Anyone want a 1-way ticket to Mars?

[Stumblewyk]

I'd totally go*, but only because I think it would be really cool to finally be a member of the Conjoiners.
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*Assuming the wife will give me permission, that is.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

"Dearie, can I go to Mars? All the guys are going!"

"No you can't, Honey-bun, the lawn- it still needs mowing."

"But baby, baby, it's the GUYS, and it's just one planet over!"

"You've far to many things to do...and who will care for Rover?"

"Let's make a deal, I'll take him with- he'd love the runaround."

"Well, let's see- that works for me! Volare with your stinky hound.

 

[Croesus]

A healthy sixty-year old, with vim and vigor who has taken care of themselves, might be just the person to go, though! You'd have lived a full life already, so the risk, and the fact that you'll never return home, are not so much a factor.

Makes sense to me, though somehow your comment has me thinking of elderly eskimos and ice floes.

 

[Umbran]

Makes sense to me, though somehow your comment has me thinking of elderly eskimos and ice floes.

I can see how it might read that way, but totally not the intent.

Ship a 30-year-old, and you're shipping a person still in reproductive prime, who may have a whole lot of regrets being stuck out there, a lot of things they'll never get the chance to do. Psychologically, that's huge.

Today, 60+ is for many still good intellectual and physical life. But older folks have had a chance to live, love, raise a family if they so desire. Such a person can still have the physical and mental chops to do a lot of good work, but can walk into it knowing they've done more of the normal human things to do that they wanted.

 

[Croesus]

I can see how it might read that way, but totally not the intent.

Ship a 30-year-old, and you're shipping a person still in reproductive prime, who may have a whole lot of regrets being stuck out there, a lot of things they'll never get the chance to do. Psychologically, that's huge.

Today, 60+ is for many still good intellectual and physical life. But older folks have had a chance to live, love, raise a family if they so desire. Such a person can still have the physical and mental chops to do a lot of good work, but can walk into it knowing they've done more of the normal human things to do that they wanted.

I agree completely, and I know you didn't mean it as "Get rid of all the old farts by sending them to Mars." It's just when we discuss such things rationally, the irrational part of the brain starts saying, "Now wait just a cotton-pickin' minute..."

You're right about the advantages of age in this situation, especially knowing one won't return. And we all die sometime - what's so bad about dying on another planet, so long as it's part of something important?

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

And, assuming you're fit enough to survive liftoff & landing- your remaining days will be spent on a planet with a lower gravity.

This could mean real quality of life issues for those with issues from cardio-pulmonary or musculo-skeletal ailments.

 

[The Red King]

And, assuming you're fit enough to survive liftoff & landing- your remaining days will be spent on a planet with a lower gravity.

This could mean real quality of life issues for those with issues from cardio-pulmonary or musculo-skeletal ailments.

Sounds good, but....


Will there be bacon?

 

[Umbran]

And, assuming you're fit enough to survive liftoff & landing- your remaining days will be spent on a planet with a lower gravity.

This could mean real quality of life issues for those with issues from cardio-pulmonary or musculo-skeletal ailments.

Well, if you are fit enough to survive the acceleration, you probably don't have those ailments... yet. However, you raise a good point in that Mars should present less of a risk of those developing. So, that healthy 60-year-old might stay healthy longer.

Anyone seen "Space Cowboys"?

 

[TanisFrey]

The oldest book I have read with something like an Ipad/tablet in it was 2001;a space oddesy. It was written in late 60's.



Personally I would go. The first few travelers need to be more workers than a science major. The first few would set things like a garden, housing and the like. They can always work a lab under video uplinked instructions from someone on earth.

My personal skills would probable put me somewhere in the 4-10 pack. Just long enough for the early computers that were sent to begin to need repairs. I am trained in electronics and how to repair them.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Sounds good, but....


Will there be bacon?

Better...SPAAAAAAACE BAAAAAACON!*








* hopefully not bacon from "long pig", IOW, not made like Soylent Green