(bob haller) writes:

Ahh its one thing to go somewhere on a long flight thats useful, like mars,
thats justifable.

Its altogether different to spend a year orbiting earth endlessely, away from
family and friends, possibly causing long term health troubles, definetely
damaging your hearing from the poorly designed too noisey station. ALL so
russia can make a few bucks...

NASA's first experience with long term (greater than one year) space
flight ought not to be on the first mission to Mars. That is a
recipe for failure. It would be far better to gain this experience in
LEO, where evacuation to Earth is less than a day away, than on a trip
to Mars where such an abort simply won't be possible.

Jeff
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