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Comment by nickff | Hacker News Reader

Well, if you want to know whether it's worth the risk, I think the best people to ask are the astronauts, and they are chomping at the bit to go.

As far as I can see, there isn't much point to going around Mars just to go. You could just go to a high Earth orbit (or Lagrange point), and gain similar experience, with better communication. The ISS has spent 20 years in low-earth orbit; we're not going to learn much more from it or a similar station.

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Apollo 8 and 10 both went to the moon without landing, doing that on a multiple year mission does seem wasteful. However, there are a host of things to test.

From an engineering perspective going to mars orbit means far less sunlight which means a host of new problems. An engine and fuel system to get there would be new and could also be used to send a lander for future missions.

IMO, the Moon might be closer, but Mars is a much better target for long term colonization due to an atmosphere, shorter day, higher gravity, etc.

The Moon could be the starting point for Mars colonization. Also, it would make a huge difference if the new Moon missions took advantage of the ISS, which the Apollo missions couldn't count on. One thing is bringing all crew, supplies and equipment from Earth in one trip, and a whole different thing is sending everything on/around the ISS using unmanned cargo missions, then assemble the lunar mission ships up there and send the Moon astronauts when necessary. In other words: Earth<->ISS, then ISS<->Moon<->Mars and/or ISS<->Mars.

For Mars you want people to go up last so they minimize the time spent in zero g. Docking supplies on the ISS is also pointless.

The ISS is not in a useful orbit for a Mars trip and whatever your sending there can make the trip in the same thing you send into orbit. Trying to shoehorn in the ISS just make the trip more expensive and complex.

I agree that Mars is better, but Starship is for Mars. If NASA pays for development, that is moving much closer.

You meant lower gravity, right? Mars is smaller then Earth.

Sounded like his comparisons were for Mars vs. the moon.

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