I am sure some of the work for Mars began a long time ago
I am sure some of the work for Mars began a long time ago.
Plans, calculations, computer simulations, models, CFD of possible vehicles, etc are all to hand and now IMO it’s the start of actual testing of prototypes.
The dreams, sketches, and fiction of an Englishman Dr Arthur C Clarke on satellites and space stations and as Lance and Jim have stated the development of rocket science/real applications that came out of Peenemunde (Dr Werner Von Braun’s teams) have formed much of the actual launch programme foundations.
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blrocketv2.htm
“…On arriving back at Peenemunde, von Braun immediately assembled his planning staff and asked them to decide how and to whom they should surrender. Most of the scientists were frightened of the Russians, they felt the French would treat them like slaves, and the British did not have enough money to afford a rocket program. That left the Americans. After stealing a train with forged papers, von Braun led 500 people through war-torn Germany to surrender to the Americans. The SS were issued orders to kill the German engineers, who hid their notes in a mine shaft and evaded their own army while searching for the Americans. Finally, the team found an American private and surrendered to him. Realizing the importance of these engineers, the Americans immediately went to Peenemunde and Nordhausen and captured all of the remaining V-2’s and V-2 parts, then destroyed both places with explosives. The Americans brought over 300 train car loads of spare V-2 parts to the United States. Much of von Braun’s production team was captured by the Russians.”
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