On Apr 12, 10:51*pm, Pat Flannery wrote:
Jorge R. Frank wrote:

The moon has one enormous advantage: three day return trajectory from
Earth.

That means you can learn long-duration planetary surface operations on
the moon without it killing you like on Mars.

You get a major leak in your spacesuit and either place will be just as
fatal inside of ten minutes.
You seem to be suggesting that the majority of the major health problems
encountered will be serious enough to demand evacuation to Earth, but
not serious enough to kill you inside of three days.

Mechanical problems, not health problems. Long term presence on the
Moon - or travel to and from Mars - will require fairly closed loops
for life support. These systems are historically complex and
unreliable. When your water recycling system breaks down on the moon,
you can make it back with not much more than some lithium hydroxide
canisters for CO2 removal and some form of humidity control and
thermal control. When your water recycling system breaks down on
Mars, you die.

-jake