Mars

Mars Is a Cover Story: A 96% Certainty 

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I’m not a PhD. I’m an A&P — I hold an FAA ticket, and I’ve seen what happens when engineers forget real-world failure modes. I started at 73%. I’m now at 96% that Mars is a cover story. 1. Domed Cities? Structural Failure in <2 Years Mars radiation: 250 µSv/day + 30 Sv solar storms. Shielding needed: 5–10 m regolith. Shielding on manifest: 0 lbs. Inflatable habitats? I’ve pressure-tested Bigelow modules.They’re fine in LEO. On Mars? Micrometeorite punctures Thermal cycling cracks No repair crew Verdict: Unsurvivable.   2. Solar Panels? Clogged, Dead, and Buried in 90 Days Dust storms: 3–6 months, 99.5 % blackout. Battery backup…

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Mark Shares His Knowledge

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I’ve been pouring my mental energy into helping SpaceX establish a foothold on Mars, treating it as a fascinating intellectual puzzle rather than a practical goal. My Foothold Plan tackles some of the technical challenges, but I’m skeptical about colonizing Mars.   Starship Reentry and Power Solutions To cut heat flux on Starship’s reentry tiles by 50%, I propose three 90-second aerodynamic braking maneuvers. For power on Mars, I suggest adapting a Virginia-class submarine’s nuclear reactor, which operates for 33 years without refueling. Using pressurized helium for cooling and turbine operation, this reactor could be placed in…

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