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moma
November 14th, 2012, 11:05 PM
Colonizing the red planet.

MarsOne-project (http://mars-one.com/en/) is planning to send people and technology to (one way) trip to Mars by 2023. I just wondering if Linux (or Ubuntu-Linux) will be part of the MarsOne project and how?

MarsOne introduction:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlbhT0UOMLo

MarsOne on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/MarsOneProject

Mr. Bas Lansdorp tells about the mission:
Talk-1... (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzCMsiK0BXM) and Talk-2... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUfFqbG9brg)

Is Ubuntu 13.04 (Raring Ringtail) ready for this flight?

http://bildr.no/thumb/1318752.jpeg (http://bildr.no/view/1318752)

$ juju (http://jujucharms.com/) clone app mars://server1

EDIT:
MarsOne on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/MarsOneProject

You can see and evaluate the candidates yourself.
Please go to: http://applicants.mars-one.com/

And here is a Facebook-group for the applicants:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/aspiringmartians/

deadflowr
November 14th, 2012, 11:13 PM
A suicide mission?

Well, linux will most defintiely play a role, but ubuntu will probably play some role maybe.

But who'd want to play any role in a mission were we send people to die?

Hopefully they'll change that to roundtrip.

rg4w
November 15th, 2012, 12:07 AM
"Suicide mission"? Please. By that redefinition staying here on Earth is also a suicide mission, since ultimately no one gets out alive. ;)

zer010
November 15th, 2012, 02:49 AM
From Mars-One (http://mars-one.com/en/faq-en/23-faq-feasability/256-why-reality-tv-to-finance-the-mission):
"Mars One's goal is to land people on Mars by 2023. As entrepreneurs, we believe that the only way this will be possible in the near term is by funding it commercially. The only business model that we believe is currently feasible is one based on the creation of a global media spectacle around the project."

lol, It'll probably be WIndows 11...

MisterGaribaldi
November 15th, 2012, 04:46 AM
This sounds eerily similar to The Waters of Mars.

Paqman
November 15th, 2012, 07:20 AM
Mars One is a media stunt designed to suction funding out of over-excitable investors, it's not a serious effort IMO. The business model is ridiculous.

Wim Sturkenboom
November 15th, 2012, 09:37 AM
MarsOne-project is planning to send people and technology to (one way) trip to Mars by 2023

Only for criminals :lol:

slickymaster
November 15th, 2012, 10:19 AM
Mars One is a media stunt designed to suction funding out of over-excitable investors, it's not a serious effort IMO. The business model is ridiculous.

Yeaps, couldn't agree more with you.

moma
November 15th, 2012, 11:12 AM
You may already know that Mark Shuttleworth was a researcher and guest... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbZ2FeUWAQg) on the ISS (International Space Station) in 2002. I think he has a strong interest to make Ubuntu part of the Mars colonization.

Criticizers should stay on earth.
Next big rock from the space might well wipe you out.

Paqman
November 15th, 2012, 11:30 AM
You may already know that Mark Shuttleworth was a researcher and guest... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbZ2FeUWAQg) on the ISS (International Space Station) in 2002. I think he has a strong interest to make Ubuntu part of the Mars colonization.


I'm sure he'd love to be involved with an actual credible mission.

There are lots of important strides being made in commercial space (Bigelow Aerospace, SpaceX, etc) but there's nothing about this Mars One startup that suggests it's to be taken particularly seriously. IF they get genuine talent and money and industry partners on board then they MIGHT get to Mars in 20 or 30 years if they have a ton of money and resources. The idea that they could go from nothing to the most challenging long-duration space mission in such a short time with such a small team and a kooky business model is a bit ridiculous IMO.

I'll revise my opinion when Mars One get their first successful probe on the surface of Mars in one piece, but they're a long, long way from even doing that. And even if they pull that off manned spaceflight is a whole different ballgame. Their timetable is "ambitious" to say the least.


Criticizers should stay on earth.

There's nothing wrong with criticism, we should always be open to it. Without the freedom to discuss the validity of ideas, how could we ever decide which ones are any good?

drawkcab
November 16th, 2012, 02:22 AM
Ridiculous nonsense.

