Who do you think will get to Mars first?

[Constitutional Technocracy of Minecraft]

Recently, I've noticed that of all the things people discuss in General, space exploration is rarely discussed. However, right now we are seeing a second "space race" forming, mainly between NASA and SpaceX. So, with the first test of Falcon Heavy set for the end of this month, I really think we should discuss who is most likely to land humans on Mars first.

Personally, I think that SpaceX will be the first to land humans on Mars, given that SpaceX is 100% set on colonising Mars while NASA's priorities change every administration under politicians who care more about overpriced fighter jets than Mars.

[Reutoa]

I think the first men to land on Mars will be from a private company instead of from the Government.

[Pope Joan]

I think the first men to land on Mars will be from a private company instead of from the Government.

That seems to be the trend. I personally hope they develop the asteroids first, plenty of good mining opportunities, closer to Earth, and no gravity to get in your way.

[Washington Resistance Army]

SpaceX will probably be the ones to do it, imo.

[Constitutional Technocracy of Minecraft]

SpaceX will probably be the ones to do it, imo.

Yeah, NASA was planning to return to the moon under Bush, then go straight to Mars under Obama, now to build a lunar space station under Trump.

[Aillyria]

SpaceX will probably be the ones to do it, imo.

^This.

[Reutoa]

I think the first men to land on Mars will be from a private company instead of from the Government.

That seems to be the trend. I personally hope they develop the asteroids first, plenty of good mining opportunities, closer to Earth, and no gravity to get in your way.

Man, I'd love to mine some Asteroids. I have watched some videos explaining Asteroid mining and benefits it could have. Also talked about how the Asteroid Belt could have asteroids worth trillions of dollars cause of the minerals in them.

[-Ocelot-]

I'm not sure but I can guess who won't: NASA. The US government has done nothing to increase spending on NASA to compete with other organizations.

I think the first men to land on Mars will be from a private company instead of from the Government.

Very likely but it could be China, instead. They want to be the first on Mars by the next decade (after 2020) while NASA is aiming to be there by 2030.

[Verlzonia]

Either China or a private company.

[Risottia]

Recently, I've noticed that of all the things people discuss in General, space exploration is rarely discussed. However, right now we are seeing a second "space race" forming, mainly between NASA and SpaceX. So, with the first test of Falcon Heavy set for the end of this month, I really think we should discuss who is most likely to land humans on Mars first.

None of them.
You send folks to Mars, and then what? You take them back. Oh wow.

Placing a permanent base on the Moon is much more feasible, and much more interesting.

Personally, I think that SpaceX will be the first to land humans on Mars, given that SpaceX is 100% set on colonising Mars while NASA's priorities change every administration under politicians who care more about overpriced fighter jets than Mars.

Colonising (as in: having a self-sustaining habitat with a permanent human population) Mars is just a fad. It isn't going to happen in the next 50 years.

[Kenmoria]

SpaceX actually have some leadership rather than changing every administration so will probably get to a Mars first. Although, I think the first people to actually settle on Mars will be NASA as they are more focused on colonisation than mere travel.

[Nakena]

NASA or SpaceX.

NASA could if they can get their stuff together but as Kenmoria pointed out, the quick changes in Administration make things more unlikely.

So SpaceX.

[Purpelia]

I am rooting for China personally.

[Bluelight-R006]

Trump and Pence, basically the government announced in October 2017 it would go back to the moon and build bases so any Mars Mission under NASA is likely postponed until a later date.

SpaceX, on the other hand, pretty much now has Mars to itself and this will give it a major advantage. But is still testing out many things like return rockets, and there is a chance it’s planned Mars Mission date might get delayed by a couple of months or so.

Overall, it’s likely SpaceX would get there first

[Purpelia]

What I'd like to see honestly are space habitats. Like, drill some rock out of the moon or something and build a cylinder. Than another. Than another. And keep building until you block out the sun and everyone is living in their own personal rotating utopia.

[Bluelight-R006]

What I'd like to see honestly are space habitats. Like, drill some rock out of the moon or something and build a cylinder. Than another. Than another. And keep building until you block out the sun and everyone is living in their own personal rotating utopia.

The Moon is not an ideal place to live compared to Mars though. Blocking out the sun would cause colder temperatures on the Moon. And why add a cylinder when it does nothing but be a cylinder? But I guess it does make the utopia possible.

[Kenmoria]

I am rooting for China personally.

Whilst It would be nice to see another country in the space race, I don't think the Chinese administration should place space travel high up on their priorities given the numerous problems in the country.

[Donut section]

To be fair I'm more interested in space mining and manufacturing than mars.

And government has become too ineffective for space travel.

Our future is solely in private hands.

[Jhman]

ISRO FTW

[Shamhnan Insir]

At this rate no one will.
We'll have squandered time and resources until another large conflict blows up and set's us back again. There is just no real ambition behind space exploration at the moment, everyone wants a quick return on their buck and doesn't want to be known as the ones who sent someone to Mars to die.

[Constitutional Technocracy of Minecraft]

I am rooting for China personally.

Whilst It would be nice to see another country in the space race, I don't think the Chinese administration should place space travel high up on their priorities given the numerous problems in the country.

Also, I don't root for authoritarian regimes.

[Dooom35796821595]

Space X gets far too much credit, for all its "achievements" it haven't done anything that haven't been done already.

[Ifreann]

Space X gets far too much credit, for all its "achievements" it haven't done anything that haven't been done already.

Haven't you learned anything from Apple? Achievements are a matter of marketing, not actually doing something first or best.

[Alvecia]

Nah. It’ll be a government agency that gets there first. It’s the way of things. NASA, ESA and the like make the initial breakthroughs, then hand the reigns over to the private industry for them to play around with.

[The Derpy Democratic Republic Of Herp]

Donald Trump, beacuse he built a rocket and made the martians pay for it.