NUPOC hopeful, looking to jump-start a lifelong dream of colonizing Mars

[Biomaverick]

If that subject line made you question my sanity, then let me clarify here. I am currently a Biomedical Engineering junior undergrad at Boston University; I have a 3.33 GPA, but have never received a letter grade below a B (deflation at BU is rough). Currently, I don't feel challenged at my school,and it is not just about the grades, because I know I don't put 100% of my efforts into my classes. Whereas others struggle with certain concepts, these things come more natural to me. I didn't always plan to go to university straight out of high school; when all colleges (top 25 colleges, however), except BU and NYU, rejected my applications, I considered going through the Nuke enlistment pipeline. I had a recruiter, and he drove me to take the ASVAB, and when I told him I received a 99, he really pushed harder with my parents to convince them. I eventually went to college because my parents were beyond distraught; my mother was crying and said she would never forgive me. Personal problems aside, here I am in my third year, pleased with the biomedical environment, but longing for the Navy.


I have also, for as long as I remember, wanted to go to space. With plans on going to Mars becoming more concrete, in order for me to become one of the first wave of astronauts to set foot on Mars in the 2030's , I need to make some concrete decisions of my own. So why Nuke, out of all positions offered in the Navy? Well, aviation never really was my cup of tea, and the closest thing to engineering I see in the Navy is the Nuke pipeline. If I were to go through with the Nuke pipeline, I would opt for subs. I reckon living and operating in a sub is the closest thing to living and operating on a space craft for the 7 month journey to Mars, and once there, living and operating in a Martian base. Additionally, nuclear reactors are seriously considered to power future Martian bases, and even spacecraft themselves. So what am I posting here for? Well, I am looking for any inputs, critiques, and assistance a nuke can offer. Those interested in space, or went to work for the aeronautics industry after the 5 year pipeline, I'd GREATLY appreciate your inputs. Cheers!

[Marlin]

   I don't think the Navy is a stepping stone to Mars. It is an operational route that may give a foot up in commercial power but any reactor on Mars will not resemble any commercial plant. I would send a letter to SpaceX or other civilian space company with eyes on colonization for advice. It may be with Trump in office he will look to a private company to team NASA with to accomplish a colony.

http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-nasa-mars-sample-return-mission-2016-12

[Biomaverick]

Marlin, I realize a nuclear reactor aboard a submarine is not like the nuclear reactors used in space, which, so far include RTG's used currently for satellites and unmanned craft. I'm thinking that the nuke pipeline will prepare me with the knowledge to then be able to go to grad school (GI Bill), work at NASA or some other aeronautic company (like SpaceX) and when the 2030's hit, I would make myself known as a potential candidate. I'm anticipating that the nuclear reactors aboard future space craft and those used in space bases will become more like commercial reactors, whilst also taking into account the variables of the  Martian environment. To the designing of such a reactor, I'd gladly lend my ingenuity to the cause. My going through with this pipeline would be an invest for what I anticipate would be needed in an astronaut whose main role is power management. So why don't I switch majors from BME? Well partly because I love biology, and partly because I know that the first Martians will need to be multidisciplinary (meaning they have multiple roles).

[Marlin]

Marlin, I realize a nuclear reactor aboard a submarine is not like the nuclear reactors used in space, which, so far include RTG's used currently for satellites and unmanned craft.

RTGs would have far too little power and fission reactors are likely to be liquid metal not pressurized water.

I'm thinking that the nuke pipeline will prepare me with the knowledge to then be able to go to grad school (GI Bill), work at NASA or some other aeronautic company (like SpaceX) and when the 2030's hit, I would make myself known as a potential candidate.

Sounds reasonable at what age will you be too old to be part of a space mission you are looking at six years in the Navy then grad school time would not seem to be on your side.

I'm anticipating that the nuclear reactors aboard future space craft and those used in space bases will become more like commercial reactors, whilst also taking into account the variables of the  Martian environment. To the designing of such a reactor, I'd gladly lend my ingenuity to the cause.

Probably not similar to commercial light water reactor it would be using a scarce commodity on Mars.

My going through with this pipeline would be an invest for what I anticipate would be needed in an astronaut whose main role is power management. So why don't I switch majors from BME? Well partly because I love biology, and partly because I know that the first Martians will need to be multidisciplinary (meaning they have multiple roles).

Come on you want to be Mark Watney!!!    On the serious side yes multi discipline would seem to be a good avenue. There will be some serious competition, in my opinion staying in the academic pipeline would be a better option unless money may be an issue then the GI bill would help. Navy leadership training would be valuable if that is the route you take.


Just one more thing, you know at this time SpaceX is planning a one way trip though that may change with new propulsion technology.

[Biomaverick]

RTGs would have far too little power and fission reactors are likely to be liquid metal not pressurized water.

Exactomundo, nuclear reactors on Mars would have to incorporate not water as a coolant, but gases. Since it is freezing in Mars, but hardly an atmosphere, I reckon any gasses that are needed in a Martian base would serve doubly as a heat sink for such a reactor. Crazy, I know, but then again I am not a nuke yet

[/size]

Sounds reasonable at what age will you be too old to be part of a space mission you are looking at six years in the Navy then grad school time would not seem to be on your side.[/size]

I'm 20 now, so at 21 I will be out of college, straight into nuke pipeline +5 years = 26 years old. 2-3 years for grad school (give or take ) = 28 or 29. Intern for a space company in the meantime, career there after grad (2-3 years to distinguish myself) =30 or 31. Now, I don't know any scientist/engineer astronaut who was well into their 30's

[/size]

Probably not similar to commercial light water reactor it would be using a scarce commodity on Mars.[/size]

I agree, I guess what I meant to say is that it will be somewhere "in the middle" in terms of complexity and scale.