JDShu
November 16th, 2012, 04:12 AM
In regards to Ubuntu in particular, it is a desktop operating system. The requirements for a computer for space travel are completely different from casual desktop, so the answer to the OP is no.

moma
November 16th, 2012, 09:28 AM
JDShu: In what cave have you been hiding during the last year? You should apply to Mars-mission!

Ubuntu is more than a desktop system. Ubuntu is a phone, it is a TV, media center, server, cloud server, tablet and a desktop operating system. There is NO other OS that is more suitable for space travel and colonization of other planets. Your buntu has the most advanced collection of software ever built.

Ubuntu is:
Desktop: http://www.ubuntu.com/business/desktop
Tablet: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Nexus7
Phone and PC-in-phone: http://www.ubuntu.com/devices/android (video: pc-in-phone (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv1Z7bf4jXY))
TV: http://www.ubuntu.com/devices/tv
Media center: http://www.mythbuntu.org (or Google for: Ubuntu XBMC)
Creative arts: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UbuntuStudio/Applications
Server: http://www.ubuntu.com/download/server
Cloud: http://www.ubuntu.com/cloud (Google also for: JuJu Charms)

http://bildr.no/thumb/1319261.jpeg (http://bildr.no/view/1319261)

See also: http://i1.no/0eml/

Luckily they have employed Kai Staats... (http://mars-one.com/en/about-mars-one/team/290-kai-staats). He is Linux-guru and developer of YDL linux.. (http://mars-one.com/en/mars-one-news/300-former-super-computing-ceo-joins-mars-one-announcement-17-september-2012?utm_source=newsmail&utm_medium=e-mail&utm_term=kai%2Bstaats&utm_campaign=NewsMail%2Boctober%2B2012).
Linux (or Ubuntu) is actually ready for take off!

Paqman
November 16th, 2012, 07:43 PM
There is NO other OS that is more suitable for space travel and colonization of other planets. Your buntu has the most advanced collection of software ever built.


See now I just think you're pulling our leg.

When it comes to actual spacecraft they tend to either use custom code, or an industrial OS like VxWorks. General purpose computers such as those used personally by astronauts seem to usually run Windows, but I wouldn't be surprised if there were a few Linux machines flown. Likewise I wouldn't be surprised if some of the embedded systems had Linux buried in them somewhere.

There's no reason why Ubuntu couldn't be useful in space, but saying it's a better than everything else is no more true in space than it is on Earth.

JDShu
November 16th, 2012, 08:21 PM
ok fine, the astronaut's personal computer, smartphone, whatever using ubuntu? sure, I guess anything can be used.

Operating system running life critical operations? Not Linux, that would be ridiculous.

moma
November 16th, 2012, 09:08 PM
They will not send three different operating systems to the space or Mars. They cannot manage that kind of complexity there!

MarsOne will most likely teach the crew Linux. All crew members can fix sw&hw bugs + modify the software for their purpose and research field; they are clever people and they have plenty of time, spending years and years in their small confinements. They will not return to earth.

Closed source systems (proprietary code) is almost certainly excluded from the mission. The settlers must have the code available when needed, immediately without delays or discussions. All devices (instruments, servers, tablets, TVs) should have the same code base, so the question is; What are the choices?

Paqman
November 16th, 2012, 09:53 PM
Well, according to SpaceX the Dragon Capsules that Mars One say they'd like to use to build their outpost actually do run on VxWorks:

https://spacex.com/downloads/dragonlab-datasheet.pdf

JDShu
November 17th, 2012, 12:17 AM
Well, according to SpaceX the Dragon Capsules that Mars One say they'd like to use to build their outpost actually do run on VxWorks:

https://spacex.com/downloads/dragonlab-datasheet.pdf

Makes sense. IIRC Curiosity also uses VxWorks.

What I've been trying to get at is that Linux, and especially Ubuntu, is fundamentally too unstable to be used for mission critical operations. The strength of ancient operating systems like VxWorks is that it has been used and tested for decades with no major changes and is rock solid. This is completely opposite to how Linux is developed, which is often described by the devs as "evolution". Things change, sometimes break, but the OS as a whole moves forward in the long run. This is what makes Linux awesome but wholly unsuitable for bringing people into space.

