Quote:
Originally Posted by mapuc
I seem to recall that these astronaut can't return at once, if I'm not remembering wrong they have to stay on Mars for some month or so
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They
can return at once, but it's not efficient. Making a short trip means they would be departing for Earth at a poor time, meaning more energy needed to return, and more time spent in transit. The first Mars mission needs to plan to hang out for a while before the return trip. (Or not return. One of the proposed models is Mars To Stay, where the first travelers go on long term colonization missions, and we just keep sending them supplies and more colonists.)