http://www.boingboing.net/2007/01/25/buzz_aldrin_talks_ab.htmlThe Wired News blog Table of Malcontents has posted an interview with astronaut Buzz Aldrin about his new documentary In The Shadow Of The Moon which is premiering at the Sundance film festival this week. John Brownlee of Wired News says, "He gave us some of his thoughts on what it was like to land on the moon, pre-flight jitters, and about his thoughts on a slew of matters, from religious extremism to Martian colonization."
John, I hope for your sake that you did not ask him to swear on a bible that he had been on the moon.
Here's a snip from the interview:
Q: You are a big proponent of manned missions to Mars. Would Mars be any more hospitable?
Aldrin: Conditions on Mars are much better. But in order to get to Mars, it takes a much bigger effort. And you can’t just go and then turn around and come back right away. The planets are not in the right position. Mars requires that we stay for a considerable period. You have to come back from Mars before the next people arrive, so if you don’t bring everybody back, it’s empty there, and that’s no way to build up permanence. You have to keep leaving more and more people there and have the confidence to do that.
Q: Would you want to be left on Mars?
Aldrin: Well, you’re not really left on Mars. It’s just that the train doesn’t come by for a year and a half. And no, I don’t think I’m suited to that.