Now theoretically, somebody could fork off the stable branch of the kernel, and work on fixing relevant bugs for several years, but that's an enormous task and quite pointless when alternatives exist.

Open Source by the way is mostly irrelevant. You can bet that everybody involved in the mission will have access to the source, regardless of license. It would be plain stupidity to simply use a binary blob or something. The idea of an open source license is that anybody can modify and distribute the code. When you're an astronaut in space, you don't care that unrelated people on earth can look at your source code and modify it. you only care that YOU can examine the source, and that people in your organization can modify and push code. You don't need an open source license for that, you just need a deal with the provider.

Paqman
November 17th, 2012, 12:34 AM
What I've been trying to get at is that Linux, and especially Ubuntu, is fundamentally too unstable to be used for mission critical operations.


Ubuntu yes, Linux no.

Linux is used for a lot of embedded systems and is perfectly stable. However, if you crack one of those systems open you'll find a prehistoric kernel.



Now theoretically, somebody could fork off the stable branch of the kernel, and work on fixing relevant bugs for several years, but that's an enormous task and quite pointless when alternatives exist.

The embedded Linux folks do basically that AFAIK.

SCADA systems (of which vehicle control systems are basically a type) are fundamentally very, very conservative in design, to the point where they just don't implement a lot of stuff that you'll find in a general purpose operating system. That's starting to be a bad thing particularly where security is concerned (case in point: Stuxnet). There's a huge amount of inertia, but given that the customers are always more interested in reliability than bling it's hardly surprising.



You don't need an open source license for that, you just need a deal with the provider.

100%. These days you're also a lot more likely to have ongoing support in the form of software updates for systems in service, the end user doesn't really care whether the code monkeys that wrote it are in-house or work for the manufacturer.

JDShu
November 17th, 2012, 12:50 AM
Ubuntu yes, Linux no.

Linux is used for a lot of embedded systems and is perfectly stable. However, if you crack one of those systems open you'll find a prehistoric kernel.




The embedded Linux folks do basically that AFAIK.

SCADA systems (of which vehicle control systems are basically a type) are fundamentally very, very conservative in design, to the point where they just don't implement a lot of stuff that you'll find in a general purpose operating system. That's starting to be a bad thing particularly where security is concerned (case in point: Stuxnet). There's a huge amount of inertia, but given that the customers are always more interested in reliability than bling it's hardly surprising.


Fair enough, you clearly know more about embedded systems than I do. I'm still skeptical that even those kernels would work for space travel specifically without years of extra work, unless perhaps one already exists.

Paqman
November 17th, 2012, 01:04 AM
I'm still skeptical that even those kernels would work for space travel specifically without years of extra work, unless perhaps one already exists.

It's not really my area, but I'd be surprised if some subsystems on something big and complex like the ISS didn't use Linux. I'm not suggesting for a minute they should be used for the avionics, which are obviously going to use systems with a proven track record in that arena. As I said, they're extremely conservative and will just work with whatever they're familiar with. Even things like IP comms are still considered a bit new-fangled in industrial control, which is comical really.

moma
December 3rd, 2012, 02:51 PM
Thanks for all replies.

I think we can safely say that Tux is on the way to Mars. I cannot imagine how the settlers could use commercial (closed source) equipment on distant planets because they must be able to resolve many problems alone due to long comm-delay with the earth. They must have all code and specifications/manuals available. Open Source is the only viable option! The settlers can also utilize, consume the long flight time (7 - 9 months) to absorb new computer skills, reading everything freely about open source, and developing better software for their field of interest; like geology, greenhouse and food engineering, alien biology detectors, improved body sensors, 3D-printer, etc.

MarsOne has employed Kai Staats for a leading position. He is a well-known Linux and supercomputer guru with great respect.
Ref: http://mars-one.com/en/about-mars-one/team/290-kai-staats

Canonicals seems also to develop a unified platorm for PC Desktops, Tablet, TV and Phones. This is a perfect solution for space missions and planet-settlers. The rockets will surely run VxWorks Unix, but the settlers will not be able modify the rocket itself, it's pre-programmed and mostly controlled from the earth.

