I highly recommend watching the YouTube animation of the orbital trajectory. I hope it comes to fruition, but I have doubts it will. I will say they had better put a nice window into the budget, as well as an exterior mounted small telescope. The trajectory this journey proposes is amazing. Earth is going to be dancing around at a near constant distance for the first part of the journey, as Mars gets bigger in the outbound vector. I think the night side pass at closest approach is disappointing, but not much can be done about that. (night vision on the scope maybe?). The occupants will get to see Mars retreat against, and partially occult the Plaeides cluster as it moves away. Earth moves away from them after the Mars flyby, and they are going to feel a long way from home as the watch Earth and Venus get cLose together in the field of view. Looks like the separation Between the two may be only 15-20 degrees. When they cross near Venus’s orbit, they will be closer to Mercury than to Earth. It’s a journey of fire & ice. Any way to check if Venus, Earth, or Mercury will pass in front of the Sun from the vantage of the ship?
I’ve noticed that negative commenters seem unimpressed with the interest in just a flyby, however I think this journey is highly interesting from the standpoint of exploration. It reminds me of those cruise ships that take you to the artic, and the equator on the same voyage. Do you really need to get off the ship on some frozen island in the Berring strait, or some roasting hell hole near the equator ?. Why not just stay on your cozy cruise ship and enjoy the ride? I think if the accommodations were nicer, future space explorers would book this trip, or others like it.
Given the spartan conditions for the inhabitants of “Inspiration Mars”, they may well be tempted to pop the airlock and GTFO right about the time the get to the Venus orbit ( something about the heat). Note to spacecraft designers, the hatch needs to open from the outside only.
I enjoyed the video, and that is a very interesting orbit. I hadn’t knowv that they’d be angling sunward after launch.
The only quibble I have is of the vid itself; though ought to have been consistent as to which was is “up”, or ecliptic north. The overview is from a perspective above the sun’s north pole, but if they kept the same “up” then the sunwards face of mars during the approach would be on the left, not the right,
BTW, I’ve done arctic and antarctic cruises; while just enjoying the view from the ship is indeed great, it’s better IMHO to go ashore too. However… I’d sure as heck rather go on a sightseeing-from-the-ship one than stay home.
If this voyage happens, IMHO it will be one of the greatest in human history.
Note to spacecraft designers, the hatch needs to open from the outside only.
Or at least only be openable if their is air preassure on the outside of the hatch.
I highly recommend watching the YouTube animation of the orbital trajectory. I hope it comes to fruition, but I have doubts it will. I will say they had better put a nice window into the budget, as well as an exterior mounted small telescope. The trajectory this journey proposes is amazing. Earth is going to be dancing around at a near constant distance for the first part of the journey, as Mars gets bigger in the outbound vector. I think the night side pass at closest approach is disappointing, but not much can be done about that. (night vision on the scope maybe?). The occupants will get to see Mars retreat against, and partially occult the Plaeides cluster as it moves away. Earth moves away from them after the Mars flyby, and they are going to feel a long way from home as the watch Earth and Venus get cLose together in the field of view. Looks like the separation Between the two may be only 15-20 degrees. When they cross near Venus’s orbit, they will be closer to Mercury than to Earth. It’s a journey of fire & ice. Any way to check if Venus, Earth, or Mercury will pass in front of the Sun from the vantage of the ship?
I’ve noticed that negative commenters seem unimpressed with the interest in just a flyby, however I think this journey is highly interesting from the standpoint of exploration. It reminds me of those cruise ships that take you to the artic, and the equator on the same voyage. Do you really need to get off the ship on some frozen island in the Berring strait, or some roasting hell hole near the equator ?. Why not just stay on your cozy cruise ship and enjoy the ride? I think if the accommodations were nicer, future space explorers would book this trip, or others like it.
Given the spartan conditions for the inhabitants of “Inspiration Mars”, they may well be tempted to pop the airlock and GTFO right about the time the get to the Venus orbit ( something about the heat). Note to spacecraft designers, the hatch needs to open from the outside only.
I enjoyed the video, and that is a very interesting orbit. I hadn’t knowv that they’d be angling sunward after launch.
The only quibble I have is of the vid itself; though ought to have been consistent as to which was is “up”, or ecliptic north. The overview is from a perspective above the sun’s north pole, but if they kept the same “up” then the sunwards face of mars during the approach would be on the left, not the right,
BTW, I’ve done arctic and antarctic cruises; while just enjoying the view from the ship is indeed great, it’s better IMHO to go ashore too. However… I’d sure as heck rather go on a sightseeing-from-the-ship one than stay home.
If this voyage happens, IMHO it will be one of the greatest in human history.
Note to spacecraft designers, the hatch needs to open from the outside only.
Or at least only be openable if their is air preassure on the outside of the hatch.
That’s simple, make the hatch swing in.