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Text: Tatyana Petukhova | 2014-07-21 | Photo: From the archive of Robert Zrin, Martian society, Mars-russia.ru | 28138.

Robert Zubrin

The leading global expert in the field of research and development of Mars, the space engineer, the founder of the Martian society, which has more than 10 thousand participants from 50 countries of the world. The author of the Mars Direct Mars Development Program involving manned flights to the Red Planet and its colonization. The author of hundreds of technical and popular articles, several books aimed at the popularization of the ideas of the colonization of other planets and their terraforming. He worked at Martin Marietta and "Lockheed Martin", after which he founded the own company Pioneer Astronautics, engaged in engineering research and development for the aerospace industry. Inventor, owner of a number of patents. Grandfather Robert Zrin moved to the United States from Russia, and it was he who left his sonor of his sonorous Russian surname.

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- Research and development of Mars - the pleasure is not from cheap. What do we expect to get in return?

The research of Mars has two aspects - scientific and social. Of course, we want to get an answer to the fundamental question - did life exist on Mars? This question concerns not only Mars, but also the nature of our Universe - does it have something creating life everywhere? Is life found on natural development from chemistry, or once an extremely unlikely, almost wonderful event happened, what did the life in Earth appeared and gave rise to life?

90 years ago, Russian scientist Alexander Oparin, the author of the book "The Origin of Life", outlined the possible scheme for the development of life from chemicals that could exist on our planet in the early period of its development. The most important thing in his work is the concept of a gradual complication of a chemical structure from simple substances to more complex, to self-reproducing systems, to life. Scientists have long moved away from this scheme, but the idea itself is still of great interest. We still do not know whether the appearance of life was something natural and almost inevitable, which would have happened in a similar context, or its emergence became an incredible coincidence, the result of the random interaction of a whole set of chemicals that led to the formation of a surprisingly structured DNA molecule . If everything was inevitable, it means that around most of the stars of our spectral class rotate planets settlement by alive creatures, and some of them are reasonable. After all, the history of life on Earth is the history of the development, movement of life from simple forms to more complex, with greater ability to activities, more developed intelligence and capable of evolving even faster. Such is one concept of the universe.

The essence of another concept is that the universe is dead. Life somehow managed to appear here, on earth, but the rest of the space is devoid of life.

People tried to find an answer to these questions for thousands of years, and now we approached the solve that we can fly to Mars. After all, if it turns out that both of the two planets we studied have or have ever had life, it means that the existence of living beings in the rest of the universe is very likely.

Imagine that you live in the apartment and never come out of it, and you do not even have a TV. You will be in complete ignorance as to how the rest of the world is arranged. And suddenly you receive a letter in which it is reported that you won in the lottery. You will not be able to say whether the winning lottery is something inherent only to you, and you are the only person who has ever received such a letter, or this is a universal phenomenon. But if you could go into the corridor, approach the neighbor and say: "Look, I won the lottery!", And she would answer: "I also won in the lottery," then you would understand that this is most likely, It happens often. Also with life in the universe.

But there are other questions. Can we live somewhere else? What is the future of mankind? Will we be tied to Earth or try other habitats? If we succeed in Mars, can we repeat it somewhere else? The answer to these questions is influenced not only for the future, but also to the present. The way people think about the future determines their actions in the present. This is extremely important and absolutely concrete moment. For example, we ask ourselves: resources are finite or infinite? If you believe that they are finite, each person and each nation will be perceived by you as enemies; You will have to lead new wars to subordinate them. Adolf Hitler said: "The laws of existence require continuous killings so that the best can live." He pronounced this phrase in October 1941 - on the same month when he ordered the destruction of all residents of Leningrad. The Nazis said that they need space for life, so they should destroy all these people. But their words were a lie - not just evil, but also a lie, because this presentation corresponded to reality only in their minds. Germany did not need life space. Today it takes less territory than in the times of the Nazis, while its population and the standard of living increased markedly. They had no need to do what they did; Such a need existed only in their heads. If people are thinking that the resources of the planet, affordable to humanity, are limited, it will end in deplorable for everyone. Everyone will begin to desire death to other nations, because they all use the same resources. It looks like a breathtaking, isn't it?

- That is, there is a lack of territory, food and other resources there are no other resources and will not arise in the near future, and the problem is only in the minds of people?

