One of the best threads yet... "CONGRATULATIONS" to all. Obviously some thought has been evident here.
From all this I gleam... We are not ready yet.
The list of reasons just keeps getting bigger and more complex.
We want to do this, but can not.
As our technical ability advances so will the problems fall away. I imagine a maned mars mission will be a fact before the year 2030. but by who?
I suspect a different approach as yet not possible.
Build the interplanetary craft in space, in Earth orbit. Yes. I know thats a big step. Way beyond us today. But venturing to mars from a orbiting mother ship might be a easy way to supply the needs better. Time is not the enemy yet. We have no need to rush before a failsafe method is a reality. Keep the interesting stuff coming.