The settlement on Mars is totally different issue and all operations (rovers, life support, greenhouse, media centers, comm systems and other station operations) will most likely run a Linux distro.

My critics and questions:
1) I do not understand how the planned rover-tractors can move and lift the heavy building-modules. I think those modules weight (38% of 2000Kg) 750Kg on Mars. They are going to use solar panels to drive the rovers, and that will limit their size - therefore the rovers cannot lift or drag very much weight. For example the Curiosity rover (with a size of a clubman-cooper) is powered by a small atom reactor. Maybe computers can guide and land the housing modules very accurately to a 10-meters spot?

2) Is media-hype enough to finance this mission?
How long will this media-interest last? When will it start?

3) Why do humans have to expand to other planets at all?
Can't we just stay on earth and find a nirvana by travelling through our thoughts and imagination? Do time and place (dimensions) really matter? Eg. entangled/paired quantum particles do not respect distance or spatial dimensions. It's quite possible this law expands to tangible objects too. So the space-time is just an illusion or even more likely -- simply a product of your consciousness. So let's stay where we are!

More reading:
Fans of MarsOne have a forum with many interesting discussions.
http://marsonefans.com

There are some clever questions... (http://marsonefans.com/showthread.php/321-Final-5-Questions-for-the-Mars-One-Team-to-Respond-To) sent to MarsOne team. The fans are just waiting for answers.

Slashdot has also a series of questions and answers (http://science.slashdot.org/story/12/07/13/1517207/bas-lansdorp-answers-your-questions-about-going-to-mars).

Jump on and learn more about the future:
http://www.futuretimeline.net

Also, many things are just an illusion:
http://www.robertlanzabiocentrism.com/is-death-an-illusion-evidence-suggests-death-isnt-the-end/
The best part is below the main article. See "The Most Amazing Experiment".

Boa viagem!

moma
December 5th, 2012, 04:11 PM
The "hype" has just begun.
MarsOne beeing slashdotted. Already over 1000 martians have applied to the journey.
See: http://science.slashdot.org/story/12/12/05/1353247/over-1000-volunteers-for-suicide-mission-to-mars

This is going to be awesome!

SeijiSensei
December 5th, 2012, 06:05 PM
When the US Navy decided to install new computer systems to manage operations aboard ships, they chose, wait for it, Windows for Warships (http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2007/02/windows_for_war_1.html).

Just sayin'.

moma
December 6th, 2012, 12:32 PM
Yep, money controls a lot, at least in this project.
In the USA they (the military) must often use something "home made" like Windows. Very understable. I've read they also run RedHat Linux. Ref: http://www.redhat.com/solutions/industry/government/certifications.html
RedHat has very high EAL (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evaluation_Assurance_Level), I think upto EAL level 7.

Let's just see whats happens here.

haqking
December 6th, 2012, 01:23 PM
yep, money controls a lot, at least in this project.
In the usa they (the military) must often use something "home made" like windows. Very understable. I've read they also run redhat linux. Ref: http://www.redhat.com/solutions/industry/government/certifications.html
redhat has very high eal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/evaluation_assurance_level), i think upto eal level 7.

Let's just see whats happens here.

eal 4+

https://www.redhat.com/solutions/industry/government/certifications.html

You can look up OS evaluation criterias here http://www.commoncriteriaportal.org/products/

haqking
December 6th, 2012, 01:26 PM
JDShu: In what cave have you been hiding during the last year? You should apply to Mars-mission!

Ubuntu is more than a desktop system. Ubuntu is a phone, it is a TV, media center, server, cloud server, tablet and a desktop operating system. There is NO other OS that is more suitable for space travel and colonization of other planets. Your buntu has the most advanced collection of software ever built.



Thanks, I almost spat out my coffee, thanks for the morning laugh, it was needed.

moma
December 6th, 2012, 04:43 PM
@haqking: Ok, EAL4+. Thanks for edukating me.
>>Thanks, I almost spat out my coffee, thanks for the morning laugh, it was needed.

