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Post by szaleniec on Apr 7, 2009 20:14:57 GMT -5
Due to the limitations with fuel and costs, the return vessel would simply be too heavy and too expensive to be sent to Mars, and even if it were, an unaided, inter-planetary launch from the surface of Mars is currently technologically impossible, and will likely remain so for 20-25 years, baring any huge and sudden advancements in technology. I think life support is more of an issue than propulsion or fuel. It's not a problem to build a craft with more than enough delta-V for the round trip. We won't have to make it so that the whole thing can land on Mars, get back into orbit and fly home, just have a landing unit similar to (but obviously more powerful and with more fuel than, because of the stronger gravity of Mars compared to the Moon) the Apollo lunar module. The problem is maintaining the health (both physical and psychological) of the crew and ensuring they have enough supplies for the long journey. Nobody denies that the cost would be considerable, but if there's the will to do it this isn't going to be a major obstacle. I can see design work or even construction started within 15 years, but not the actual launch of the mission.
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