A year alone on Mars? For how much money?

[Cute Tink]

I'd be interested for a modest amount once my kids are grown. The opportunity to be on Mars would be fascinating, but I have no qualifications to be chosen for a mission there.

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

The assumption of peace and quiet might be very disappointing with the global sandstorm possibility and occasional twisters common to Mars.
Actually, it isn't the isolation as much a the unknown part of Mars that daunts me. I don't know what lurks there.
What nocturnal creatures could possibly immerge from the wet depths to take interest in me.
So since those events are not yet proven to be 100% impossible I will not take the offer regardless of the amount.
But yes, you are right, Earth has to come around again in order to make a return trip feasible.
Thanks for the reminder.

I'ld worry about the radiation far more then anything else.
Martians coming out of the ground to try and eat me? No, that won't be a concern of mine.

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

True, but in this hypothetical let's assume that proper shielding of the space craft and the Mars shelter has been accomplished by the time in which the offer is made. How much money would it take to get you to do it.

A lot. It's a year of my life and a seriously risky trip, after all.

And that's off course, assuming I'll be able to return.
Without a guaranteed return ticket, money is actually of no use, since you won't be spending it anywhere.

In that case, it is simply an extended suicide mission.
Which I might agree to if I were already diagnosed with a terminal cancer or something AND I would know for certain that my trip there would have a big impact on future undertakings or technological development etc. ie, if my suicide trip would be a great contribution to progress.

 

[Armoured]

What would it take for you to spend a year alone on Mars without any communication with Earth. I mean, the human imagination tends to go haywire after a while and what was formerly brushed aside as mere wind-blown sand against the shelters hull can begin sounding like the scratches of claws threatening to break in. But I imagine that some extremely materialistically motivated human might just give it a go.

No communication, but I get to take good books and video games?

 

[Shemjaza]

No communication, but I get to take good books and video games?

Oh, I misread the initial post. Hmm, no contact. But you're right, books and video games would fill the void nicely.

 

[Radrook]

No communication, but I get to take good books and video games?

That would be a nice amenity.
I still would need to think it over since I am not sure what might be lurking beneath the surface.
So I guess I would personally not be able to be isolated on Mars in that way even with video games.

 

[Shemjaza]

That would be a nice amenity.
I still would need to think it over since I am not sure what might be lurking beneath the surface.
So I guess I would personally not be able to be isolated on Mars in that way even with video games.

A year alone isn't going to ruin all people.

Plus this is a set period, it's not like being trapped on an island and not knowing if anyone knows you are alive. Home is waiting and you are on a truly irreplaceable adventure.

 

[Radrook]

A year alone isn't going to ruin all people.

Plus this is a set period, it's not like being trapped on an island and not knowing if anyone knows you are alive. Home is waiting and you are on a truly irreplaceable adventure.

Well, I salute you for your bravery. NASA being aware that I am there isn't going to help me if something suddenly decides to emerge from the bowels of the planet and take malevolent interest in me. Perhaps my kind of imagination isn't conducive to submitting myself to that experience. I mean we know we haven detected life on the surface. But there is plenty of water that might be harboring life underground in caverns. That scientists admit that is a definite possibility. Mars is a huge place. Equivalent to all the land surface on earth molded into a sphere.

 

[durangodawood]

I would definitely have more songs loaded up than just 10 disco favorites.

 

[RDKirk]

I'd do it for military pay. But then, I'm a child of the Space Race.

It would not be a situation of "no communication." We continued to communicate with Pioneer 10 even as it left the solar system. Communication with Mars would be fairly good.

 

[Radrook]

A lot. It's a year of my life and a seriously risky trip, after all.

And that's off course, assuming I'll be able to return.
Without a guaranteed return ticket, money is actually of no use, since you won't be spending it anywhere.

In that case, it is simply an extended suicide mission.
Which I might agree to if I were already diagnosed with a terminal cancer or something AND I would know for certain that my trip there would have a big impact on future undertakings or technological development etc. ie, if my suicide trip would be a great contribution to progress.

The return trip is guaranteed in this hypothetical.
I would probably start out attributing any tapping or scratching sounds on the shelter's hull as being caused by sand or pebbles driven by the wind unless the sounds don't quite fit in with such natural explanations. Any shift of the shelter itself I would initially attribute to a possible Mars tremor or Mars quake. However if the shelter begins to drag in any direction and it isn't sitting on any inclined surface then that's when I would probably lose what is left of my composure. Worse still would be if the shelter begins to sink.

