makes me kind of think weather mars will be a 'liveable' world for us in this lifetime

 

http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=05/09/07/161213&from=rss

Do they know what they're mining yet? And have they thought about how many shuttles they will need? They will have to be extremely fast to make that sort of thing worthwhile.

Do they know what they're mining yet? And have they thought about how many shuttles they will need? They will have to be extremely fast to make that sort of thing worthwhile.

 

Why fast? If the proceeds of a mining operation are launched into the proper trajectory, they would arrive in a place where they could be manuvered into orbiting Earth, there to be ferried down to the surface.

 

Would it matter if it took 5 years to get here?

no no, you wouldnt bring the minerals back to the surface, they are for space stations and moon bases

no no, you wouldnt bring the minerals back to the surface, they are for space stations and moon bases

 

OK, so again, what is the hurry? Why would the shuttles have to be super fast?

its easier and cheaper to go slowly (well ok your still going at something like 25km/s wrt the sun. but you know what i mean)

Yeah it would involve getting a crew on the ship (theoretically you'd need a crew) and basic stuff for keeping them alive, and wages. And of course fuel price is an issue... it'd probably take a percentage in double figures of oil on Earth today to fuel a mission like this.

solar flares would be a problem for longer trips through space. too much radiation.

What r the minerals present in Mars?????

Mars is pretty much like earth, just devoid of breathable atmosphere, I guess should have almost identical composition and minerals as well, although gravity there is only 35% of that of the Earths, which would mean, who ever lives on Mars for prolonged period must consider consequences of gravity and bone and cardio-vascular illness that might develop as a result of prolonged stay (say 5-7 years)...