AdamSmith

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No joke.

Life on Mars: How a One-Way Martian Colony Project Could Work By Katia Moskvitch, SPACE.com Contributor December 6, 2013 6:09 AM LONDON — It's a one-way ticket, but don't worry: You'll live there longer than back home on Earth, says Bas Lansdorp. After all, on Mars you can't get hit by a car. And everything you'll eat will be organic — no pesticides, just fertilizer made from, well, recycled human waste. As he addresses a room full of entrepreneurs, Lansdorp — founder of the Mars One colony project—looks as excited as a child. He is here at a recent International Space Commerce summit to promote his out-of-this-world idea, a one-way trip to the Red Planet, and possibly spark the interest of investors. "There's no good answer to the question why exactly we want to go to Mars. But it will happen because exploration is what we humans do," Lansdorp says enthusiastically. [Photos: How Mars One Wants to Colonize the Red Planet] Wanted: Mars colonists The audience of suited-up men and women watches Landsorp speak, every now and then a sarcastic question pops up. "And have you thought about space radiation?" asked one listener. Lansdorp has. He explained that the water the crews will carry to Mars will serve as shielding against deadly solar particles and cosmic rays. And once on the Red Planet, the habitat's roof will have some two meters of Martian soil for protection. You'll just have to make sure not to wander outside too much and you'll be okay. [Red Planet or Bust: 5 Manned Mars Mission Ideas] Lansdorp has also thought through the entire time scale of what will happen when. More than 200,000 candidates have applied already, and on Dec. 10, Landsdorp is expected to announce who's made it into the second round of selection. The first unmanned mission to pave the way will leave in 2016, followed by a first rover in 2018. This vehicle will start scouting for a perfect spot for the human outpost. In 2023, it will be joined by the very first Martians-to-be. "What about you, will you go there?" asked another listener. It seems to be an unexpected question, which makes the Mars One founder pause momentarily. "I started Mars One because I wanted to go, and I still want to go to Mars, but I had my first son a few weeks ago," Lansdorp answered. "But it's not even the main reason. I am just not that kind of person who can be locked up in a small room for 30 months with other people without hating each other." "But I really hope I will be able to take my family to Mars one day," he added. Martians forever Lansdorp's vision evokes the image of a Ray Bradbury story "The Million-Year Picnic" in the book "The Martian Chronicles." In the story, a father takes his family to Mars in the midst of war on Earth, duping them to believe it's only for a short vacation. When they arrive, he blows up the rocket and takes his wife and sons to meet other Martians. They go to a canal (on Bradbury's Mars, it is full of water), and see their reflection. That's the point — they are Martians. [Incredible Technology: How to Live on Mars] Lansdorp's plan is very similar, except that in real life the Mars One crew won't have canals filled with water when they reach their destination. Nor will there be any breathable atmosphere. "The rovers will activate life support systems, they will feed them with Martian soil, which has ice crystals in it. This water will evaporate, and to make oxygen, we'll take nitrogen from the Martian atmosphere. We'll create an atmosphere," Lansdorp said. That may work, technology permitting, and Lansdorp is sure it'll happen. But he is also certain that the Mars One colonists who leave Earth will be just like the folks in Bradbury's tale: They'll be Martians. There may be more than 200,000 people happy to leave Earth (those who applied to the Mars One project online) but those that actually do make the trip, will never be coming back — even if they manage to build a rocket to return. "They will lose bone mass and muscle mass to such an extent that it will be extremely difficult for them to gain it back to survive a return trip to Earth and then the re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere. "They'll be Martians for the rest of their lives," Landsdorp said. Live from Mars: Red Planet reality TV To get his venture up and running, Lansdorp needs money. Initially, he plans to finance it by turning the venture into a reality TV-like show, with people back home on Earth watching in real time the departure, the several months long trip, the arrival and the life at the first human outpost away from Earth. So how much will it cost? About $6 billion to get the first four people on Mars and $4 billion for every crew that follows, says Lansdorp. But that's feasible, he added, because "the Olympic Games in London made about $4 billion in just three weeks of broadcasting, just because the world was watching. But this will be a lot bigger." Of course, the world won't be watching forever, and at some point viewers' interest will dwindle — unless everything on the Red Planet starts going topsy-turvy. And if it doesn't, Lansdorp is certain that money will still be flooding in, to support the human outcasts far, far away. "There is a small group of people in the world who have a lot of money," Lansdorp said with a cheeky smile. "There are 200 billionaires who can finance the trip from their net wealth. And if you have $6 billion in the bank, what are you going to do with it? You can buy a house, an island — but you'll still have $6 billion. "Well, we offer you to buy immortality." That may be well and good for Lansdorp's idealistic vision. After all, he isn't headed for Mars anytime soon. But for those Mars One colonist hopefuls, assuming they make it, survive and even have kids, there may well be another reality TV show in a few decades from now: one about the first few Martians desperately trying to get back to Earth, wondering whether their parents made a wise choice. One thing is certain: Those kids would have one heck of a story. Follow Katia Moskvitch on Twitter @SciTech_Cat. Follow us @Spacedotcom. We're also on Facebook and Google+. Original article on SPACE.com. http://news.yahoo.com/life-mars-one-way-martian-colony-project-could-110952177.html

