A long-time NASA engineer has a fascinating idea to send an astronaut on a one-way, one-person mission to Mars. The article in Universe Today talks about how today's risk-averse society puts such a mission out of the question, but argues that it wouldn't be too different from early expeditions to the Artic or Charles Lindburgh's cross-Atlantic flight. Having just one person go on a one-way trip would make the project feasible much faster than otherwise, since it eliminates many complications. Moreover, it would unite humankind in a way never done before.
The NASA guy, Jim McLane says, “I think people have forgotten how exciting the Apollo program was, and this would bring that excitement back. And it wasn’t just here in the US; the whole world was excited. This enthusiasm would be the greatest effect of a program that places a man on Mars, over and above anything else, whether it makes jobs, or stimulates the economy, or creates technology spinoffs. We’re all humans and the idea of sending one of our kind on a trip like that would be a wonderful adventure for the entire world. The whole world would get behind it."
What do you guys think? Would it be ethical, or even worthwhile, to send a brave explorer to Mars with great risk and little hope for return? I personally think it's a cool idea, but one that might be best left to science fiction writers.
4 comments:
Ethical for a volunteer.
Look at the death rate among Everest climbers who do it for -fun-.
If the individual is sent with the gear to survive for years, then the call for a resupply or rescue mission becomes stronger.
My guess is that there would be tens of thousands of volunteers from the US alone.
I think it would be highly unethical.
You will always find the nut that is willing to risk his life for fame. Look at the people who do those stupid life-threatening stunts just for their 15 minutes of fame!
But are we, as a society, supposed to encourage the loss of life? And it's not a 'save the world' kind of scenario. It's merely to satisfy our curiousity and give us a thrill.
...like when they threw the Christians to the lions in Rome.
I am a strong advocate for a manned mission to Mars, but I think we have an ethical obligation to make it a round trip. Just because there are people who would be willing to go there without any chance of returning doesn't mean we should do it.
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