In 2017, the planets will be close to each other. It was decided to take advantage of this.
Space continues to beckon American billionaire Dennis Tito. He himself went there in 2001 as the world's first space tourist, having bought a ticket to the ISS for insane money. I spent several days in Earth orbit. But he did not calm down. And now he is planning a long-distance expedition to Mars. Personally, however, it will not fly. Invites two volunteers on a trip - a man and a woman. Founded the Inspiration Mars Foundation. The project itself was named Mission for America. And I'm ready to pay for it.
Tito (far left) before a tour to the ISS. Was born in 1940. In 1962 - graduated from the Faculty of Astronautics and Aeronautics, New York University. Got rich by investing in technology. Condition - 71 million dollars. It's enough to fly to Mars.
The start of the mission is scheduled for the period from December 25, 2017 to January 5, 2018. At this time, the Earth and Mars will be at a minimum distance. This rapprochement - the so-called confrontation - happens once every 15 years.
The round-trip flight is estimated to take 501 days. Return to Earth is scheduled for May 2019. Nobody will land on Mars. The crew will only fly around it at an altitude of 160 kilometers. Tito believes that this will be a good start to the era of manned flights to other planets. The billionaire expects to be helped: both the US government - with money, and NASA - with technology. Specifically, the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket, capable of transporting super-heavy loads.
According to Tito's plan, SLS will launch a spacecraft into Earth's orbit that will fly to Mars, and a lander that should land on Earth when the astronauts return. A commercial rocket will deliver the astronauts to the spacecraft. They will go into a habitable module with a volume of about 20 cubic meters, turn on the upper stage and return to Mars itself.
Flight scheme
Promotional video:
Mars ship (sketch)
Diagram of a martian ship
Tito spoke about his plans in the US House of Representatives, expressing faith in the dedication of men and women from NASA, a willingness to overcome any obstacle and with full confidence that the project can be implemented.
AT THIS TIME
All to Mars
At least one more American billionaire is aiming at Mars - Elon Musk, the founder and CEO of the space company SpaceX, which has already shown what it can do. It was Musk who sent the Dragon ship of his own design and production to the ISS. The flight was successful. At the request of NASA, cargoes were delivered to orbit. And there are 12 planned such flights. All - on the ships of Musk, which, in fact, opened a new era in space exploration - private.
Musk assures that he will be able to build ships that will fly to Mars. They will deliver the first people in 2023. Deliver and leave. That is, a return to Earth is not even planned.
The billionaire said that he would transport 80 thousand settlers to the Red Planet, who would settle down, begin to engage in agriculture - plow and sow under special domes. An analysis of the local soil, by the way, showed that it can be fertile. Further, replenishment will follow the virgin lands pioneers. It's hard to believe, but by now about 300 thousand people have wanted to move to Mars.
And NASA itself has plans to go to the Red Planet in 2020. The agency has already selected four women and four men for the flight. Almost all of them are military.
At first the colony on the Red Planet will be small
After many years, the colony of Martians will grow
Maybe all billionaires and NASA should join forces? And finally fly to Mars? Suddenly, Russia will somehow connect - something, but we know how to build habitable modules. We have good spacesuits, food in tubes …