What I would almost rather have for Christmas instead... ...had always wondered what the exact wording was on this panel. Just found this replica. Click the image for an even larger view. For comparison, below a screen grab from the film. Note the incorrect word spacing in the line 'CONDITIONSIN ACCORDANCE' on the replica above, compared with the -- of course -- correct spacing on the actual set piece below, doubtless proofread by Kubrick himself.

Really! Good morning, gentlemen. This is it. No silly stories, no funny antidotes (to infectious anecdotes). HAL 9000 captivated us when we first read about him and saw him on the screen. And now, we can have the most movie-accurate HAL 9000 replica ever made. We gave it the boring name of HAL 9000 Life-Size Replica, but we can't waste time with that. Let's get to the features! First, the HAL 9000 Life-Size Replica wasn't just based on memories. This replica is based on the actual studio blueprints, for exactly perfection (even down to the original studio files for the HAL 9000 label). In the film, the lens was a very rare and expensive Nikkor fish-eye lens. The HAL 9000 Life-Size Replica features a custom-ground replica, with a sticker of the writing on the Nikkor lens (in case you want your HAL to be accurate down to the close-ups). But wait, there's so much more. Of course the HAL 9000 Life-Size Replica has a red LED eye. And of course he talks (one of 15 movie quotes, randomly cycled through). But get this: HAL 9000 also responds to your voice. That's right, say something to HAL longer than 1.2 seconds, and it'll activate a sound clip. OR, point almost any IR remote at him and press a button for a sound clip. And which sound clips? Well, here are a few examples: "I'm sorry, Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that. I think you know what the problem is just as well as I do. This mission is too important for me to allow you to jeopardize it." "You're going to find that rather difficult without your space helmet, Dave." Sings about a minute long rendition of "Daisy Bell." It's time for you to buy a HAL 9000 Life-Size Replica now. You deserve it. Just don't confuse his programming, okay? You wouldn't like him when you confuse his programming. HAL 9000 Life-Size Replica The most movie-accurate HAL 9000 replica ever created. Based on the blueprints and studio files from the 1968 movie (keep in mind the prop was made before the movie release, hence the blueprints were from 1967). Machined in 6061 aircraft-grade aluminum. Black components are anodized. Custom-ground glass lens with red LED eye (sticker included to make this lens have the Nikkor wording as seen in some close-ups). Digital sound randomly cycles through 15 phrases from the film. Trigger HAL's speech by talking to him (must talk for over 1200 Ms (1.2 seconds) to trigger voice activation) or by pressing a button on most IR remote controls. Did we mention this is frickin' HAL 9000? Rotate the lens ring to activate. Two minute auto-shutoff (to conserve battery) (or point an IR remote at it and hold button for 4 seconds). Easily mounts to wall (wall mounting hardware not included). Hand-assembled to make sure they are perfect. Batteries: 1 9-volt (included). Weight: approx. 2 lbs. Dimensions: 13.6" x 4.6" x 1.125" (exact to the movie blueprints) $499.99 http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/f29d/

Very very nice! Thanks loads axiom!

ROFL

Shhh!

Update: http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/06/world/americas/mexico-radioactive-theft/index.html?c=homepage-t&page=1

I think you just formulated the Copenhagen Interpretation thereof!