Mariner 4 discovers Martian ruins (part 2)

This is a follow-up thread to https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=126711

I may adjust some of the assumptions to that thread. I welcome constructive criticism here. I will make adjustments as I go, and then perhaps, if necessary, make a part 3 consolidating everything.

Okay here we go
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NSC Memo 650837/24/74/X
Top Secret - US Eyes Only
July 23, 1965


The NSC subcommittee on Mars has reviewed the scientific evidence and reports regarding the recent discoveries on Mars, and draws the following conclusions:

1. Despite their low resolution, the Mariner 4 photography has provided indisputable evidence of life and a technological civilization existing on Mars.

2. It is unclear whether the Martian life and/or civilization continues to exist until the present day. The scientific evidence is insufficient for conclusions at present, although the committee notes there is no current indication of any ongoing technological activity on Mars.

3. The large scale of the Martian ruins, as well as the unreleased photographic evidence, is suggestive that the Martian civilization is or was of an advanced technological nature, in all likelihood more technologically advanced than our own:-

(i) The top secret photographs labelled KH-43 through KH-46 and KP-16 and KP-17 (see Appendix A) are strongly suggestive of one or more very large artificial objects in orbits around Mars.

(ii) Photograph KP-16 seems to show an artificial object with a tether. and may be the remains of a Clarke elevator (see Appendix B).

4. It is not clear whether the Soviet Union is currently aware of the technological character of Martian civilization. Even if they are not currently, they are likely to become aware of it in the near future.


Having drawn these conclusions, the subcommittee makes the following recommendations and observations:

1. Unfortunately the public is already aware of the existence of the Martian ruins, and there is potential for widespread panic.The subcommittee therefore recommends that:-

(i) The US government adopt a position of publicly downplaying the importance of these discoveries, while also emphasizing its prudent and ongoing scientific investigations.

(ii) Maintain the current embargo on those materials which establish the sophisticated technological nature of Martian civilization.

2. The information, scientific and technological advances, which may flow from either contacting a present Martian civilization, or investigating a past Martian civilization, are likely to be considerable, even if currently unpredictable. They may have an important impact on human civilization as a whole. It is therefore considered essential for the security of the free world, that the United States be first to first explore Mars and establish a permanent human presence on that planet before any advisory. The subcommittee therefore recommends:-

(i) Additional unmanned probes be launched towards Mars as soon as possible.

(ii) Development of the Saturn V be accelerated, with large scale production beginning no later than the Fall of 1967 (possible production schedules are given in Appendix C).

(iii) The United States launch multiple redundant Mars flyby/orbital missions in February or March of 1969 (these will reach the planet in July or August of 1969). Each such mission will require a minimum of 8 Saturn V launches, and 1 Saturn IB launch, assuming Earth-orbit assembly. Given the critical importance of these missions, the subcommittee recommends a minimum of 3 simultaneous flyby/orbital missions, which will therefore require the production of perhaps as many as 30 to 35 Saturn Vs (given inevitable failures, and the requirements of the lunar program) during 1967 to 1968.

(iv) The United States aim to achieve a manned landing on Mars by early 1970, and a permanent manned presence soon after, eventually including a large scientific team. Initial landings can be achieved using craft launched using Saturn Vs and assembled in Earth orbit, and for this reason it is essential that the Saturn V enter mass production (10-12 units per week) no later than January 1, 1969 (possible production schedules for 1969-1970 are also shown in Appendix C).

(v) In the long run, the exploration of Mars, is likely to require the development of vast improvements in our heavy lift capacity. The subcommittee therefore recommends that full funding therefore be given to the enhanced Saturn programs (currently designated Saturn V-3 and Saturn V-D), as well as on going development of NERVA, and for studies of reusable and partially reusable launcher systems.

(vi) While safety is an important consideration, some risks will inevitably have to be taken during this program. The United States should be prepared to accept casualties that may result from these risks, and take any necessary steps to prepare public opinion for such casualties.

4. As soon as the USSR, becomes aware of the nature of Martian civilization, it is likely to recognize the importance and strategic nature of being the first country to investigate Mars, and therefore launch a crash program of its own. The committee is aware (see Appendix D), that the Soviet Union has been developing a large booster of its own (designated "N-1"), and has even carried out studies regarding the possibility of a manned landing on Mars after assembling a craft in Earth orbit from multiple (approximately 25) N-1 launches. The subcommittee therefore recommends:-

(i) The US increases efforts, using all available channels, and principally through national technological means, of monitoring the Soviet space program.

(ii) If there is any possibility of the Soviet program beating the US to Mars, the US program be further accelerated from that outlined here.

(iii) Since the USSR may attempt to win the race to Mars by disrupting the US space program, and/or distracting the US attention by subversion of free world allies (particularly those in Southeast Asia which are experiencing political instability):

(iii)(a) The US increases measures to secure its space program against possible communist inspired sabotage or subversion.

(iii)(b) The US takes decisive steps to halt insurgencies in free world allies. In the case of Southeast Asia, this may, for example, require the deployment of Operation Daybreak (although this would require 12 to 14 Saturn Vs - see Appendix E).
 
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Very interesting start here, SunilTanna. Any thoughts on the likely manned Mars vessel, frex, perhaps something extrapolated from actual 1960-1970's designs or wholly original?
 

Thande

Donor
Very interesting start here, SunilTanna. Any thoughts on the likely manned Mars vessel, frex, perhaps something extrapolated from actual 1960-1970's designs or wholly original?

