Long Conversation with Ken Foster and Pete Worden

I'd rather listen more about NASA's plans than those general and meaningless random thoughts about sci-fi, aliens and metaphysics.

When it says 02010 at the bottom of the screen, is that just putting a 0 in front of the year 2010 as a gimmick to reflect long term thinking? What are you going on about Anthony? He said we will colonise Mars or the moon etc. The "we" refers to humanity, not the entire race, when Europeans colonised the Americas, they didn't export the entire population and leave Europe as an empty void. It would only be a settlement to explore and learn and start a new life. In any case, where do you get 4 billion people from? Last figures surpassed the 6.5 billion mark and that doesnt include many pockets of the 3rd world, we are likely in excess of 7 billion already. Nano technology can do almost anything, think star trek replicators, messing with individual atoms to do anything we want, we aren't there yet, but it is possible and then in effect we would be gods. Elevators to space are a minor issue. We simply lower a cable from a space station back to Earth, the centrifical force of the rotating body keeps it in orbit like spinning a ball on a string. It doesn't require the engineering in constructing a 100,000 storey building that extends beyond our atmosphere. Then we use that cable to haul ourselves quickly and cheaply into space without the need for massive amounts of rocket fuel. We just need the nano technology to make a cable strong enough, since steel wire isn't going to cut it.

Interviewer: art, art, art, art, let's talk about art, what do you think about artists in space, oh, art is so inspiring, artists are great, we can't just have mechanics and engineers in space, we need artists, art, art, herp, derp.

Can we please stick to space and/or astronomy? This liberal agenda is laughable. Let's bring artists to Mars... that's thinking outside the box? Oh please. What an insult to all the highly educated and creative thinking NASA engineers. Further, the gratuitous reference to artists pursuing "emotionally dangerous work" is simply embarrassing.

You are so right Ecee... we are heading for an END... we are reaching for the stars when we should be saving what we have... instead of learning to cook, many people depends on restaurants, take-out, and frozen dinners... instead of leaning to live with what we have we are seeking new places to exploit and damage... it's "our" mentality... it's cultural... Manifest Destiny... so you think space elevators can reach all the way to Mars? And you avoided the question of Class... you really thing they are going to take everyone? Even IF they consider moving 4 billion people to Mars... how will nano technology build the huge habitat domes that it would take to hold everyone... or, for that matter, dig huge underground complexes if we were to live subsurface on Mars?... Do you really want to put all your eggs in a basket that has that many holes in it? ... cost, technology, scale, logistics, politics, social reforms... etc... if we don't change our mentality about how we live and how we use what resources are given us, then we'll only repeat our naive destructive actions "out there"... and you know if we ever find "alien" life, the first thing we are going to do is dissect it and then try to eat it... if you have more faith in your fellow man than I do... just look around at ANY government, military and scientific programs and tell me I'm wrong... when it comes to Power, Food, Protection/Defense, Science/Discovery, Shelter/Security, and Manifest Destiny humans have, ironically, NEVER been "Humane"... So don't think we are starting now as we look to taking over and conquering "Space". My personal thought is that Man is the stupidest of all animals... he is the only creature that wishes to live outside it's means... all other animals and insects find a niche where they thrive and survive and are content with the simplicity of life... Man wants nothing but MORE... Man is Never content... Man will invent himself out of existence... how stupid is that? Do some movie research on "Logan's Run" or "Soilent Green"

Clearly the phraseology is misleading. Obviously there is no way to move 4 billion people off of the surface of the planet. Instead, think space elevators using nanotechnology. Then think mid 1800's transcontinental telegraph, and the coast to coast railway system; then fast forward to 1950's and think interstate highway system; then come forward to late 60's 800 phone numbers; then fast forward to early 2000's and think Internet. Each of these developments lifted all boats. The economy diversified and expanded as a result of all of this infrastructure; also technology went through several revolutions as well; heading for Mars and the asteroid belts will mean that those who come after us will have opportunities that we cannot imagine - just like our parents and grand parents can only marvel at cell phones and personal computers. People will always push the envelop and explore new, exotic and often dangerous places. Everyone benefits. But this requires longer term thinking rather than just the here and the now - which is a dead end.

If they are planning to make settlements on Mars so why don't they try to make settlements in Antarctic and in Sahara first because Mars is colder than Antarctic and drier than Sahara.

How can "we" leave this Earth forever?... in 50 or 100 years?... LMAO... how are you going to transport upwards of 4 billion people "out there" when there is not "out there" better than where we are now? Why would you think you could build enough space vehicles, or even have the natural resources or the money to do such an endeavor... IF, you are planning on building huge "environmental domes" on Mars... why not think ahead on Earth... and think of we are not going to be able to live in our environment because of global warming... then we should consider how we can move into the oceans or build BioDomes on land and learn to at least live, in a semi-amiable environment as opposed to a totally hostile planet we are definitely unable to survive without unrealistic artificial measures in scientific engineering and goals... Thank God I'll be dead before they tell me I'll be one of the ones that was NOT selected to go to the "Promised Land"... and I might add that I am not (except for income) not classified as a minority... so what do you think will happen to the billions in 3rd world countries?... yup... they won't be going either...