The Planets are Aligning for a Once-in-a-Generation Space Journey (Mission to Mars)

This is an interesting piece of news. The Inspiration Mars Foundation are to announce plans for a manned mission to mars in 2018... This seems very ambitious to say the least. I am unsure what to make of it until after the planned press conference, just thought i would give everyone a heads up on this unexpected news.

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT: The Inspiration Mars Foundation, a newly formed nonprofit organization led by American space traveler and entrepreneur Dennis Tito, invites you to attend a press conference detailing its plans to take advantage of a unique window of opportunity to launch an historic journey to Mars and back in 501 days, starting in January 2018. This "Mission for America" will generate new knowledge, experience and momentum for the next great era of space exploration. It is intended to encourage all Americans to believe again, in doing the hard things that make our nation great, while inspiring youth through Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and motivation.


The Inspiration Mars Foundation is committed to accelerating America's human exploration of space as a critical catalyst for future growth, national prosperity, new knowledge and global leadership.

WHO:

- Miles O'Brien, moderator

- Dennis Tito, chairman of Inspiration Mars Foundation and the first private space traveler

- Taber MacCallum, chief executive officer and chief technology officer of Paragon Space Development Corporation and crew member for two-year mission in Biosphere 2

- Dr. Jonathan Clark, associate professor of Neurology and Space Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and space medicine advisor for the National Space Biomedical Research Institute

- Jane Poynter, president and chairwoman of Paragon Space Development Corporation and crew member for two-year mission in Biosphere 2

WHEN:

Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013 at 1 p.m.

- 45-minute press conference, followed by Q&A period

WHERE:

The National Press Club 529 14th St NW, 13th floor Washington D.C.

MEDIA R.S.V.P.:

Space for this event is limited (news media only) Please respond to confirm your attendance. If you will not attend, you may transfer your invitation to another colleague. If a photographer or videographer will attend with you, please indicate this in your R.S.V.P. We request that all media R.S.V.P. by Monday, Feb. 25 to Jessica Ballard with Griffin Communications Group at (281) 335-0200 or [email protected]

Source here :spaceref.com...

All sounds very grand indeed however,

Texthat make our nation great, while inspiring youth through Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and motivation.

the last time America found inspiration throught all of the above fields was with the hope of helping humanity and we got GMO - that's really helped hasn't it!

They need to feed the bloody world before they feed Mars!

Been there already!!

That's around "1 dreamality" away!

As far as time measurements go, the arguing, bickering, back n forthing, profiteering and scandinavian 5 star relaxation conferencing that a political parties decision needs to be made in is known as a dreamality. Which equates to 5 years.

Not a chance in hell this will happen by 2018!

Originally posted by quedup
All sounds very grand indeed however,

Texthat make our nation great, while inspiring youth through Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education and motivation.

the last time America found inspiration throught all of the above fields was with the hope of helping humanity and we got GMO - that's really helped hasn't it!

They need to feed the bloody world before they feed Mars!

Very possible that money removed from budgets like the military have been draining into black programs that on the surface are private, non Government. They may have already used the trillians that seems to be disapearing from countries around the world to establish bases already on other planets. imo

reply to post by Atzil321

The Inspiration Mars Foundation are to announce plans for a manned mission to mars in 2018...

I don't think I'll hold my breath on that.

Show me the ship.

A 501-day journey in a Spacex Dragon capsule to do a fly-by of Mars and return to Earth does not sound like fun at all or even worth the effort.



If we're going to send humans to Mars, the first trip should be one-way.

I think this is just a ploy to get funding for further R&D