Humans in Space

**adamove** · March 23, 2009, 11:14 AM

When will that happend on massive scale, will it happend during our life time?

Just look at that astronauts that we have today, they look so dumb, space missions are like kindergarden child walks, there is no edge in it.

We need war, that will push things.

**HansDuet** · March 23, 2009, 11:16 AM

... what?

**Heinz Guderian** · March 23, 2009, 11:18 AM

I think he wants a space war.

Hot Damn! I've never been in a convertible before!

**Holger Danske** · March 23, 2009, 11:19 AM

The answer to your question is either 42, or bird.

**ginge51** · March 23, 2009, 11:17 AM

I'm off there l;ater this week.
I'll report back once I'm home

Originally Posted by HansDuet

... what?

It's them god damn funny cigarettes.....

**Old_Scratch** · March 23, 2009, 11:19 AM

It probably wont happen any time soon. Humans suffer dramatic bone and muscle loss from spending prolonged time in space. It's not an impossible obstacle, but it's still a big hurdle to overcome before living in space can be feasible on a large scale.

**Juvenal** · March 23, 2009, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by Old_Scratch

It probably wont happen any time soon. Humans suffer dramatic bone and muscle loss from spending prolonged time in space. It's not an impossible obstacle, but it's still a big hurdle to overcome before living in space can be feasible on a large scale.

There may be a simple solution for that...
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/03...loss_solution/

Another big hurdle at present is protection from high energy radiation from solar storms. It isn't practical to line the crew quarters with lead (too heavy to lift). It has been proposed to use a water-jacket which also doubles as propellant, but the best solution would be a mini-equivalent of Earth's magnetic field. Luckily there is research suggesting that a magnetic-field generator for protecting space crews might be feasible, see this article from New Scientist.

That just leaves the need for better air and water recycling, a practical method of propulsion (maybe nuclear-powered ion-drives?) and a pressing commercial reason for putting major effort into space.

For the latter, maybe mining Helium 3 on the Moon for fusion fuel might be a good candidate.

**HansDuet** · March 23, 2009, 11:20 AM

Like Star wars?

I want to be a jedi.

War fun fun fun.

**adamove** · March 23, 2009, 11:25 AM

Well look at this comparision of inventions or speed ups during wars

WW1 airplanes , gas weapons, big ships

WW2 atomic bomb , jet engine, intercontinental rockets

WW3 space fering

**Old_Scratch** · March 23, 2009, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by adamove

Well look at this comparision of inventions or speed ups during wars

WW1 airplanes , gas weapons, big ships

WW2 atomic bomb , jet engine, intercontinental rockets

WW3 space fering

Weaponizing space is a supremely bad idea. There are better ways to speed the development of human space exploration, such as commercial space tourism.

**Erik** · March 23, 2009, 11:32 AM

There won't be many humans in space until there is a very good reason for them to be there.

And apart from scientific research and a lot of nationalistic dick waving, I don't see any good reason for anyone to be in space.
Most jobs in space can be done much cheaper by robots.