So these guys clearly play KSP... (Mars Exploration Vehicle Concept)

[I_Killed_Jeb]

I don't know how closely you folks follow the news, but these plucky fellows seem to be big fans of KSP...

Big orange tanks, orbital construction, nuclear engine cluster, base built out of fuel tanks... seem familiar?

[Brofessional]

All of those concepts are based on real-life though.

The tanks are orange because the insulation foam used on them is orange, orbital construction is necessary for any large spacecraft, NTR's have been around for decades, and Skylab was made out of an empty Saturn V fuel tank.

[Specialist290]

I'm pretty much agreeing with Brofessional here. This is more a case of art imitating life, not the other way around.

Also, this sort of thing really goes in the Science Labs

[LePadeaux]

I think the video at the bottom of the article is a bigger hint.

[SFJackBauer]

I think the video at the bottom of the article is a bigger hint.

LOL!

After seeing the video I feel the choice of the name ("Mars-X") was not the best ever...

[astropapi1]

Instructions unclear. Landed on Ike instead of Phobos.

Lol guys, just watch the video.

[Tech Support]

Instructions unclear. Landed on Ike instead of Phobos.

Lol guys, just watch the video.

what were they trying to achieve with that video ?? they didnt even admit that the background was KSP !

[Canopus]

I think they just wanted a way to demonstrate without making an animation of themselves.

[czokletmuss]

Real life space exploration ideas promoted by using a video game inspired by real life space exploration.
The circle is now complete!

BTW someone should notify SQUAD, that's quite a good PR occasion right there.

BTW2 - I recognize the NTR engine, it's from the old Soviet Mars project-thingy (they didn't go much further beyond the drawing desk).

[tom1499]

I recognize the NTR engine, it's from the old Soviet Mars project-thingy (they didn't go much further beyond the drawing desk).

Pretty plumbing though. That's all that matters with Liquid Fuel engines. Pretty Plumbing.

[Idobox]

I love KSP, but seriously, they could have at least used orbiter if they wanted to be considered seriously.

[nhnifong]

I love KSP, but seriously, they could have at least used orbiter if they wanted to be considered seriously.

Alt-space people have always been a bunch of loonies. As long as they're still a eccentric nerdy billionaires they can be as weird as they want fine with me!

[Tankbuster32]

Where are the fuel tanks on that lander?! They must have used infinete fuel! also you don't need that much fuel to get to Duna...

[NASAFanboy]

Gah, is orbital construction really nessesary? It's almost clique now for Mars missions to use orbital constructions.

Use a three-launch plan. One ERV, one Hab, and one MAV. Land MAV on Mars with SLS Block 1A, inject ERV into or it with SLS Block II, and launch a disposable manned Mars Hab on SLS trans-Mars trajectory. Then stretch out the cable, and spin the habs for 1g of Gravity.

Land hab on Mars with parachutes and engines near ERV, do 6-month surface stay, board MAV, lift off to ERV in Mars Orbit, dock, have ERV insert you into trans-Earth trajectory, unfold cable between ERV Hab and rocket body, spin for gravity, go near earth, undock the Orion capsule (Part of MAV), reenter ERV and all, land in ocean with Orion. Why the heck does one need orbital construction?