You might be thinking of Total Recall, but that's about twelve years old.

That said, Mars does have the gravity to maintain a breathable atmosphere, and there's plenty of oxygen. The problem is that it's all trapped in two places: the iron oxides in the soil, and the water in the polar ice caps. The first would take a long time to release in significant quantity. The second could be done quickly, but if it's not done carefully, there will be other significant problems.



The effect of a even a primary launch rocket would be insignificant singularly, and even in quantity would probably not cause Luna's orbit to degrade.

As you noted, it's currently slightly above escape velocity. It's possible that repeated launches could affect it, but it's very unlikely to have a long-term effect once the Moon has dropped into a stable orbit.

~SDC~

A lot of people in physics on this forum... I am too. You'd need far more nukes than all the ones on earth put together to make a noticeable difference in the moon's orbit, which is what matters for tides and the environment. The moon weighs something like 10^23 kg. A nuke would have less effect on the moon than a mosquito landing on an aircraft carrier.

We COULD, however, probably rather easily make cosmetic changes to the moon's surface. For example, if we had a base on the moon that gave off enough light, it would be visible, particularly during those times of the month when the moon is dark.
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Awsome and well informed replies folks thanks . . .

Anything else you want to know the answer to let us know

Life, the universe and everything......

Why 42 LOL

Exar

OK you asked for it! This is as good a place as any . . .

Why do I get the sneezles when I walk outside into the sunshine?

Why does my shoulder hurt every time it looks like it's going to rain?

If I melt a large block of ice in a body of water will the water level rise or does the displacement created by the ice offset the melting? Isn't there a difference in specific grafity between the two . . . (i.e. archamedies principle and the difference in density per unit volume of water as compared to ice) . . . if you know what I mean?

Why are Marsians green?

Is Elvis still with us?

LOL



Yup

Exar

(Do you really want the answers? Can do most of them )
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I think that if you detonated enough nukes on the pole of the moon, it could knock it out of orbit. I haven't even tried the calculations, but it might work. Just a thought.
BTW, Ginata:
The pollution in the air
The change in the air pressure and the moisture levels
The water level would rise (i think)
Just because
Yes
Just possible answers

This idea is from the 80s i read about that in a book called "Mission to Mars"

Try the calculations. The moon's just too massive. Here's a super-rough sketch.

The biggest nuke ever exploded released about 10^17 J. Let's say we exploded it on the moon's equator, in an attempt to push the moon outward. This calculation will determine how far outward the moon will be pushed.

The moon weighs 10^23 kg.

Figure out earth's gravitational attraction at the moon's orbit:

g on earth's surface = 10 m/s
earth's radius: 6000 km

radius of moon's orbit = 400,000 km
so gravitational acceleration on moon due to earth's gravity is

10*(6000/400,000)^2=approx .001 m/s (rounding down)

Say we let that biggest nuke off at the equator. Assume all 10^17 Joules of energy went into kinetic energy of the moon (in reality a lot less would go to kinetic energy, my guess would be under 1% but I don't know for sure).

Then the moon's orbit would shift by

Energy = force * distance
10^17 Joules = (.001 m/s * 10^23 kg) * distance
distance = 10^-3 meters = 1 millimeter

(Here I have ignored the fact that bodies in higher orbits move slower slower, a fact which might introduce a factor of, say, two. The fact remains that the shift will be really small.)

So all of earth's nuclear arsenal might shift the moon outward by a meter, maybe two. Realistically probably a lot less since the explosions will not be "efficient" in that most of the energy will be wasted as heat.

Do you know who wrote it Icho, I will try to read it if I can get hold of it?



By far the largest part of the energy is released as infra-red radiation, sound comes next, kinetic isn't up to much or in other words I think your right. You might be able to get a bit more of an effect though if you combined a nuke hit with the direction of the moons angular momentum - possibly.

Exar

I'll try to find out


Change it, even by a milimeter, and you'll get a bad surprise on earth.

