2019 was set by the first Bush Administration as the year for the first manned expedition to Mars. I think it may have been pushed back a year or two in light of recent Mars failures but it is going to stay there in that 2020 timeframe. There are dozens of sites dedicated to Mars missions over the next several years, especially on numerous NASA sites. NASA won't say it, but naturally the culmination of all of its robotic and orbitor missions is to find the best areas to put a man on the surface to complete the experiments.

I got my Air Force ROTC physical back today, and it tells me that I am good to go for pilot training. With a little luck maybe I can be a part of that mission, I'll only be 38 years old...

At any rate I think everyone should keep an eye on events, the space program is as exciting as ever but just doesn't seem to be grabbing the public's attention now. It won't stay that way for long though.

Does anyone else have more information regarding the plans for manned Mars missions?
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BC

I have no info, but a decree:

NASA! Less probes, more people!
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My name is Joe...and I am Canadian!-Joe, the Rant

I would say that before we go to Mars we will have to learn to live first in space (ISS) and then learn to live on another planet probably the Moon, This is if we don't want the fist manned Mars missions to be a flying visit,like Apollo.
Its such a long way away that when we do go we will have to stay there forever, at first use Mars like a giant spce station, rotating crews, each one building on the base preparing it for the next.
Perhaps a space station orbiting inbetween Mars and Earth as like a interplanatery Hotel.
Also its about time we invented a Earth Flag.
Bye

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Chris,

"Houston please be advised, there IS a Santa Claus!" - Jim Lovell

With recent studies of acclerated bone-loss in space, it appears we need a gravity-simulater much like "2001 a Space Odessy". That's the only major downside of living in space. I also think that the 6 month duration of the trip to Mars is ridiculus. Is anyone working on a faster propulsion system?
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<<<THE FUTURE IS NOW>>>

I saw a program on mars missions t'other day and a bloke from NASA said that they can have a cylindrical spinning thingy like 2001, it would give the effects of gravity but only if the astronaut stood completely still, the moment he started to move the effects would be drasticlly different, because if buggers up the inner ear's sense of balance,
So they are now working on ways of disconnecting the inner-ear from their body so they can do things normally without feeling any nauesea or disoriantation.

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Chris,

"Houston please be advised, there IS a Santa Claus!" - Jim Lovell

The NASA project I heard of about 5 months ago: was about a spinning disk called 'spinning gym', which simulated the effects of gravity. That was in it's early stages. Do you have any links on the new info.??
Thanks
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Anupriya

Sorry i don't, but the program i saw was on Channel 4 here in England, so you could try their site for info on it,
I think it is http://www.Channel4.com

Ps; The Space station just went over here and missed the moon by 1/4 degree, i wonder what i'd have seen if it went right over it.
Bye
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Chris,

"Houston please be advised, there IS a Santa Claus!" - Jim Lovell

I didn't realy have any luck on the web site that you gave me, do you have any more specific links?? I saw the show on discvery chanel in Canada.
About the space station, I don't know. I am not much of an observer bacause where I live there is too much of light pollution, and bacause I have noone to observe with.
Thanks
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Anupriya

Disconnect the middle ear? Can they re-connect it?
Maybe they should just make it a "sleeping compartment".
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<<<THE FUTURE IS NOW>>>

that's a good idea. the cylindar spinning wheel may help w/the gravity situation. (who would've known that a sci-fi movie from the 60's was going to predict how we do our space travel today.) a gravitational simulator is going to be a major obstacle for any mission.
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abr