 Image: JPL/Caltech/NASA |
"Space is there, and we're going to climb it." These words from President John F. Kennedy in 1962 set forth the goal of sending an American to the moon within the decade. But for most of the 30 years since the Apollo moon landing, the U.S. space program has lacked a coherent vision of what its next target should be. The answer is simple: the human exploration and settlement of Mars.
This article was originally published with the title The Mars Direct Plan.
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1 Comments
Add CommentIt seems like NASA of this date (09/09/09) is tending towards the idea of using Russian rockets to get to Mars. This is pragmatic because the Energia rockets are certainly capable, cheap, and dependable, but not exactly patriotic. Why can't we built such mass-lifters?
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