Danger is not in disadvantage. The danger comes from people who seem to be enough for me to eat. And the danger is not that we supposedly have little land. Danger in people who believe that the lands are not enough at all. You know why people in this room do not kill each other to get all the air? If we are over the air, we die, but why do we then not fight for it? Because quite sure that the air is enough for everyone, and there is no need for him to fight. Without air, we will not live a couple of minutes, but we will not fight because of it, because its reserves are not limited. Although in this room its volume is finite, we know that the air is full outside. It is enough just to open the door and go outside. But if we thought that the air in this room was all that we have, and other people breathe them, which means they pose a threat to our own life, we would attach them to them and forced them to stop breathing. Right? Such is the essence of the question. We do not risk staying without air, but there is always a danger that the person will enter here, who suddenly decides that the air ends. We will have to show him that you can always open the door.

Therefore, there are two concepts of the future: one leads to wars and destruction, the other is to peace and well-being. It all depends on what of which we will take. The idea that the land and humanity have a limited reserve of resources, still has many supporters. It shares a lot of people, it is promoted by various organizations, which carries a greater danger. But people can show that our horizons are constantly expanding that we have a whole universe, and not just the earth. This makes the concept of erroneous resource limbs, undermines its foundations and proves the right of the second concept. Our view appeared in the Universe not to destroy, but to build. This is the struggle of two ideas with each other, and the most creative potential has the concept according to which people are able to master the cosmos, populate other planets, access new resources. We have endless opportunities, and our future is limited only by our creative abilities, and not physical boundaries.

- In addition to the development of Mars, in your opinion, are there any other global engineering objectives that are now facing humanity?

Of course, we must find solutions to new tasks, for example, regarding the search for energy sources. Locally, we solve this task every time we find a new petroleum field. But a more serious answer to this challenge will be the invention of the new technology of energy production and the creation of new energy sources. Uranus did not become an energy resource as long as we did not open nuclear energy. The technology of nuclear synthesis is now being developed, and they will turn into the Energy resource of deuterium - heavy hydrogen, which is currently not among the resources. We must learn to use this resource until all oil fields have exhausted. The purpose of humanity is to create or open new resources by using our creative abilities. Our form has been preserved without due to the fact that we sat, folded hands, and thanks to the creation of new resources - this is what we need to do. An extremely promising energy in the future should be helium-3, which is the perfect fuel for the thermonuclear reactor in the external solar system. But it will become available for us not earlier than we turn into full-fledged cosmos researchers, since its nearest reserves are accumulated on the moon.

It should be understood that people are not indigenous inhabitants of the entire planet Earth - they are indigenous inhabitants of Kenya. It was from there that we all came. We were not born in order to live in Russia or North America. We are tropical animals with long and thin hands without fur. Right? People can live in all parts of the planet only due to the technical ingenuity of our ancestors. In some parts of Russia or in my native Colorado, we would not have been able to live a single winter day without relevant technologies, such as home, clothing, fire, etc. If we had remained too long in the habitat, to which Nature had adapted, we would never go beyond the limits of Kenyan rift valleys. We would use exclusively resources available in this valley, would hunt for local animals and would collect local plants. Our future plans would be very modest. Not too tempting perspective, especially from the position of what we possess today, right? But, improving technology, we were able to become a global view, which includes hundreds of nations, cultures, languages, types of social organization, which have a large variety of technical inventions. Some create what will then be used by many others. But our prospects and opportunities will become incomparably wider if we can master space. Then our current state will seem to our descendants quite primitive, akin to the stone century for us.

Cosmos is huge. Mars is not a destination for us, but the direction. This is an important step that we have to do. But not the last step, but just next.

Robert Zucchan: Schoolboy and Engineer.

- There is such a point of view that the desire for expansion is laid in a person from nature. When a person, barely coming out of the cave, moves to the river, moves to the other side and continues to expand the mastered territories ...

In general, I agree with such a point of view. Only I do not think what the development of events is inevitable. This is a matter of choice. Not everyone crosses the rivers. Some remain on one shore and continue their existence; Some of them dies due to the limited possibility. In the distant past, our ancestors were fish that inhabited oceans. Now the oceans are still full of fish, but only on land you can see the stars, only here it was possible to invent other technologies. If we were left in that limited space, they would not create a civilization and would not dream of space travel.

