Martian Volunteers Needed

Volunteers Needed For MDRS Crews: Hard Work, No Pay, Eternal Glory Call for Martians: The Mars Society is requesting volunteers to participate as members of the crew of the Mars Desert Research Station Click the header, go read the whole thing for full details. The Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) is located in Utah. Currently ongoing is the Mona Lisa/Leonardo Project. Leonardo, an all-male crew, has completed their mission. The Mona Lisa section, consisting of an all-female crew, has not yet ended. These were/are Crews 39 and 40. Crews are international in composition. Devon Island, Canada, is the site of a sister project, the Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station (FMARS), where Mars-like polar desert conditions prevail. Two additional stations are planned, one in Iceland, and the other in Australia. As a young man many, many years ago, I became an advocate of space exploration, and colonization, introduced to the subjects by many fine science fiction writers. Robert Heinlein, in particular, comes to mind, especially with his The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. Philosophically, I believe that mankind is destined to expand to other planetary bodies. Science Fact is rapidly catching up with what was Science Fiction back in the day. Actually, in many cases, fact has outstripped fiction. So, if you'll grant me that, let me add a few thoughts to the subject. Although our first figurative steps will be miniscule, eventually there will occur a diaspora. This more than likely will not be a national phenonenom, but rather international. That is why I am pleased with the inclusion of some non-US personnel on the Space Shuttle missions, the concept and operation of the International Space Station, and the makeup of the above mentioned research crews. Even so, we will eventually be confronted with questions as to the equitable distribution of wealth gained from these activities. Yes, wealth will be gained as resources are exploited, both for the benefit of the explorers/colonists, and for various enabling entities, be they commercial or government. Already today there is competition in this process, in that countries other than the U.S. are working on space programs, and private enterprise gears up to grab their share of the goodies. Who gets there first won't matter as much as who gets there to stay. How we get there is also an item hotly debated. As I posted earlier, plans to launch Cosmos 1 are being finalized, a test of the feasibility of propulsion by means of a solar sail. Nuclear powered spacecraft are also being explored, although the use of nuclear power is not popular in many circles. Regardless, one way or another (or maybe several at once), we ARE going! It can't happen soon enough for me. Update: hat tip to Eric at Classical Values for this link to some possible ways to accomplish Earth-to-orbit payload insertions, a necessary first step. More ideas explored in links at bottom of that page. Tagged as Mars, Space, Technology, Exploration, Colonization, International, Solar Sail, Nuclear