+ - Richard Branson "determined to start a population on Mars" 1
Submitted
by
RocketAcademy
RocketAcademy writes "British billionaire Richard Branson, whose Virgin Galactic company is backing the development of SpaceShip Two, has told CBS News he is "determined to start a population on Mars."
Branson isn't the only billionaire interested in the Red Planet. Elon Musk, founder of Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), wants to put humans on Mars in the next 12 to 15 years.."
Branson isn't the only billionaire interested in the Red Planet. Elon Musk, founder of Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), wants to put humans on Mars in the next 12 to 15 years.."
Why Mars? (Score:2)
WTF is the obsession with Mars?
It seems to me that the moon is a much better short term target. As well as being much closer and easier to get to (and back), there is the prospect of materials to mine, and hence some prospect of an economic return.
If we do want to go on to mars, our astronauts will need a shit-load of radiation shielding, something that is often neglected in discussion of Mars missions. At least the moon could provide a cheap source of materials for radiation shielding and fuel (water).