So that the rivers are missing not all, and the only question is whether we will meet other civilizations on the bank. We have seen the death of many civilizations. In the 20th century, our Western civilization was barely died. But in 1914, people lived better than ever before. If you see how the world has changed from 1815 to 1914, you will see many amazing things: steam engines, railways, telegraphs, electricity, players, movies, aircraft were invented. The quality of life has grown at times, we found medicines from many diseases that previously seemed incurable, and there were much more free people in the world. Everything had to go uphill and on, only here the leaders of the great powers for some reason suddenly began to argue about the borders of the Little Balkan countries, and everything went to the rustic. Everything exploded. The First World War became a colossal disaster, followed by other, even more destructive. Great nations need methods for expressing their greatness. But this is not a reason to have a political influence on other countries, impose their policies, as it was in the Balkans, the Middle East or in other regions. I am sure about that. Europe would be much better in 1914, if more thought about Mars, less about Serbia and the murder of Ersgertzog. If we are open new, if we can turn into a space look, it will free us from tangible restrictions. People will no longer need to fight for geographical power. We will not need to focus on issues like a squabble around Syria. Do you understand what I'm talking about? We must look up. Mars can free and rally us.

As an American, of course, I am very proud that although in the United States only four percent of the world's population lives, our share has half of all recent inventions. People around the world enjoy our inventions. China does not boast of a large number of inventions made today, but this country is developing, the children of peasants become students of universities, and then - scientists and engineers. Perhaps soon China will begin to invent a lot of things that everyone will be used. But China's development will not harm America, but, on the contrary, will help her! If Russia does a row of world-wide inventions, then they will help all the inhabitants of the planet. Help to move on. This will help everyone develop.

I am the inventor itself. Many of my inventions are related to cosmic flights, but some have application on Earth. One of them will soon be launched into production. We are talking about a portable system for the separation of natural gas liquids, which is now burned. In the whole world, including Russia, huge amounts of natural gas are burned. But natural gas contains components such as propane and butane, which can be converted into a liquid and then transport and use. I invented a portable system that allows it to do. The first field device is ready and is already tested. The invention will be used in the United States, and then, I am confident, in Russia. People in Russia have already demonstrated interest to him.

Developed by a toastic system to release liquids from natural gas.

- The space race between the Soviet Union and the United States led to a huge jump in the development of mankind. And even if Gagarin did not fly into space, and Armstrong did not step on the surface of the moon, it would still be of great importance, since advanced space technologies were transferred to everyday life and are now actively used in different areas of life. How can the Mars's development program affect our life in the separation even from the very fact of colonization?

Yes, if we did not even flew to the moon, they would still be marked by certain progress. As a result of the Apollo program, by the 90s, the number of graduates with scientific specializations in the United States has doubled. We are talking about all levels of education: schools, colleges, graduate students. We received millions of new scientists, engineers, inventors, research doctors, businessmen in the technical sphere. All these people in the 1960s were small boys, and their favorite toys were space rockets. Therefore, the effect of landing on the moon for the United States was very significant. It is not even so much about the technologies developed by NASA or contractors, although some of them turned out to be very significant - much more important than this intellectual capital, which has acquired our society. People trying to get financing for space programs sometimes argue that they can open a cosmic drug from cancer on the space station or something like that. Well, it is possible, although it is unlikely to happen. But the fact that a team of scientists, which someday invenues such a medicine will include a large number of people who have inspired the space program - very likely.

- How to deal with the formation of the future generation - those who will study Mars?

I think the most important thing in education and the teacher will achieve a teacher of success in his profession or not, is the interest of students in learning. It is necessary to prevent your subject so that the children are interested in, explaining why they must study science, and instill love for study at the earliest age. Before becoming an engineer, I worked for several years as a teacher. I taught both good and bad schools. And I understood such a thing: anyone can teach children who want to learn, and no person can teach those who do not want it. The desire to learn is much more important than any equipment that the school has, more importantly, by children are studying for what textbooks. Children need to inspire something, and I think that the program for the study of Mars is suitable for this role. Thanks to her we will have more boys and girls who really want to learn. So they can become researchers of new worlds.

- What are the obstacles to the development of Mars? No need technologies? Or is it all trite just - no money?

