BBC - - Russia plans Mars nuclear station

[gp]

Russia plans Mars nuclear station
By Artyom Liss
BBC, Moscow

Russian scientists have announced plans to build a nuclear power station on Mars.
They say that all the necessary technical drawings have now been completed, and - after a few minor niggles have been ironed out - all will be ready for the construction work to begin.

The power plant should be up and running by 2030.

But experts are already asking questions about the feasibility of the project.

The first extra-terrestrial nuclear power station will serve the permanent research camp which, Russian scientists believe, could be set up on Mars within the next 30 years.

Deputy chief engineer of Red Star - a state scientific company closely affiliated with Russia's Nuclear Energy Ministry - says the station will be constructed in the mountainous areas of Mars, possibly in one of the canyons.

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3162129.stm

[Dudley_DUright]

1. This is total BS

But experts are already asking questions about the feasibility of the project. .

I should hope so. I like this part:

The only stumbling block is how to deliver ready-made building blocks to a construction site 300 million kilometres (186.4 million miles) away from Earth.

Thats like saying I will be a billionare tomorrow. I have my business plan all typed up. The only stumbling block is to actually collect the money.

The plan is that the heavier equipment will be delivered to Mars by an automatic lander - like the European Beagle which is now making its way to the Red Planet.

The scientists say that more delicate goods will arrive in a manned spaceship.

No problem. We'll just ship the delicate bits Fed Ex. I will eat my shoes (a la Tucker) if this idea ever gets off the ground.

[tridim]

3. Just a minor "niggle"

Gotta love those brits. :)

[Randi_Listener]

4. By the year 3000....

...going to Mars will be like a trip to the bathroom (or "loo" if you're a Brit).

[Philosophy]

6. Underpants Gnomes

But what about phase 2?

[arcos]

2. All Russian space projects scare me...

Remember they were once planning to blow up the moon.

[kysrsoze]

5. I think they have better plans than that.

Right now, space travel is owned by the Russians. No one else can send anything up except satellites these days. Our shuttles aren't going to last forever. This is a really serious hard time for the US space program. Where's all the increased funding? This is one of the few things other than Stoli that is actually bringing money into Russia.

They also have a lot of knowledge about effects of long-term space travel on humans. A Russian cosmonaut holds the record for longest time in space - over 4 months. It would take about that long to get there, assuming things go well. Russia already knows how to build nuclear reactors for subs and cities (though they learned the hard way about containment). Plus you can make nuclear power go a LONG time with little fuel. What else do they have going for them?

Also, they still do seem to have good relations to China, who will undoubtedly be a power rivaling that of the US in the next 20 years. Russia is also swimming in oil and just needs to build more infrastructure to get it out. Technology will undoubtedly progress, especially with appropriate funding.