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[Morrigi]

Why not? We've had the tech for decades now, and contrary to certain beliefs, no orbital construction is required to send a manned team to Mars, nor is a Moon base, which would in fact be even harder to set up and sustain. If you haven read The Case for Mars, I highly suggest it.

[GlyphGryph]

Because the vast majority of us don't really want to.

Unfortunate, but true. And it's kind of REALLY expensive as a proposition.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

The tech to go there is one thing, the tech to go there and do meaningful activity that the rovers can't is quite another.

[lordcooper]

It'll happen eventually.  It's getting to the point where we're going to need a lot of people to GTFO Earth and Mars is the easiest option.

[dei]

It'll happen eventually.  It's getting to the point where we're going to need a lot of people to GTFO Earth and Mars is the easiest option.

Pretty much this. It will lead to some kind of a space race that may end up with more than just Mars being colonized if humans can develop the proper technology to colonize more than just Earth-like planets. I bet monopoles will be involved somehow.

[Sir Finkus]

I'm skeptical of having the tech to get there.  Maybe in 10 years if we made an effort like we did for the moon landing.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

No, we've got it. Our ability to get probes there proves it well enough. Mars only has a third of Earth's gravity, so you only need a third of the force to escape. It isn't as much as you'd think.

It might be somewhat of a design challenge for the space agencies, but we have the technology.

[Sir Finkus]

No, we've got it. Our ability to get probes there proves it well enough. Mars only has a third of Earth's gravity, so you only need a third of the force to escape. It isn't as much as you'd think.

It might be somewhat of a design challenge for the space agencies, but we have the technology.

Probes don't need food or water.  Probes don't need living quarters.  Probes don't need oxygen or exercise equipment, nor do they need suits to go out into the environment.

The way to do it would be to send a bunch of crap to mars ahead of time, but getting the actual crew there alive, and keeping them alive on mars is going to require a lot of doing.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

We don't need to send all of that down to Mars. Same thing as the Moon landing: We send the lander down and keep the non-vital equipment on an orbiter.

[lordcooper]

MSH: I believe we're talking about full scale colonisation here.  You don't just leave all your shit in the van when you move house.

[NRDL]

PTW

[Thecard]

MSH: I believe we're talking about full scale colonisation here.  You don't just leave all your shit in the van when you move house.

Maybe if we find Martians, we'll be able to borrow a cup of oxygen every once in a while.  As long they don't try to blow is up with a comically oversized rocket.

[miauw62]

I have one thing to say: Bay12 Space Program. Every possibility has been discussed, and the DRC is the ideal country to take over and take off.

[Criptfeind]

You don't just leave all your shit in the van when you move house.

Speak for yourself.

Anyway. Do we need to land for some reason? If I escape this gravity trap I am not sure I would want to go into another one. Is there any particular reason we can't live in like a rotating space station?

[Thecard]

One particularly compelling reason is the lack of gravity.
Brittle bones man, not good for ya!