Money is always lacking, but the problem is not only in them. The thing is in the direction. The United States spend much more money for other things. Even if they say that we are experiencing a budget crisis and must trim the costs, the budget of the American government is still about 3.6 trillion dollars. And the budget of NASA - 16 billion dollars. It turns out that the budget of the American government exceeds the NASA budget 200 times, and only 0.5% is spent on space studies from the entire budget. If this add another tenth, other sectors will not significantly lose funding. Therefore, it is not about the fact that we have little money, but whether we are ready to act. In fact, we can afford much big expenses: the NASA budget can increase two or three times, but now we do not need it. I think that we can implement our programs as part of the current budget if there is due focus and the correct placement of priorities. Russia is not as rich as the United States. I do not know exact figures, but I am confident that only a small part of the state budget is allocated to space research. I think Russia can afford to study space, and what colossal fruits will bring it, it is not necessary to speak. This will increase intellectual capital, the youth will attract the young people to occupation and technology, which in turn will go for the benefit of the economy, national defense, health care and everything else. Putin wants Russia to become a great nation again, and the great nations are creating great things.

Of course, there is a number of technological problems on the way to Marsa, but none of them is intact. For example, we need to build a heavy carrier missile. But we already had such a rocket, Saturn-5, and Russia had "energy". There are a lot of things to make engineers and make them right. But all of them are within the framework of the technical capabilities of our era. In what we have to do, there is nothing that we cannot do.

Modern technologies allow us to reach Mars for six months. Of course, it would be desirable to reduce the time on the way, but there is no sharp need. I would say this: six months is the time that in the XVIII century held the way from England to Australia. The first colonists will go to Mars on spacecraft who will take them there for six months. When civilization arises in Mars, an incentive will develop more advanced spacecraft and thermonuclear engine that will allow us to achieve the Red Planet in just a month. Moreover, it will allow us to enter the outside of the solar system and then beyond its limits. If now such a mission requires at least six years, then with the help of new technologies we will reduce the way to six months. Columbus sailed across the Atlantic Ocean on a conventional vessel, even 50 years later, no one attempts to cross the ocean. While we did not start crossing the ocean, there was no need for transcatean liners. But after the European civilization has become a transatlantic, we moved forward, designed three-match sailing ships, then steamboats, then oceanic liners and eventually created Boeing 747. Something similar will be in the case of the development of space. The first colonists fly to Mars on such ships that when their grandchildren will hear stories about the technical equipment of their ancestors, they will not believe that it was possible to get on these structures at all that they will seem to be imperfect.

Therefore, it turns out that the main obstacles for the colonization of Mars today are political. We have to convince politicians that they need to take this challenge that there are a number of problems that they are able to solve it. Some things are obvious: you need to mobilize national economies, technology, resources, research, improve education, create jobs and so on. Finally, to increase public morality, create intellectual capital, the spirit of cooperation, which will allow the countries to act together. Separate policies are able to understand it. But why do we need to do it now? One reason is to improve international relations. The hostile nature of international relations can lead to a catastrophe, for which there are no other prerequisites. Therefore, it is important to discharge the tension that can now increase. This is a dangerous thing. Joint flight on Mars is one of the ways to create confidence and friendship.

- How did you have the idea of \u200b\u200bcreating Martian society?

In 1996, the first edition of my book "On the potential of Mars" was published, after which I came 4,000 letters from all over the world. Some of them were written by astronauts, others - engineers from the NASA laboratory, school teachers, firefighters, policemen, widows of servicemen, managers from New York and bankers from Paris, 12-year-old Polish children and other people. That was incredible. Seeing huge stacks of letters, I said to myself: if we could combine all these people, we would have the power to translate our plans to life. We announced a constituent congress of the Martian society in the city of Boulder, Colorado, and 700 people came to him from around the world. Of course, most of them were from the USA, but the congress also visited many Europeans, people came from Russia, however, they were quite a bit - less than Poles. Even Cypriots and representatives of Mozambique arrived.

Martian society then included representatives of 40 countries. Russian citizens were a bit, and ultimately they became inactive. Now there is a new interest in the formation of the Martian society in Russia. The group on the Facebook network is formed, hundreds of people have already joined it. We are planning to hold a constituent congress in Moscow, in April.

The mission of the Martian society in America is to promote his idea in society, to help compatriots expand the horizons. We want to convince politicians to take our ideas seriously. We have already achieved a certain success - for example, it was helped to increase the American budget for the study of Mars with the help of robots.

Stations, imitating living conditions on Mars, created by Martian society.

- What projects did you launch in the framework of the Martian society?

