When Yuri Gagarin first went into space in 1961, and when Neil Armstrong first set his foot on the Moon in 1969, they didn’t just do it for science. Two of humanity’s greatest achievements were also done as a result of competition. The space race between the United States and the Soviet Union might have been the only good thing to come out of the Cold War.
In this century, we may stand witness to another space race, with no war involved, thankfully. It won’t be a simple space race, but, more specifically, a race to Mars. And it won’t be contested between two nations, but between two corporations: Boeing and Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
Real Plans That Sound Like Science Fiction
Musk’s plans are already notorious. By the end of the century, he wants to have 1 million people colonizing the Red Planet. Come 2024, the first 100 colonists would be sent there. According to Musk, the journey would last about 80 days, significantly shorter than the 300 that is estimated at the moment. SpaceX plans to begin testing as soon as 2018.
But now Dennis Muilenburg, Boeing’s CEO has announced his participation in the race to Mars. He does have a historical advantage; after all, America got its men on the Moon using Boeing technology. The CEO has expressed his plans to build a whole Martian city, fully equipped with hypersonic intercontinental travel.
The Means For The Race To Mars
Right now, Boeing and NASA are working to develop a rocket that could be used for deep-space travel. Musk is not far behind, already having presented a spaceship that could carry his 100 men and women to Mars.
What both CEOs are saying seems rather the work of sci-fi authors than actual men with plans. Seeing two companies competing in the race to Mars means that we may see the first manned Mars landing during our lifetimes. But have they seriously considered all the risks?
What about the space radiation that would surely affect the astronauts on their journey? How would a colony sustain itself and how would they start constructing the first Martian cities? Where would they get the material? Would terraforming be an option, and if so, how could it be done?
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