[/size]

Come on you want to be Mark Watney!!!    On the serious side yes multi discipline would seem to be a good avenue. There will be some serious competition, in my opinion staying in the academic pipeline would be a better option unless money may be an issue then the GI bill would help. Navy leadership training would be valuable if that is the route you take.[/size]

Well my name is Mark V. , and according to the book, his birthday is Oct. 12 1996; I was born one day after him ;P Also, lets just say I have a thing for aquaponics and potatoes .


[/size]

Just one more thing, you know at this time SpaceX is planning a one way trip though that may change with new propulsion technology.[/size]

It may be naive of me now, but a one way trip doesn't discourage me. Also, I anticipate that within half a decade of my arrival, there will be an option of return.

[Marlin]

Exactomundo, nuclear reactors on Mars would have to incorporate not water as a coolant, but gases. Since it is freezing in Mars, but hardly an atmosphere, I reckon any gasses that are needed in a Martian base would serve doubly as a heat sink for such a reactor. Crazy, I know, but then again I am not a nuke yet


I'm 20 now, so at 21 I will be out of college, straight into nuke pipeline +5 years = 26 years old. 2-3 years for grad school (give or take ) = 28 or 29. Intern for a space company in the meantime, career there after grad (2-3 years to distinguish myself) =30 or 31. Now, I don't know any scientist/engineer astronaut who was well into their 30's


I agree, I guess what I meant to say is that it will be somewhere "in the middle" in terms of complexity and scale.

Well my name is Mark V. , and according to the book, his birthday is Oct. 12 1996; I was born one day after him ;P Also, lets just say I have a thing for aquaponics and potatoes .


It may be naive of me now, but a one way trip doesn't discourage me. Also, I anticipate that within half a decade of my arrival, there will be an option of return.

Good luck 

[Marlin]

I came upon this on one of the news sites I frequent today.

All eyes on Trump over Mars

http://phys.org/news/2016-12-eyes-trump-mars.html

[SloGlo]

reach out two westinghouse and find out if their are any professionals from the westinghouse astronuclear laboratory still around and how you may contact them. the w.a.l. developed the nuke fuel for space travel.
contact the u.s. army to find out if they're any personnel remaining from the mobile reactor program and how yew may contact them as they developed and operated mobile nucler reactors on planet earth and may have sum thing on paper for mars.
contact n.a.s.a. about you're plans.
get ides from these sources (four starters) for yore education.
good luck n may God keep yore solar sails filled.

[Biomaverick]

Marlin and SloGlo, could you briefly describe your experiences as nukes. Perhaps you have already written out your experiences on other posts, and so if you could link them here, I would love to read them. Thanks

[Marlin]

I was a Navy Nuke Machinist Mate Qualified to Engineering Watch Supervisor (Top enlisted watch station on a sub) and Leading Engineering Laboratory Technician (water chemistry and radiological controls).

My first job out of the Navy was writting Planned Maintenance Procedures for the Civil Service/Navy primarily for the Ohio Class submarines that had not been launched at the time.

I spent a lot of time as a job shopper after that with a lot of different titles:

-Radiation Protection Technician/Supervisor/Instructor/Health Physicist (not certified CHP but Registered Radiation Protection Technologist)

-Emergency Medical Technician

-Safety Engineer qualified as a Safety Analyst, Question Safety Evaluator for Unreviewed Safety Question Determination (DOE), and Nuclear Critically Safety.

-Hazardous Material management- Waste Coordinator, Hazardous Waste Shipper, Hazardous Waste specialist, Senior Waste Characterization Engineer.

-Contract Proposal writer for hazardous waste Requests for Proposals (RFP) commercial and DOE.

- Superintendent for cleanup of contaminated waste scrap yard.

...and currently semi-retired curmudgeon

Not really that different than many of people posting here on a regular basis who are job shoppers with a lot of experience.

[SloGlo]

fore decades of knuckle dragging hp/rpt/ rcm and supervisory experience at power plants, d.o.e and d.o.d sites, major nuclear vendors sites, private sites with n without license for r.a.m, n  laboratories with r.a.m. - basically any thing aye could use two further my reel career of unemployment. 😉

[fiveeleven]

The heck with Mars - Obama may show up. Complete NUC school, which sounds like will be a walk in the proverbial park for a Khan like individual such as biomav. Fire up the 57-D and set sail for Altair IV. Get the 9200 reactors started up - with or without the help of the plastic educator. Too bad Altaira wont be there, but maybe Robby remains. Brush up on some scientific tidbits that the Krell came up with and beware the monsters of the ID. The NUC program may be a stepping stone to Altair IV for some select swabbies, we all knew a few of em. Keep in mind that unlike the free world - the intellectual restraints imposed by the FFD program will be lurking. Good luck, and again - beware the monsters of the ID.

[Biomaverick]

A month late, but fiveelven, with your level of sarcasm, I think I have finally found my community. Lol, didn't mean to prop myself so much, just was wondering about my chances at NUPOC. Back at Boston from winter break, and I spoke to an officer recruiter already. Alright guys, I won't forget to bring back a jar full of Martian soil for each of you!

[BrianScott87]

NUPOC is not a direct path to Mars (nothing is, of course) but what it will give you is financial security to maximize your performance as you finish school and extensive opportunities to take on responsibilities and to lead in an engineering/technical setting which will prepare you well for a wide array of future endeavors -- in space or here on lowly earth.  It will also give you a good paycheck, a TS clearance, and GI Bill + Yellow Ribbon benefits which will enable you to pursue the graduate degree you mentioned at little to no out-of-pocket cost. 

Tell LT Roa in Boston I say Hi (assuming that's your recruiter -- he was in my company at USNA).