[mmmpie]

This may not be the best place for this, but I couldn't immediately think of anywhere better...

I've been thinking about the colonisation of other planets and doing some reading, particularly about the prospect of going to Mars.

There's a bit of a controversy amongst the proponents of manned missions to Mars about whether such missions should be one-way trips (you might have an emergency return capability when you're first there). Sending people to Mars is much cheaper if you don't plan on bringing them back - and with appropriate technology there's no reason why those explorers couldn't live out the rest of their lifespans there.

That's got me wondering, would people go? I know plenty of scientific types who would happily take a one-way trip to Mars if it meant they got to explore a new planet, but what about other people? Colonisation requires more than just scientists and engineers.

Anyway, I would go, other factors notwithstanding. Anyone else?

[Angry Spartan]

As great as it would be to be one of the first humans to land on another planet, I wouldn't be able to go knowing I'm not coming back.

[R.P.Everything.]

Perhaps I'm a bit of a coward, but I'd let other people go first, before I try it out. I would happily take the leap and live on Mars for the rest of my life, but I want to be sure that I don't just die of radiation poisoning after a year or so.

[Tudball]

I'd much prefer to experience Mars vicariously through them, while I remain firmly planted on Earth.

[Zyyz]

Not gonna lie I wouldn't have the balls, I LOVE EARTH!!

[mmmpie]

(Original post by R.P.Everything.)
Perhaps I'm a bit of a coward, but I'd let other people go first, before I try it out. I would happily take the leap and live on Mars for the rest of my life, but I want to be sure that I don't just die of radiation poisoning after a year or so.

I wouldn't go if I thought the risk was unreasonable, but I'd accept some risk to go. Flying 100,000,000 kilometers and landing on another planet is going to be a bit risky for the foreseeable future - but if I thought I had a fair chance of getting there and seeing out a decent lifespan I would certainly go.

Whether or not my boyfriend would want to go live on Mars is a bigger factor in whether or not I would.

[CUFCDan]

If I could take my books and some paper and pencils, I'm fine.

Beam me up!

[sammy-lou]

I think in reality I wouldn't quite fancy being stuck on Mars for the rest of my life

[cl_steele]

ive always liked traveling, nice little summer vacation to mars sounds fun

[_music<3]

I feel content where I am at the moment, and Earth is large in enough to keep me entertained travel-wise, long enough, so I'd stay.

[concubine]

As I don't care what people think of me all that much, especially after I'm dead, I see no reason to waste my life going when others gladly will if it's some one way first man on Mars FOR SCIENCE AND MANKIND kinda thing. Earth is great as it is. And it has slightly more oxygen.


If it possible to come back then sure.

[LittleSkink]

I suspect it would be personal circumstance that matters as much as being slightly bonkers

got nothing to keep you here then you might volunteer

me? No chance. If god had meant me to live on Mars he wouldnt have put it so far away

[Annoying-Mouse]

No, it would be ****. What forms of entertainment will be there? I don't think the internet or satellite TV will be available. I'll probably have to do some building/work and won't just be relaxing and exploring. What forms of transport will there be? Imagine you've lived in space your whole life and its' technologically advanced as present day earth is, and considering what you currently know of early days of earth, would you agree to go there? What about health? Who knows the dangers.

Too risky. Would rather just watch their progress and go there when it's technologically advanced.

[LittleSkink]

plenty of people went to the Americas from the 1600s and beyond, they mostly wanted to escape something bad at home

Australia chose to start with criminals first, maybe there is merit in that model?

in a world full of 6 billion people there is always going to be someone willing to do stuff like this

[never4get]

I'd let a few million go up an set up a little community before hand hahah I wouldn't go If it meant I had to be the first one up!!!

[Aspiringlawstudent]

This is not what I expected this thread to be.

[Aspiringlawstudent]

Not unless there was already a developed civilisation there waiting for me.

I wouldn't even move to the north.

[kka25]

You won't get access to TSR then

[BSc.Pro.Logic]

(Original post by cl_steele)
ive always liked traveling, nice little summer vacation to mars sounds fun

It's not a vacation though... it's a one-way trip.

[TieMeUp]

There's something extraordinarily virile, brave, self-assured, about being a pioneer.

My ancestors went to the antipodes in the 1850s and pursued (successfully) the creation of a society with universal male suffrage and no property franchise. I would similarly go to Mars on a one-way ticket to help create an anarcho-mutualist society which left behind the vagaries and flaws of market democracy.

Sounds pretty damn exciting to me