Lovely.
Was it my bad englesh or the real meaning of the text, or just Ubuntu + space travel?
I hope to entertein you latter on.

moma
December 16th, 2012, 04:08 PM
Hello,
This blog talks about bringing life and building habitats on Mars.
http://marsonce.wordpress.com/

It's not very wise idea to bring animals like rabbits or chicken to the space. It's more economical to eat the food directly than growing it to eggs or meat. The relationship between meat and intake of veggies is around 1:8 in nour·ish·ment, and the divident is much worse if you measure it in kilos and pounds. Vegetarians know this quite well. So I think, that guy is smoking his herbs rather than eating'em. Carnivores are obviously dying species and totally bypassed by more rapidly thinking vegans/vegetarians (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_vegans). You will find Gandhi, da Vinci, Einstein and all the others on that list.

EDIT: I would like to add this article... (http://arstechnica.com/science/2012/12/schrodingers-gardenia-does-biology-need-quantum-mechanics/) to your reading list.

moma
January 4th, 2013, 10:45 AM
Hello,
Colonization program:
You can now apply to MarsOne's astronaut and colonist program.

Please fill in this formula to show your interest for the job. You will later receive detailed information about the application procedure.
See: http://mars-one.us5.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=24d8ce153d9cbd2546aca36de&id=68735e115d

http://bildr.no/thumb/1359328.jpeg (http://mars-one.com/en/)

BTW: The 5 most important questions of MarsOneFans.com have been answered.
Ref: http://marsonefans.com/showthread.php/475-The-Answers-to-Your-Questions-From-Mars-One-Team!

Canonical's Ubuntu Phone OS (uPhone) was just announced. This means that the Ubuntu-family of products is complete and ready for the launch too. Laptops, Mobiles, TVs, Servers and Cloud will have the very same Desktop and command interface (APT with JuJu) to manage system files, installations and applications. This is a pretty awesome achievement.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpWHJDLsqTU

All the best for 2013.
Only three years to go for the first lift off!
It will send a communication relay and lander with supplies to Mars.

haqking
January 4th, 2013, 01:50 PM
I wont hold my breath on a "mission" organized by entrepreneurs who are relying on funding from a Reality TV show....LOL

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18506033

http://www.geekosystem.com/mars-one/

Bandit
January 5th, 2013, 05:18 AM
A suicide mission?

.................

LOL Thats exactly what I thought when I seen "ONE WAY" posted.. ):P

I my friend will pass, everyone wanting to go can just send me a post card.. Oh wait..

Bandit
January 5th, 2013, 05:21 AM
There is NO other OS that is more suitable for space travel and colonization of other planets. Your buntu has the most advanced collection of software ever built.


Well if they install Windows it sure will be a one way mission, thats if they can get off the ground first..

mips
January 5th, 2013, 09:55 AM
In the USA they (the military) must often use something "home made" like Windows.

DoD and some other related departments actually run a lot of linux stuff. Posted some links on this before but I'm to lazy to look for them now.

moma
January 10th, 2013, 05:41 PM
Hello,
Mars colonization:
Here is the latest newsletter from the MarsOne team.
They have now specified the basic criterias... (http://mars-one.com/en/faq-en/21-faq-selection/251-do-i-qualify-to-apply) for the 10-years training program of astronauts and Mars-settlers.

Please read:
http://us5.campaign-archive1.com/?u=24d8ce153d9cbd2546aca36de&id=f122f65b0a&e=dbd35266c0

Invitation video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6f-1o_Sjcw

Good luck!

t0p
January 10th, 2013, 06:09 PM
A lot about this project is daft. But there's no particular reason why a one way trip to Mars is a suicide mission. I suggest people do a Google video search for "Mars Underground".

I don't have a link to hand, but basically: an unmanned craft goes first, equipped with rovers and robotic equipment to build the first domes and to start splitting water (already on Mars) into hydrogen rocket fuel and oxygen for humans to breathe.

