[harrytuttle]

I think we're proposing these Mars missions too soon. We need to concentrate on producing propulsion systems and shielding systems that get us there and back fast and safely first.

I'm not talking about some starship enterprise, but something a little meatier than a glorified coke can.

[vitno]

Both of those are solved problems, and actually have been for quite a while.

You should check out the Mars Direct plan proposed by Robert Zubrin. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Direct

[homeomorphic]

A nice exhibition of Mars Direct can be seen in the documentary The Mars Underground [1]. There's also Zubrin's book [2].

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDWvsdEYSqg (I don't know the copyright status of this, but it's been on YouTube for well over a year with many views).

[2] Robert Zubrin. The Case for Mars.

[harrytuttle]

Thanks and as usual, canned by Obama.

Perhaps the private sector can take this one on?

[moocowduckquack]

That was the constellation program, which was mainly a return to the moon. A commitment to NASA visiting Mars was kept.