Solar winds blow super-heated plasma into the Earth's atmosphere. While in direct contact with sunshine, these plasma particles remain excited. When you breathe them in, they jump up and down in your nose until you sneeze them out. Of course, some people are more affected than others, it sounds like you might be allergic. You should advise your doctor that you're allergic to super-heated solar plasma, and stay away from any NASA missions to the sun.




Sunlight has also been sientiphikally proven to provoke the release of indurfins in the brain. The people who are allergic to solar plasma don't realize it since they're too busy sneezing, but these indurfins are like drugs. It's because of these sunshine drugs that surfies talk the way they do. Amongst other effects, these drugs also act as mild pain-killers, even on an overcast day. That's why doctors recommend people stay out of sunlight - it costs them business. The only time the drugs cut out is when it's a really cloudy day - like when it's about to rain.




The water's reaction depends on how you give it the ice. It's important at all times to respect the water, cause it could drown you in a second, just like THAT. You have to be gentle - hold the ice for a while, rock it in your arms, to show the water that it's safe. Dip it in the water occasionally. Then, slowly lower it into the water.

Whatever you do, don't simply drop the ice in, especially from a great height. It's disrespectful, and very rude. This will make waves, showing the water's anger. The water's got the power to rise up and drown us all - it's done it before, and it can do it again. Normally, the water level will rise only a tiny amount - but if you keep dropping blocks of ice in, one of these days, the water will just say "Right, that's it.", and kill us all! Crikey! Don't provoke it.




There are no predators on Mars, so Martians are free to wander around, grab the first Martian they see and go at it like rabbits. Originally, Martians came in all different colours. But the less noticeable ones died out - the reds were the first to go, since they blended in with the background. Why go looking for a red one when there's a cute little blue thing right there just waiting for you? Since green is opposite to red, the green Martians were most noticeable, and therefore got the most action.

Evolution is still proceeding at a rapid rate, of course. There's a new batch of fluoro green Martians, they're dead sexy.



Elvis never left the building. He's still there, hiding under the floorboards, just waiting for the damn tourists to leave. He tried to pretend the house was haunted, and put on a scary ghost voice, but that just brought more tourists.

Fortunately, he's befriended Joe, a trainee at the local McDonalds, and Joe brings all the burgers he can pocket from work. The bonus for Elvis is that even if the tourists find him, they won't be able to drag him out, cause he's as big as a house now. You think he put on weight before? You ain't seen nothing yet.


Ask more questions if you dare

...Q...
..-I-..
...I...
...A...
../.\..
.-...-.

Above is a picture (ASCII art) of me standing up befor I read Quacks response . . .

.............
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S-\/--/\-....

Above is a pictire of me ROFL after I read Quacks response . . . LOL

(PS I'm not very good at drawing . . .)

I know this one! I can sound scientific too!

Assuming that the block of ice was completely submerged (probably requiring additional pressure to hold it underwater due to the fact that ice floats), the water level will actually DECREASE as the ice melts. Water is unusual in that in its solid state (ice), it actually has a greater volume than in its liquid state.

The approved Special Forces empirical test for this experiment is to place a standard bottle or can of your favorite brew (generally 12 fluid ounces) in your refrigerator's freezer overnight. In the morning, as you scrape frozen beer and foam off the interior surfaces of the freezer, you can inspect the failed container and realize that you, too, can employ scientific methods to test a theory.



It was my understanding that Elvis has been undercover as part of a road crew with the Illinois Department of Transportation, reportedly leaning on a shovel and consuming donuts since 1984. Union regulations for road construction in Illinois give him another five years or so before he will be required to actually move the shovel and thus find a new cover.
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All right, I submit to vincible. Just stop throwing math at me. I hadn't tried to run the numbers outside of my head yet.