We have two earthly "Martian" stations. One is in the Arctic, on the island of Devon (Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station), and the other in the American desert, in Utah (Mars Desert Research Station).

In Utah we make a lot of research. In our account already more than 130 crews. Each group holds at the station for about two weeks. Then the other group is replaced by it. Last spring here also visited the group from Russia. We are not engaged in the study of the psychology of long-term space flights. We focus on another problem. We carry out simulations to understand what methods of research and what technologies are suitable for Mars, and which - no.

For example, how much water do you need a team? The physiological need can be found by opening a textbook on medicine. But it is only a small part of the water you use. Much more we spend on washing dishes, cooking and other needs. Some love to wash for a long time. But on Mars you cannot afford it. You go into a shower in the shower, turn on the water for just a couple of seconds to wet the body, then turn off, wash and turn on for another couple of seconds to wash the soap. We will save even more water if we resort to wet wet sponges. But why do it every day? How about once every two or even three days? How far can you go in savings? This is a dispute between mass and morality. According to NASA estimates, water consumption is 30 liters per day. During the experiments, we managed to reduce this figure to 12 liters without prejudice to the spirit of the crew. Even if we consider that most of the water will be recycled, it would lead to a significant decrease in the mass of the mission.

Another question is how effective the use on Mars Rovers? They can ride on the surface of the planet and sometimes wear a player to go out for research. We have shown that the use of smaller machines is much more efficient. We are talking about all-terrain vessels where you can ride in a scaffle. So your research becomes more informal. Seeing an interesting stone, you can burn and pick it up. For this you do not need to pass through depressurization. And if the all-terrain is stuck, one or two people are enough to pull it out. At the moment, my model of study of the space of Mars contains such a rule: do not take what you can't raise. In conditions of deficiency of special devices, this is the right decision.

Or another example. NASA is interested in remotely managed robots, and some people support them, leading to such an argument: we have to take these robots with themselves to Mars, because when the part of the team does not explore the planet on all-terrain vehicles or is not involved in anything specific, they have the opportunity to conduct research with using managed robots. Our experience has shown that the crew is least needing other people to come up with new tasks for him. Affairs and so much, and even if you manage robots only in rare free minutes, all the same, their effectiveness will be one thousand times less than in living researchers. Therefore, the benefits can only be from small robots on remote control, which can climb on the rock or whom can be sent to a small cave, too small for a person. In other words, these robots can get into the place where you yourself will not get, therefore, they can serve as a crew as useful tools. Large independent space riskers, like Curiosity or Mer, will be outstretable as soon as people step on Mars.

As for the station in the Arctic, here we spend longer research missions. Expeditions showed with what psychological difficulties researchers face. At the expedition, motivated specialists are gathering, who have long been waiting for, when, finally, they will have the opportunity to conduct research in a similar environment. And so, their dreams come true: they found themselves at the station, in an exotic setting. They have limited time, and they try their best to have time. They work to exhaustion. When I was in the Arctic with my team, I had to keep it constantly, it was to order not to work after nine in the evening. Otherwise they would just burn out.

Now we organize an expedition to the Arctic station, which will last exactly a year. We called it "Mars Arctic 365". We recruit volunteers. I hope that the mission will begin next year, but first we need to gain a good team and get financing.

- What are the requirements of you prevent volunteers?

Volunteers should be in good physical form, aged 22 to 65 years. Two types of technical knowledge and skills are most in demand: these people should be or scientists, for example, geologists and microbiologists, or be able to repair things well. Thirdly, someone is needed with the skills of the doctor. At the station in the desert, the presence of such people was not very important, because no one was there for longer than two weeks. We could go for medical care to the city. But in the Arctic without physicians it is not necessary.

- What do you think about others, first of all private initiatives relating to the study of Mars, and what role are played in them?

As for the role of Martian society in all these projects, then, first of all, we helped inspire such people like Elon Mask or Bas Lansdorp to do something that brings Mars's development. Elon founded Spacex, and bass launched the Mars One project. There are other people who do something similar, drawing inspiration including us. I became a consultant of the Mars One project and now I have been studying the possible ways of our cooperation. In turn, we invited Mars One to take part in the Mars Arctic 365 mission.

- What does Mars study personally mean for you? Why do you give all your strength to this?

We live just once, and for me, the measure of human life is what a man did. We are looking for opportunities, we are looking for a place where we will be most useful. If I can do something to achieve this common goal, my life becomes more meaningful. That's why I do it.

