As some of you know, Tom and I (with a small team of likeminded) are drawing up a new expedition: To Space, exploration style. This means the way Vikings discovered the Americas and early mountaineers climbed the 8000ers: Light, fast and on the cheap.

Over the past few years, we’ve been building AI/sensor systems (HAL), shooting rockets and testing space suits (links to reports below). Latest we’re designing a MAV - Mars Ascent Vehicle - or a way to leave the Red Planet where our first mission is slated.

Why this before the actual space craft? Most other tech (getting there, landing) has been demonstrated - but not how to come back. We’re explorers, not settlers, and Mars is just the beginning we hope.

Testing boundaries on how light we could make it from Mars surface to our orbiting mothership we stumbled on the latest progress by Zapata and his very cool hover board.

Mars is a different story of course, but it’s not as different as we originally thought and a light approach changes things dramatically.

My personal dream is to leave the planet like this. (Video)

(Note this technology is different from the waterjet boards)

Previous/related:

Lab:

Project Mars: Level 2 Debrief

Rocket Launch: Level 1 certificate

BALLS: What it Takes in (New) Space

Rocket Launch Take 2: Kicking it Up

Rocket Launch in the Desert

Mission to Mars: Trying Cameron's Spacesuit

ExWeb Special: Explorers going to Mars...in Alpine style

News:

Explorers vs Payloads: The Difference and Why it Matters

Dispatches from the Garden of the Gods

Success: Jupiter's first date with Juno

PythomLabs/NASA climbing challenge: Find Mount Everest "Whistle Line"