mission to mars
so to those of you who regularly read Harpers magazine this will sound familiar (original article here)a retired astronaut/NASA bigwig has written a brief essay that proposes that we as a planet send a human (or two) to Mars. This isn’t the best use of our earthly resources, I don’t believe, BUT… in the essay he points out that while we currently have the technology to send someone TO mars, it’ll be a long time before we can bring them back. his suggestion? make it a one way trip.
From among the billions on earth, choose one. maybe two, put them on a spaceship and send them out to the red planet with NO intention of ever bringing them home to earth. They would live out their days on Mars, collecting samples, analyzing rocks, looking for microbes, or just staring at the Martian scenery. and then someday they’d die. maybe run out of food or water. or maybe just get old. now, it’s probably just that frontierism kicking in, but I for one wouldn’t hesistate to go. sign me up.