Men to Mars Possible in 60’s, Experts Say
THE UNITED STATES will be able to send
three men on a 14-month expedition to Mars in
a nuclear-powered two-stage rocket ship during
the 1960’s, three space experts assert.
The rocket ship would go into orbit around
Mars, and the exploring party would use a chemically propelled “taxi” to go down for a close look
at the Martian landscape. After exploring for
two months, the party would refuel their orbiting space ship and head back to earth.
Tanks of hydrogen, for refueling purposes,
would be launched about a month earlier than
the manned ship to make certain they are on
course and that the hydrogen will be available
on Mars. These tanks, taking a slower, easier
path, would arrive at Mars after the manned
ship. Three tankers each carrying 88,000 pounds
of propellant could provide enough fuel for the
return flight.
www.sciencenews.org/archive_mars60
The Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity (artist’s conception) landed on the Red Planet in 2004.
UPDATE
Kennedy was a moon guy, Obama prefers Mars
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ROVER: JPL-CALTECH, NASA, CORNELL UNIV.; PAPER: PAPHIA/ISTOCKPHOTO