Once all this is set up, manned (and womanned) flights will follow. There will be a fuelled ship ready to take people back to earth, and some could remain on Mars as colonists. Future flights can bring more equipment - food, domes in which crops can be grown, other domes, robots, more water-splitting plants, whatever is needed. Some flights will carry people, and people will be able to come and go - and some can stay as colonists.

This won't start in 2023. And yes, it might sound like science fiction. But sending humans to the moon was once science fiction, as were the international space station, hubble telescope, rovers on Mars...

Hugh Mulqueen
January 11th, 2013, 05:59 AM
Project Orion anybody? The 60's experimental nuclear space-craft to go to Mars and beyond. And they don't suggest any way of actually getting there. What will they use:
Chemical propulsion?
Ion propulsion?
Or Nuclear Propulsion.

For me Nuclear would be interesting. Then again they would have to use chemical propulsion as a way of escaping the earths atmosphere.

drawkcab
January 11th, 2013, 07:31 AM
The whole thing is ridiculous. I can't figure out if these people are insane or just criminal.

Gremlinzzz
January 11th, 2013, 04:28 PM
:popcorn: I'm sure they will bring a Ubuntu phone,so they can (phone home)

moma
February 13th, 2013, 03:06 PM
One step closed to Mars.
MarsOne got its first money.
http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=39924

BTW: Do not forget to send your application. Hurry!

EDIT: Latest news letter... (http://us5.campaign-archive2.com/?u=24d8ce153d9cbd2546aca36de&id=92c20b0adb)

moma
March 12th, 2013, 11:43 AM
Re-hi,
Mars-One has contracted Paragon to develop life-support system and space suits for the mission.
Ref: http://science.slashdot.org/story/13/03/12/0115232/mars-one-contracts-paragon-to-investigate-life-support-systems

Fresh Mars-One newsletter.
http://us5.campaign-archive2.com/?u=24d8ce153d9cbd2546aca36de&id=dc55d39399

moma
March 30th, 2013, 07:58 PM
Mars and space related news:
Linux Foundation Prepares the International Space Station (ISS) for Linux Migration.
"""We migrated key functions from Windows to Linux because we needed an operating system that was stable and reliable – one that would give us in-house control. So if we needed to patch, adjust or adapt, we can do that with Linux."""

Please read: http://www.linux.com/news/featured-blogs/191-linux-training/711318-linux-foundation-training-prepares-the-international-space-station-for-linux-migration

Also the brain of Robonaut (R2) humanoid runs Linux. R2 works on the ISS.
See video: http://www.youtube.com/user/NASARobonaut

ManamiVixen
March 30th, 2013, 08:04 PM
More likely it will be a custom, new distro unlike the current ones out there. That way it is tailored to the Astronauts and system needs and for tighter control and security seeing as this is a space station and it can be bad if a "average joe" developer of a package does something wrong and creates an issue. As well as they may need custom software not available to the public at large.

moma
April 23rd, 2013, 06:37 PM
You can now register and submit your application at http://apply.mars-one.com

Mars-one newsletter:

Dear reader,
We are pleased to announce that yesterday at 12.00 pm EDT Mars One has opened the door to the Astronaut Selection Program. In last few days we opened the application website to a small group of potential applicants and asked them to be the first ones to submit their applications. Their contribution was really helpful to improve the application platform.

Now it's your turn. You can submit your application at http://apply.mars-one.com.
This is Round 1 of the selection procedure which will close on 31st August 2013.

You can apply in one of the eleven most commonly used languages on the internet: English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Mandarin, Japanese, Indonesian, Korean, Arabic.

Already 10.000 people have shown their interest for the training-course!
Please read: http://goo.gl/sH5a2

Check also http://marsonefans.com for the latest questions and debates.

psyclechick
April 26th, 2013, 08:34 PM
I recently applied (in all seriousness) for NASA's 2012 ASCAN intake (applied at the urging of an astronaut, however rejected because they are not taking non-US citizens at the moment, my qualifications and experience are sound) My heroes are Dr Andy Thomas and Dr Paul Scully-Powers - two Aussies who have flown in space, the hard way.

However, I was suggested to look into this and I did, signed up initially and receive the updates, was definitely interested in the project.

Note I say was....

