[OT] Real Life Space Flight ( was: Summer Reading List)

"Beth Fulton" <beth.fulton@marine.csiro.au> opined:

> Guess this news of liquid water on Mars makes all our discussions of

What do you mean, slightly more sensable, Beth? While a major project that
will take years to realize, colonizing Mars never seemed un-sensable to
me!

If you can find it, check out the book "Mars Direct" by a couple of
scientists/engineers involved in the US space program.  They make a very
good case for our ability to do it with *todays* technology (as opposed to
waiting for nuclear rockets or other drawing board tech). Excelent read.

Opps, there's nothing in this post about FT! Ummm, I've got it! Are the UN
minis available in the US yet? I've seen pictures of them on the internet and
GZG lists them in the back of FB2, but they aren't on the GeoHex (US
Distributor) web page yet.

G'day Michael,

> What do you mean, slightly more sensable, Beth? While a major project

I've always thought we'd colonise it to some extent too, its just a LOT
easier now - especially if the hype accompanying the plasma engine pans
out;)

> If you can find it, check out the book "Mars Direct" by a couple of

I have had a trawl of the feasible ways you could do it now, but haven't

read that particular book yet I'll give it a look thanks!

> Opps, there's nothing in this post about FT!

Future history has a lot to do with FT, but that was an admirable link there;)

Cheers

Beth