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How long before the first human steps on Mars?

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Old Jul 31, 2012 | 05:25 PM
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Default How long before the first human steps on Mars?

I'm giving it 5-6 years before we shoot a human into space with the intentions of them stepping foot on Martian soil.
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Old Jul 31, 2012 | 05:36 PM
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Lol, you are on crack.. We haven't even been on the Moon in 40 years. Even doing that would probably be out of the question with the current budgets. Sending people to Mars is a whole other ballgame. You know it would take 6 months to a year just to get there right?
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Old Jul 31, 2012 | 05:48 PM
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I read something the other day that it goes in phases with that type of thing. The first couple of phases involve satelite fly bys, then we put rovers/landers on there, then we get to the point where a rover/lander flys back to earth with physical soil/rocks/specimens/etc. Then the final phase involves planning to put a person on the planet.



Right now, we're on the phase of bringing a rover/lander back from Mars with samples. So the next phase would indeed be putting someone on Mars. Even though our space program is pretty much done, the private sector is developing quite a bit of new methods, ships, and science that could very much put someone on Mars within a few years.



I wouldnt say 5 years, but I would say probably 8-10 easily.
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Old Jul 31, 2012 | 07:33 PM
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If you sent an entrepreneur





They might open up a mars bar
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Old Jul 31, 2012 | 07:54 PM
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Theres people who have been living on the I.S.S. for over a year. So if a ship can be built that would hold a years worth of food and air, plus have fuel to get back to Earth...it wouldnt be too difficult to get a person there and back. I see it happening for sure within 10 years or less.
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Old Aug 1, 2012 | 02:21 PM
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There might be some trouble constructing a launch pad on the surface of mars. When we visited the moon it was easier because of the moon's relatively low gravity.
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Old Aug 2, 2012 | 04:34 PM
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2023 is the earliest that it would be likely to happen, and that's likely to get pushed back. If this program doesn't manage to happen (I think it will) it'll be Chinese Martians. The US isn't going to send anyone. Outside of entertainment there is no profitable reason to go to Mars that we know of so it's unlikely for any other private company to undertake a mission unless a government offered to pay for some type of service.



If you don't click the link, there's a planned one way mission to Mars slated for 2023. It is organized by a group intending to fund it by broadcasting a reality show based on the prep, trip, and eventually daily life on Mars.
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