rocket will be rolled back away from the launch pad for work as that decision is out of the control of the managers and in the control of the range managers and when more information is available Monday or Tuesday negotiation will begin for that purpose to mitigate the 25-day barrier that the range people automatically invoke on a scrubbed event.
No one is Invincible.
However enjoy the sense of power of technology and effort that is possible when this creature becomes ready for mission again.
Kevin Griffiths
percypaschal
The Proprietor Review 