In the Moscow Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics next to the Mars-1 automatic station model.

- Do you prepare a group of like-minded people, people who are ready to go through your footsteps, transfer your ideas to future generations?

I really hope that the number of young people sharing these ideas will only grow, and some will want to devote their lives. I also expect to convey my thoughts through books and its activities within the Martian society. In 2011, my book "On the potential of Mars" came out with updates. In the United States, 100 thousand of its instances were sold; Even in Poland, we sold 10 thousand copies. In Russia, also found a publisher who publishes my book in Russian.

- Would you like our distant descendants to talk about you as a person who helped our civilization survive?

Of course, I would be happy to become for the descendants of those man who helped people get to Mars. But I will be glad and if I just can do something important to achieve this goal. And for this, I will make all my efforts.

Did you like the text? Go to - theremany other interesting materials.

The founder of the American Martian Society Robert Zucchan visited the Tedx Moscow Moscow Conference. "Futurist" managed to talk to the popularizer of the idea of \u200b\u200bthe colonization of Mars after the presentation. Robert Zubrin said that he thinks about Ilona Mask, why the script of the Martian Chronicles does not scare him and when a person can walk along the surface of the Red Planet.

Robert Zubrin, the founder of the American Martian society, decided to meet the summer in Moscow. On May 28, he spoke at the "Parade of Prejudice" in the framework of the Tedx Moscow conference with a call to conquer Mars. Robert Zubrin presented the Martian Society project Mars Direct - Pilotable flight on the red planet - and promised to send people to Mars after 10 years. After the presentation, we managed to talk to Robert.

- In addition to Mars Direct What other plans do you have?

Martian society operates in three directions. The first is the popularization of our ideas. Second: We are trying to convince politicians to finance Martian programs, both robotic projects and mission involving a person. The third direction is our own programs.

We have research stations: one of them, the Martian Desert Research Station (MDRS) is located in Utah, another base, Martian Arctic Flash Line Research Station (FMARS) - in Northern Canada. MDRS has been functioning for 15 years as a base for single research Mars. We plan to expand and create a permanent scientific station with a large number of inhabitants and good technical equipment.

Now we work on the mission "Mars 160", which starts this fall. By the way, the Russian woman Anastasia Stepanova and researchers from France, Canada, USA, Japan, Australia and the UK will take part in it. The team will hold 80 days on MDRS, imitating biological, paleontological and geological studies in Mars, and in the summer of 2017, the Mission participants will switch to FMARS, where 80 days will also hold. This will help us understand what difficulties a person running on the surface of Mars may face.

In September, the International Student Competition Gemini Mars will be held. Both teams who came to the Russian final: Skoltech Martians from Skolkovo and Team Russia team from several St. Petersburg institutes. Engineers will develop a plan of the piloted Martian mission.

Still in Russia will soon publish my book "The Case for Mars". She will be released in this September.

- What do you think, are there prospects for "Ekzomars"?

This is a very good project. Such missions are usually difficult, and there is always a risk of failure. But "Ekzomars" have every chance of success. The experiments of the Rover "Exomars" on the detection of life on the surface of the planet look impressive. The NASA Viking Program of 1976 tried to do something like that. TRACTER "TRACE GAS ORBITER" is quite advanced. I really like "Ekzomars", and I'm annoyed by the fact that our country is no longer involved in this mission. Martian society was against the US output from this project, but, unfortunately, we failed to maintain our country in the list of participants of Ekzomars.

- What do you say about Mars One? Does he have a future?

I think these guys make a great television show, but I don't think it pulls on a full-fledged Martian mission. They have no resources for it. And what they do now, definitely will not help them fill the budget.

There are two most promising and realistic options for sending Martian mission. Either these are traditional programs of state-wide space agencies that can be launched both in the framework of the competition and as part of cooperation with other countries, or this is the activities of private space companies. Spacex is already developing production facilities for sending ships to Mars.

- Do you often communicate with Ilona mask? How can you characterize it?

Of course, I am not your closest friend, but I know Ilona very well. We are like-minded. Perhaps our communication once influenced the fact that Mars became the dream of his life. Now we meet not so often, about once a year.

His courage amazes and bribes. He demonstrated the ability to create a new type of space transport, putting in one third of time and in one tenth of the amount, which spends on the development of NASA and other major space companies.

