Quote:
Originally Posted by mikesouth
that depends on how you define the "near future" we have some HUGE hurdles first is the whole radiation thing, then comes the length of the trip, not saying it cant be done but we are talking 40-50 years out minimum and more likely a lot longer.
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That's exactly right. A long trip would expose travellers to lots of radiation. The ship would have to be huge to carry supplies just to keep people alive for the trip, and the crew would have to be very carefully picked to make sure no one went nuts on the way there.
The ship would also have to bring enough supplies to keep the crew alive on Mars once they got there, plus supplies to build a habitat.
Of course if a probe could find water, everything would change. If they found water, it would reduce the need to bring so much water with them. Water could be used to drink, help plants grow, and be converted to fuel. Everything is feasible, just extremely expensive.