[red-iron-pine]

aye we could have. and they'd all be long dead on the surface of Mars by this point. getting them there isn't enough.

[Unit327]

Keeping them alive and returning them doesn't require "a leap" which is the central point of OP I am disagreeing with. We have all the technology, material science etc to do it.

Sure, it requires some research, engineering and a crapload of investment, but it doesn't require anything that is currently "science fiction".