 

[Occams Barber]

A year or two alone, on Mars, with no people???

I'd be willing to pay NASA to let me to do it with or without a return trip.
I am a natural born hermit. Company is highly overrated.

I would however require a follow up supply vessel with a few hundred bottles of a decent red wine along with a coupla tons of dark chocolate.
OB

 

[Radrook]

A year or two alone, on Mars, with no people???

I'd be willing to pay NASA to let me to do it with or without a return trip.
I am a natural born hermit. Company is highly overrated.

I would however require a follow up supply vessel with a few hundred bottles of a decent red wine along with a coupla tons of dark chocolate.
OB

So you are 100% sure that there is nothing substantially dangerous lurking below?

 

[Occams Barber]

So you are 100% sure that there is nothing substantially dangerous lurking below?

I think its highly unlikely that:

1) there is something lurking below
and
2) that it is dangerous to me​

Am I 100% sure? No.
Does the possibility change my mind? No
OB

 

[Radrook]

I think its highly unlikely that:

1) there is something lurking below
and
2) that it is dangerous to me​

Am I 100% sure? No.
Does the possibility change my mind? No
OB

So you are willing to take the risk why? After all, there are safe places on Earth were one can find solitude. In fact, I have heard of persons who never stepped outside of their homes in decades and had things delivered to their doorstep. So if it can be accomplished safely on Earth, why the seek risk?

Modern Hermits
http://listverse.com/2013/04/11/10-modern-day-hermits/

Emily Dickinson
https://suburbanhermitblog.wordpress.com/category/poetry-2/

Religious Hermits
http://www.carmelitemonks.org/Hermits.php

 

[Occams Barber]

So you are willing to take the risk why? After all, there are safe places on Earth were one can find solitude. In fact, I have heard of persons who never stepped outside of their homes in decades and had things delivered to their doorstep. So if it can be accomplished safely on Earth, why the seek risk?

Modern Hermits
http://listverse.com/2013/04/11/10-modern-day-hermits/

Emily Dickinson
https://suburbanhermitblog.wordpress.com/category/poetry-2/

Religious Hermits
http://www.carmelitemonks.org/Hermits.php

"To boldly go where no man......"

I can't really explain it Radrook. The excitement, the difference, the challenge, all of the above...... The aloneness is more of an added extra benefit.

I've never thought of myself as a risk taker but when I look back perhaps this has been something I've tended to do without thinking too hard about it.
OB

 

[Kenny'sID]

Why the obsession with/against subterranean Martian boogedies?

I'm on board with the do it for free crew, but I have a few questions. How bout the quarters/living conditioners offered? Soundproof building, plenty of good food/drink? What things are allowed to keep busy with? Will doing some type of research be a part of the deal?

Aside from going to Mars, what exactly would be the arrangements?

Oh, and how thick is that floor going to be?

 

[Occams Barber]

Why the obsession with/against subterranean Martian boogedies?

I'm on board with the do it for free crew, but I have a few questions. How bout the quarters/living conditioners offered? Soundproof building, plenty of good food/drink? What things are allowed to keep busy with? Will doing some type of research be a part of the deal?

Aside from going to Mars, what exactly would be the arrangements?

Oh, and how thick is that floor going to be?

ADDENDUM TO KENNY's POST #37
Kenny was a little embarrassed to ask the following question so I said I'd do it for him.

Q>Ähem....will there be any inflatable ...mmm....'companions'.... available for those long, cold, dark Martian nights?

(Happy to help Kenny mate - OB)

 

[Kenny'sID]

ADDENDUM TO KENNY's POST #37
Kenny was a little embarrassed to ask the following question so I said I'd do it for him.

Q>Ähem....will there be any inflatable ...mmm....'companions'.... available for those long, cold, dark Martian nights?

(Happy to help Kenny mate - OB)

Thank you. It did indeed cross my mind but I was hopeful one of the Atheists would step in and help me save face.

We do what we must in the name of research.

 

[Occams Barber]

Thank you. It did indeed cross my mind but I was hopeful one of the Atheists would step in and help me save face.

My pleasure old chap. At least we Atheists are good for something.
OB