(3 of 5) Dr. Chris McKay on possible steps to human exploration of Mars

Dr. Chris McKay, NASA Planetary Scientist, Space Science Division, NASA Ames Research Center. This was a Plenary presentation to the International Mars Society Convention at the University of Maryland in 2009, entitled "Mars Sample Return, Lunar Base and NEO Missions as Steps to Human Exploration of Mars."

For further information please visit:
http://www.MarsSociety.org
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_McKay_(planetary_scientist)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Direct

The highlighted debate between Drs. Zubrin and McKay precipitated creation of the unaffiliated Mars Artists Community (due to concern the Moon could become another multi-decade diversion similar to LEO/ISS if high-risks associated with space-travel are not deemed worthwhile, acceptable, and heroic).

See further:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlP1QzhvqB8 (highlighted debate)
http://marsartists.blogspot.com

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Mars
• Society
• Settlement
• Exploration
• Mission
• Moon
• Laboratory
• Chris
• McKay
• Robert
• Zubrin
• Human
• Manned

[Weenchit]

Let's end Social Security, Medicare and Medicaide and divert 100% of that money to space nuclear power research and human space flight and exploration.

[TheMarsSociety]

@Weenchit well...it does not necessarily need to be either or

but your passion is appreciated : )

[georgel19841]

Zubrin is cool

[TheMarsSociety]

@georgel19841 yes

[hgihevil]

People don't buy tents to sleep in the backyard. Don't waste money trying to get to the moon again.

[TheMarsSociety]

@hgihevil LOL!!!!! what a BRILLIANT saying!!! LOVE IT

check out marsartists . blogspot . com

(and start writing some Sci-Fi please...)

[georgel19841]

were is part 2?

[Winner8501]

@hgihevil

They don't? Because I remember I did that when I was trying out my new tent. I wanted to find out whether it really worked as advertised before I would take it with me on a camping trip to the mountains. It would have really sucked if I had found out it leaked in the rain.

(so much for "smart" analogies)

[Winner8501]

McKay is right. The "either-or" approach may actually be counter-productive.

[Weenchit]

@TheMarsSociety I know, I kid, I kid but I kid because I love. However, given where we are today all that's really left to do is to listen to smart people like Rob talk and to joke around. I wish I could help.

[WalterWalkie]

haha yeh .. also it seems to me if there was some catastrophe that stranded the people either on the moon or mars with no hope of return to or resupply from earth, in theory there would be a better chance of self sustainability for the base on mars than the moon. i think this is another factor that makes mars a more important priority