Transient wrote:FWIW I think a private venture will get a manned mission to Mars first, but NASA's not a bunch of chumps. They have 20 years to figure it out.
I've been impressed with Space X mind, particularly in recent years which is a change in opinion for me. I just don't think private ventures will help fuel science if only because of what happened to NASA during the lunar missions, and I don't think Elons pockets run deep enough for that. All funding thus far is from government. We also need to consider that the government are funding projects (such as Orbital) that have pretty slim chances of a viable company (I think Orbital actually use obsolete refurbished, 2nd hand engines). Seems like a waste of funds that can be directed somewhere else. I'm not saying it's hugely damaging, I havn't looked much into how the funds are appropriated, I just think it's a point of interest.
The BFR rumoured figures puts it at 6x the payload of the Saturn V to Mars, if that's achievable then the forces involved with launching that thing is gonna be incredible, maybe enough to rip a hole through space

. 250 tons to Mars !
I've heard many good things about Seveneves n all, the plot sounds epic. I look forward to the show

[color=red] . : [/color][size=85] You knows you knows [/size]