| Dr. Robert Zubrin and two other colleagues developed the Mars Direct plan, which relies on existing technology (including space shuttle components), exacting logistics, a travel-light-and-live-off-the-land approach, and a $20 billion budget. Zubrin said, “We are much closer today to sending people to Mars than we were to sending people to the Moon in the early 1960s.” How soon could a manned Mars mission become reality if NASA or an international consortium of private or governmental space groups started gearing up today? Pronounced Zubrin: “A decade from whenever someone finally turns on the money.” |
| The logistics of a crewed mission to Mars are complex to say the least. Before setting out into the solar system on our way to the Red Planet, there are a seemingly endless number of factors to take into consideration. These factors range from transit vehicles and trajectories, to crew safety and stay-times, to required resources and equipment, and much, much more. Every aspect of mission requirements must be investigated in fine detail before departure because, due to the nature of the flight trajectory, there will be no quick return to, or supplementary supply from, Earth in the event of the unexpected. Upon Earth departure, the crew must be completely self-sufficient, flexible enough to adapt to new situations, and they will undoubtedly require expertise in a wide range of disciplines. A landing site must be chosen, mission objectives must be defined, and a commitment must be made |
