[maxst]

> Actually impossible, not just expensive like getting someone to Mars in the very near future. The tech didn't exist.

What about the tech to grow food in space? Is it "just expensive" or it doesn't exists? I think it doesn't exist.

I think we need a dedicated food-growing space lab, and run it for least 10 years, until we're confident we have a robust technology that works.

[whiskers08xmt]

I don't think growing food in space is all that important, as long as you can grow it on Mars. You can pack supplies for 80 days, especially if you have an effective water re-usage system like the one on the ISS.

Once on Mars, we could probably use something like this:

https://uanews.arizona.edu/story/the-martian-food-growing-sy...

For producing crops and oxygen, and maybe even supplies for a return trip.