In 1958, the late scientist and rocket pioneer Dr. werner Von Braun prposed a manned expedition to mars-this was to be accomplished by launching a massive fleet of space vessels into earth orbit, and assembling a Mars craft in earth orbit. This was estimated to cost some $50 billion (in 1958). According to von Braun, the project was technically feasible.
Could we do this today? With the advances in rocket technology, it seems to me that the project ois VERY feasible!
Sorry, I just keep seeing Mars every night (as it slowly fades away)-just hope this (Mars expedition) will happen before I leave this world!
Could we carry out Von Braun’s plan, today? I don’t think so.
In his book “The Mars Project”, Von Braun discussed the requirements for a “ferry rocket” to carry the components of the Mars ships into orbit. He says “…let us assume that each ferry vessel can carry out a round trip to the orbit every ten days…”
Even though we have the “ferry rocket”, a shuttle’s turnaround time between flights is a lot more than ten days.
And Von Braun assumed a fleet of 46 ferry vessels, carrying out 950 flights in eight months “even if 6 of the vessels were continuously out of commission”!
But I think it would be possible to put a man on Mars with today’s technology, using Robert Zubrin’s “Mars direct” plan. What’s lacking is a compelling reason to do so.
By the way, I’d recommend “The art of Chesley Bonestell” from Paper Tiger (if you haven’t already seen it).
The 1950s film Conquest of Space uses what I believe is the von Braun plan. Some nice miniature work and an interesting plot, although it’s no 2001.