At the recent launch press conference my heart sank when they announced that a lot of their funding will come from turning it into a reality TV show, with the creator of the Big Brother project heading it all up. I have a few friends who went to SpaceUp EU where Mars One was discussed in great length, the consensus from many people already employed in 'the space biz' is that this is a great idea however it already has some flaws.

Reality TV will ruin this IMO.

People will disagree I am sure, but at the end of the day we all know the type of 'quality TV' that the Big Brother franchise is. Having seen some of the application videos (basically they are after peformers not genuine astronaut candidates as your qualifications and skillset, and subsequent evaluation should speak more about your ability to participate in a genuine space mission than a 5 minute YouTube style self made video will)

There is a saying, "Space is hard" - I have seen it posted around Johnson Space Centre in peoples offices, its also a mantra for many of the people working at Space X (I understand the connection between Mars One and Space X) however I do beleive that with reality TV producers funding a large portion of this as a TV show, they will not want 'boring' - much of the training to be an astronaut is studying and learning manuals about all the equipment that will KEEP YOU ALIVE....there is healthy competition, as well as teamwork, things that seem to be at odds with the average reality TV show.

I may be way off the mark here with my thoughts, but I was just disappointed to see this turned into something that could be just seen by some as a means to getting onto the TV screen for the short term, from something that could prove to be a fantastic adventure for mankind funded by the private sector. Gary Busey has put his application in along with other 'celebrities'.....

Needless to say I am prouder of a rejection from NASA that I would be of submitting an application here. I want to be an astronaut - not a TV star.

Like I said, just my thoughts, some people I know personally are more optimistic, others are also cynical after the announcement this week! I guess we will find out eventually though ;)

Paqman
April 26th, 2013, 09:56 PM
Exactly. The problem with relying on TV for funding is that you're essentially hanging the whole project on ad sales. I don't think that's a reliable basis for funding a long duration space mission. Even if there were enough buzz around it to sell it for the first couple of years, what happens when the public get bored and ad sales of the show drop? The level of risk there is likely to deter other more serious investors.

t0p
May 5th, 2013, 12:53 PM
A suicide mission?

Well, linux will most defintiely play a role, but ubuntu will probably play some role maybe.

But who'd want to play any role in a mission were we send people to die?

Hopefully they'll change that to roundtrip.

I don't think a one-way mission has to be a suicide mission. Supplies could be sent from earth regularly. In fact, before the colonists head off, ships could be sent ahead carrying supplies and robots to construct habitation domes and harvest water and necessary minerals from the Martian environment ready for when the colonists arrive.. Or just send pre-fabricated houses, so the colonists can put them together themselves. There exists a plan for such a program, I think it's called "Mars Direct". The leader of that project thinks a colony could be up and working in a relatively short time span.

I'd like to be a colonist, it would be an honour to take part of a mission that would eventually take humankind to other worlds. And to answer the question if Ubuntu would be involved: yes, definitely. It would be on my laptop, and I'd ask for version updates to be sent (probably as .iso images encoded and included in the regular earth-mars communications traffic).

moma
May 13th, 2013, 09:02 PM
Just a small update.

MarsOne on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/MarsOneProject

They have almost 100K aspirants from 120 different countries.
You can see and evaluate the candidates yourself.
Please go to: http://applicants.mars-one.com/

And this is a Facebook-group for the applicants:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/aspiringmartians/

EDIT: Obs, forgot to mension this audio-recorder.... (https://launchpad.net/audio-recorder) espesialmente made for the Mars-team.

osmoma
September 12th, 2013, 06:04 PM
Latest news from Mars-One:

Over 200.000 people want to migrate from Earth to Mars. Boa viagem!
Newletter: http://us5.campaign-archive1.com/?u=24d8ce153d9cbd2546aca36de&id=f2d2a879b3

Follow M-1 on Google+: https://plus.google.com/112041587972121774981/posts

Follow M-1 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarsOneProject



BTW: Audio-Recorder for Ubuntu 13.10 is ready for download.
https://launchpad.net/audio-recorder

Elfy
September 14th, 2013, 10:18 AM
Closed.