Quote:
Originally Posted by Teabinge
Faster and more powerful (relative to weight) machines would lessen the risks related to human psychology and radiation. Maybe the "they must stay for 18 months" could be more flexible as well.
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"Faster and more powerful" rockets would be useful, not they are not essential. We don't need perfect technology to put people on Mars, only good enough. Magellan did not wait for steam ships to be invented before circumnavigating the globe and Alock and Brown did not wait for jets or even monocoque monoplanes before flying the Atlantic.
I would hate to see the 18 month surface stay cut back too much. After all, we will go to Mars to explore, and that means time on the surface.
cheers
Jon