Okay back in the renaissance an Italian astronomer, not sure which one but he wasn't one of the famous ones, decided that when he looked through his telescope that Mars was covered in caniculi (canals) and there were little green men paddling gondola's up and down them, think Venice on a planetary scale. He made maps everything, the human imagination is an amazing thing LOL

Exar

Thats sounds so ridiculous it must be true!

First of all, I want to say, that I have always been a romantic when it comes to space. Space, as everyone knows, is the finally frontier. You can not not explore it. Besides its human nature. We are all build to have quizically ambitions...its what lead the Tower of Babel to be built, its what lead Marco Polo to China, its what lead Columbus to explore another way to the East Indies, its what lead Magellan to travel around the world, its what lead the US to land a man on the moon (I also love history, if you didn't notice). So with that said there will come a time when our desire to explore will overwhelm us and we'd pretty much force our hand.

I also think its a crime that NASA recieved so much critism for the Columbia. If you want to make and omlette you have to break a few eggs (courtesy of 'Fight Club'). The Space Program is such an important aspect of our life. If it wasn't for Apollo there wouldn't be a lot of luxuries we take for granted. That is why we are building an ISS, in the sake of science. And if a lunar research base will increase our research capability I'm all for it. In fact I would love to be asked to work on it.



I think that was a crime against nature...sorry but I do. NASA has done so much for all of us, and I think it deserves a little more respect than that.



Yea it is called 'The Red Planet' with Val Kilmer and Carrie-Anne Moss



Our population is, yes, seeming to level out. We have reached some sort of equilribruim and have adjusted accordingly.



I would call myself neither a democrat or a republican but I support Bush on this front. NASA needs to get back its prestige. It is a shame how our nation's lust for exploration was crumpled with Columbia. I'm sorry folks that is life.

DLA:

I completely respect your viewpoint with regards to space exploration being important for the human psyche. I embrace the goal. I'm just upset with those who have been charged with implementing the goal.

NASA needs to demonstrate that its house is FINALLY in order before it tries to put another human into orbit, much less the moon or Mars. Have they accomplished great deeds that have expanded human consciousness as much as they have scientific knowledge? Certainly. But their recent history is one of slamming past problems, or using bureaucracy to address issues that should be handled by technicians and scientists.

Challenger should not have been lost. Columbia should not have been lost. It wasn't random chance or engineering glitches that caused the loss of life on those ships; it was the decisions of bureaucrats interfering with trained professionals. This attitude has been around at NASA so long, it has its own nickname: "Go Fever," dating all the way back to the Apollo days. And until it changes, I'd openly question NASA's competence of orbiting a pop-up toaster, much less a fragile human being.

I was only a few months old when Apollo 11 landed on the Moon; so, I missed the magic once. I'd give a great deal to be able to see humans return to the Moon and Mars within my lifetime. But dashing ahead with a clearly flawed system is asking for trouble.

Samuria Ben I tend to agree . . . from what I've heard (erhm read I mean) the defect/damage of the tiles was know befor she re-entered. NASA had no contigency plan to deal with the possible consequences for the advice they recieved on the ships condition.

There's absolutely no margin for error in avionics and its no place for complacency . . .

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Those are good points Ben. However as it is my understanding they thought they knew about the tiles. They saw something fall of, yes, and yes, they should have taking the time to perform an EVA to check it out, and yes beaucrats seemed to make all the decisions. That is one fatal flaw that I find within the NASA organization.

The thing you have to realize that everything that NASA does is treading tracks into the unknown. Challenger should not have been lost, I know that, but when you dealing with the unknown there is only so much you know about your ship. (Here is an interesting analogy) When a Captian of a submarine gets his post and his ship and takes them out for the first time he is going to test the limits of it, he is going to go to crush depth. That is testing the limits, and that is also treading into the unknown. There is only so much that someone can do and learn in the Simulators, not everything can be recreated to reality.

If you remember the whole thing around Challenger was that it was extremely cold that January morning. That in itself should have delayed that launch, but that comes back to the beaucrats. It is my suggestion that if you want something to run smoothly, i.e. NASA or the Navy, it has to be in the hands of capable people who have had prior exprience in the field. And until the government realizes that we can only hope and pray that we don't have another tragedy.