The 60s Mars proposals by von Braun's team had three main ideas to my mind -

1. A Mars ship assembled by multiple Saturn V launches (probably at least four)

2. Single Saturn V launch with nuclear upper stage (probably only for small missions, or for large precursor probes etc)

3. Everyone's favourite 50s proposal, Project Orion (it was still alive in the 1960s, though somewhat scaled down in plans).

Also, NASA has recently been going through von Braun's work to plan for their current manned Mars programme, so new stuff might be being unearthed at the moment.
 

Thande

Donor
Or to go a bit earlier, here's a pre-Apollo programme NASA manned Mars mission study from 1960

Long story short: seven astronauts, 40 days on Mars, nuclear thermal engine (the first ever craft to propose using a nuclear thermal engine).

Here's another from 1962, Early Manned Planetary - Interplanetary Roundtrip Expedition or EMPIRE for short. Notably this one does say how it will be launched - all on a single Nova super-heavy launch rocket (sometimes called the Saturn 8).
 
The 60s Mars proposals by von Braun's team had three main ideas to my mind -

1. A Mars ship assembled by multiple Saturn V launches (probably at least four)

2. Single Saturn V launch with nuclear upper stage (probably only for small missions, or for large precursor probes etc)

3. Everyone's favourite 50s proposal, Project Orion (it was still alive in the 1960s, though somewhat scaled down in plans).

Also, NASA has recently been going through von Braun's work to plan for their current manned Mars programme, so new stuff might be being unearthed at the moment.

Or to go a bit earlier, here's a pre-Apollo programme NASA manned Mars mission study from 1960

Long story short: seven astronauts, 40 days on Mars, nuclear thermal engine (the first ever craft to propose using a nuclear thermal engine).

Here's another from 1962, Early Manned Planetary - Interplanetary Roundtrip Expedition or EMPIRE for short. Notably this one does say how it will be launched - all on a single Nova super-heavy launch rocket (sometimes called the Saturn 8).


Both of those sound sexy. :D Though in regards to ORION, I think there was mention of it not being viable in the precursor thread due to it being already 'dead', though certainly not any reason for it not to be restarted.

Although even if it was, I'd doubt they'd use it for the first exploratory mission. But if they were to then find definitive proof of an alien civilization, the cost-to-lift power of the ORION drive might very well be justifiable, especially if there is a competition with the Reds.

And in regards to those other rockets you mentioned Thande, they look rather modular (probably cheapest to build) though I wonder if they might be developed further in TTL to have a ring structure for some manner of artificial gravity.

In terms of structural changes, it doesn't really strike me as all that much more complicated to modify, especially if the cargo/crew compartments are arranged around the center axis.

Perhaps they might build a larger center structure for the crew, and rotate it for the G's, and put the cargo containers around the exterior as some form of radiation shielding.
 
not bad

although some technical problem
for Space Probe i allready post in part one

the manned mission
first possible will be a Fly-by in 1973
with mannned Mars landing not for 1976

because technic development problems

first
in 1964 the U.S. lifesupport system in Mercury capsul work only for 2 days.
a Mars Mission need one that work tausend of days save !
second
before Gemini mission were scientific doubt, if humans survie zero-g on long time.
(Gemini show humans survie more that 14 day lunar mission in space.)

NASA must start a Spacestation Program, to learn and test new technolgy
and show that humans survie Mars mission longer that 500 days

MORL would be Ideal for this.
http://www.astronautix.com/craft/morl.htm
in 1963 NASA gave MORL study contract to U.S. Aerospace companys
with GO in 1964, they had launch MORL in 1968

MORL was also proposed als Fly-by modul for 1973 mission
http://www.astronautix.com/craft/morflyby.htm
4 Saturn V bring 3 S-IVB stage in low orbit and MORL + Apollo

MORL has also intresting Idea, a dual-place centrifuge
so the Astronauts have artificial gravity for treatment agains zero-g problems.

tree
NERVA program were far to be perfect as it was terminated on Jan. 5, 1973.
but with POD in 1964 the Program had goes another way
need of high trust, the Phoebus-2 series had develop in to working engine
i mean get the Burn time from 12 minutes to over 20 minutes
with Reactor in flight test in end of 1960's with Saturn V
and modified S-II stage as hydrogen tank for Phoebus engine
with not Liquid oxygen tank this S-II-N only mass of 240 tons
 
OOC: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MUSTARD and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europa_(rocket)

Times Editorial - Monday 27th September 1965


Waste at the Dawn of the Second Space Age

In the last 8 years, we have seen many wonders; artificial satellites, men and women in space, robotic probes to the moon and the planets, and most recently of all, space walks, but a just few short years after it begun, the end of the first space age is already in sight. The first space age was characterised by massive but wasteful rockets, used once, and then discarded.

The second space, which is about to begin, will be a wholly different character. Reusable launchers will reduce launch costs dramatically, while bringing unprecedented levels of safety and reliability. It may seem outrageously premature to say so, but within a few years space travel may become as routine as air travel.

The weekend announcement by the member's of the ELDO consortium of their joint development plans for MUSTARD (Multi-Unit Space Transport And Recovery Device) must therefore be viewed in this light. MUSTARD offers an unprecedented opportunity for Europe to gain a commanding lead in the second space age, and this newspaper fully supports the MUSTARD initiative.

It is however because of our ardent support for MUSTARD, that we must question some of the decisions made at the recent meeting of European heads of government. In particular, the continued funding for Europa, a vehicle that will become obsolete as soon as MUSTARD enters service, must be questioned. While all multi-national projects of this nature must necessarily involve compromises, since funding is tight, tough decisions must be made, even if such decisions are politcally uncomfortable for some members of the ELDO consortium.
 
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