Mars mission may be a one-way trip
Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first men to walk on the moon 40 years ago
As the world gathers to celebrate the 40th anniversary of man walking on the moon, the original crew members of Apollo 11 are urging future astronauts to set their sights even higher.
In a speech at the Washington DC National Air and Space Museum, Buzz Aldrin told the audience the best way to honour their achievement was to "boldly go" on a new mission of exploration.
However, while space may be the final frontier, Nasa officials have speculated that a new mission to Mars and beyond would require astronauts to sign up for a one-way ticket.
John Olson, Nasa's director of exploration systems integration, told the Guardian that the next generation of explorers may have to travel in space for years or even decades to reach distant planets and stars – and never return.
"You would find no shortage of volunteers," said Mr Olson. "It's really no different than the pioneering spirit of many in past history, who took the one-way trip across the ocean, or the trip out west across the United States with no intention of ever returning."
He predicted that humans may even reach Mars by the middle of this century, after which they may set their sights on the planets and stars beyond.
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Comments
Mars is a dead planet, anything we do there will be an improvement!
If we colonise it, we will take life with us and turn those dead rocks into a fresh new world. Gaia wants to reproduce - humans are her sperm & eggs!
you could hit two birds with one stone and integrate the euthanasia waiting list with the astronaut one.
Why spend the cash saving this planet when we can ruin others? ;-)
ho hum great to be pioneering and all but what about spending the cash on saving the planet before we go swanning off and ruining others?!