He is very purposeful. He is very inventive. Sometimes he promises to do something before he really has time to do it. But you know that it really distinguishes him from others? He in the end does it!

I don't think he will send for Mars in 2018, as he promised. But, most likely, by 2022 he will achieve his own. Ilon Mask is a new and most promising force that can deliver us to Mars. His reusable missiles will really help save a bunch of money and make flights regular - it means that we will be able to organize the Martian base and send the expedition there much more often.

Of course, it is very risky. But that's what else is important in the mask: it is very rich. In the light of many rich people. But take a look at what they spend money: everything they want to seek, these are new yachts and residences, luxurious lunches - and so until they die. Ilon spends money on global things: reusable rockets, manufacture of electrocars, the use of solar energy. This is not Donald Trump to you, which builds hotels and casinos - who needs it all at all?

- And you are not afraid that everything will go according to the Martian Chronicles scenario, Ray Bradbury and people just go to Mars?

I think that anxiety is exaggerated. It is based on historical examples: European colonialists came and erased the civilization of the Indians from the face of the Earth. But today's America is a free prosperous nation with a population of 300 million people and democratic principles. Something is created, something is destroyed. And I believe that people create more than destroy. When Columbus stepped on American Earth, she was deserted. Perhaps on Mars there are microbes - but there is no civilization. And we can turn this planet in a lively and blooming world. And it will be an act of creation, and not destruction.

- There is that a person can put earthly microbes on Mars, and we will not be able to fully explore the local biosphere. How to be in this case?

This is another matter. In general, biologists have technologies that can significantly determine, with Martian or earthly microbes we are dealing. Microzen is not universal. It may turn out that Martian microbes have no DNA or RNA, or they use other amino acids.

We should not be afraid, we must explore. Otherwise, we just just in place.

- What do you think, what will happen to humanity in 10 years?

With us now there are many beautiful and terrible things. Before us, thousands of roads and humanity can not turn there. But I am an optimist. Look at the gadgets that we have now in your hands: 10 years ago, we could not even imagine them. More and more educated people are becoming in the world: they think, invent and create what our world makes prosperous and technological. High technologies are becoming increasingly affordable, people are richer.

Sooner or later, politicians will begin to make faithful solutions. In the US, we choose the president every 4 years. Well, if not this time, then someday will definitely be normal.

In this sense, the phenomenon of the mask is very indicative. It demonstrates the power of ideas. Why is Mask going to conquer Mars? Because he was inspired by good books, films and thoughts. Maybe someday Russian oligarch read a good book, and in Russia there will be their Ilon Mask.

Perhaps we will ever see you - on Mars.

The founder of the Martian society (there is a branch in Russia), author of The Case of Mars, a former Engineer of Aerospace Firm, USA. Attached significant efforts to popularize the ideas of colonization of planets and their terraformation. Scientist, writer, ... ... Wikipedia

Robert Zucchan Robert Zubrin Founder of the Martian Society (there is a department in Russia), author of The Case of Mars, a former Aerospace Engineer, USA. Attached significant efforts to popularize the ideas of colonization planets and their ... ... Wikipedia

Zubr: Zubrin, Robert Zubrin, Vladimir Viktorovich Director of the Federal Drug Control Service, General Colonel ... Wikipedia

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Terra formation (lat. Terra Earth and Forma View) Changes in the climatic conditions of the planet, satellite or other space body to bring the atmosphere, temperature and environmental conditions to a state suitable for the habitat of earth animals ... Wikipedia

Stalinist premium for outstanding inventions and indigenous improvements of production work methods The form of promoting USSR citizens for significant achievements in the technical development of the Soviet industry, developing new technologies, modernization ... ... Wikipedia

Contents 1 1941 2 1942 3 1943 4 1946 4.1 Prizes ... Wikipedia

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Books

• Course on Mars. The most realistic flight of the flight to the Red Planet, Wagner Richard, Zudrun Robert. Mars - deserted, lifeless planet. So it seems at first glance, but in fact he gives humanity the wonderful prospects for resettlement from our planet to another. Robert Zubrin in ...
• Course on Mars. The most realistic flight project to the Red Planet, Robert Zubrin, Richard Wagner. Robert Zubrin is an aerospace engineer, founder of the Martian community and Mars Direct program, which is devoted to the development of Mars. The book `Case for Mars` was first published in 1996 ...