Columbia should not of been lost, out of both of them Columbia is the one that I would argue that should not be lost. They should have checked out to see if there was any damage. But there is only so much you can do, it could be because of old age that Columbia disintergrated, but we are talking a couple of billion dollars worth of hardware hear you just can't up and replace it. Now we know that we have to.

The whole thing is a learning process, and I'm sorry that people have to die, but some times that is what it takes. (Here's an interesting analogy, a little off topic but here goes) I live near the "Horse-Radish" capital of the world, and I know that Horse-Radish is deadly if eaten raw, so the question is "how many people died before we realized that we needed to cook Horse-Radish rather than eating it raw?"

DLA:

I think we're in agreement with everything except the final conclusion here...

My point is simply this. NASA's organization is being charged with implementing Bush's plans for the Moon and Mars. NASA has demonstrated that it's incapable of placing the needs of mission safety (as expressed by technicians and engineers) above those of expediency and political gain (as expressed by the bureaucrats that make the final decisions). NASA is obligated to show that this environment has finally changed BEFORE we can think about going ANYWHERE.

Side note: Despite her age, Columbia was in outstanding condition. Over her service life she received at least one complete overhaul; there may possibly have been another very early on (though I'm not certain of that). Columbia's only weakness when compared to the newer orbiters was her heavier weight which cut into the payload capacity. Analysis of the flight records show that well after the heat of re-entry began to melt sensors in the wheel well - and, by extension, the interior structure of the wing - Columbia was continuing to attempt to correct the course and deal with the situation, right up until the end.

Was Columbia "old tech?" Yes - but functional old tech. Her design and maintenance had nothing to do with her loss.

Actually I agree with you entirely. I was just expressing it in another way.



I never said that that was the cause, I was just throwing out other possiblities. As it stands, with all we know, blame cannot be placed anywhere.

So what's happening now? Anything more concrete?

G-Force

Just going back to the point about interstellar travel for a moment - there are about 13 or so star systems within 20 light years of Sol that contain "yellow stars" (main sequence stars within about 20% Sol's mass and diameter), which *could* hold habitable Earth-like.

Which isn't to say smaller, cooler stars couldn't have water-bearing planets, but around red dwarf stars, the light would be too red for photosynthesis (plus the planet would probably be tidelocked, one side permanently facing towards the star).

Anyhoo, with an ion drive as tested on Nasa's Deep Space 1 probe, it might be possible to accelerate a spacecraft to 0.1 light speed, making it possible to reach at least Alpha Centauri A/B within 30-40 years, although being a binary system, it might not be the best candidate for a class 15..err..potential life-bearing planet.

Still, 30-40 years is achievable, but you wouldn't know if the mission had succeeded for at least a further 3 years, and as others said, you'd need to send enough people to start a viable colony. None of those people would be coming back, either, so you'd need some pretty brave volunteers. Artificial gravity is still a problem, although I guess you could build a rotating ship for that.

The biggest problem, apart from the technical issues, is who would fund the project? Governments have no incentive to do so, as they wouldn't have any control over the outcome (and would you want mind-washed, flag-waving government drones on humanity's first extrasolar colony?), and the pivate sector wouldn't get any returns for at least a century, so they wouldn't do it either. Forget the good of humanity, votes is what counts and the politician isn't interested, he won't be in power by the time they get there anyway.

...which is why an Imperium-type government is good...

As for FTL travel, while it may not be possible, IIRC my relativity, if you accelerate to near enough light-speed, you can still reach the edge of the universe within your subjective lifetime.

Maybe wormhole technology is the best bet, although there are some interesting theories around. I personally rather like the "Casimir-Bubble" ship - just 'cause we don't know how to do it now, doesn't mean we won't find a way.

..or maybe some nice alien will provide us with the technology to build a giant wormholey-gate type thingy..