Quote:
Originally Posted by razark
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.)
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Good point, I'd forgotten about that bit. Still, could send the equipment ahead, could even feasibly have the majority of it built before the first people get there, using clever design and robotic/automated vehicles.