September 25, 2012 11:05 am
If We Had Followed This Plan, We’d Be Living on Mars By Now
Image: Rockwell International
Ever wanted to go to space? Well you’re certainly not alone. But you’re also almost certainly not as prepared as Rockwell International was in 1989.
They have a huge, insanely detailed map of just what it would take to get us there. 1983 saw the first generation of reusable space craft. During 1998, we were supposed to firm up our propulsion systems and start with the interplanetary expansion. In 2008, we were supposed to have a lunar outpost established.
Next year, in 2013, we should be expanding an international lunar base and a lunar space port. We’re also supposed to begin the phase in which the “biplanetary civilization evolves to exploit extraterrestrial resources.” In 2018 we expand into the inner solar system and develop large scale economic and industrial activity in space. And in 2033 we’ve got a self-supporting Mars base.
You can explore the whole, huge map here. And learn how about Sean Ragan was able to track it down and post it at Make.
If you think Curiosity is exciting, well, imagine where we could have been if someone had put Rockwell in charge.
More from Smithsonian.com:
Curiosity’s Journey to Mars
Dirty Curiosity Rover Could Seed Mars With Earthly Bacteria
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Why didn’t they just go? They’re Rockwell. They’re a big company. No, these were plans to take the TAXPAYER to the stars, for Rockwell’s profit. It was a strategy for their lobbyists.
Comment by Rick Wolff — September 25, 2012 @ 3:28 pm
Until we are able to create sustainable communities that thrive in the vast desert regions of our own planet, there is no way we could ever create one on a distant rock with almost no water or air.
Comment by Surazeus Simon Seamount — September 25, 2012 @ 3:29 pm
There are many difficulties with surviving off planet. However the lack of water or air are not a part of them. There is literally unlimited supplies of both out there.
Comment by Ron Norvell — September 26, 2012 @ 1:04 pm
All the star trek fans are like, been there, done that. It’s cool to see a big time corporation have an interest in the advancement of the human race. In star trek, the people of earth had to get along first before they set to the stars. Unfortunately, I don’t think we will get to the type 1 civilization anytime soon on the account of shady government control and civil disruption in the middle east and countries alike. I would LOVE to live in a type 3 civilization, where anything is literally possible.
Comment by Mike — October 8, 2012 @ 11:08 pm
It would be so much easier to colonize and agriculturally develop an Earth desert. Like the Israelis did. Well, on second thought…
Comment by John — December 7, 2012 @ 9:09 am
According to an investigative show titled “The Mars Project” which was done by a married couple and aired directly after Ventura’s “Conspiracy Theory” on TRU TV in late 2012, the U.S. already has triangular shaped ships that are traveling to the US bases on Mars in 33 hours (one way). One witness (gov’t. employee) also testified to going there also by teleportation 2x and saw the bases.
Another ex gov’t. officer (CIA) said the US is 100 years “ahead” in technology beyond anything a human mind can imagine ‘AND’ there are cities on the dark side of the moon.
Comment by C — January 10, 2013 @ 3:20 pm