Why are cost estimates for a Mars mission so different?
The differences in cost estimates are mainly due to the amount of new hardware which must be developed and used under any given proposal. Some Mars exploration programs have advocated assembly of large spacecraft either in orbit or on the Moon, while others have called for advanced propulsion systems such as nuclear engines. Developing these new technologies and the infrastructure necessary to support them drives costs up rapidly. Mars Direct achieves its low cost in two ways: by using only existing technologies, adapted for the specifics of a Mars mission, and bygenerating rocket fuelfor the return mission — by far the largest mass component, and therefore most costly non-development expense of any Mars mission — on the surface of Mars.Back to TopQ: Sending humans to Mars is a waste of taxpayer dollars.
The differences in cost estimates are mainly due to the amount of new hardware which must be developed and used under any given proposal. Some Mars exploration programs have advocated assembly of large spacecraft either in orbit or on the Moon, while others have called for advanced propulsion systems such as nuclear engines. Developing these new technologies and the infrastructure necessary to support them drives costs up rapidly. Mars Direct achieves its low cost in two ways: by using only existing technologies, adapted for the specifics of a Mars mission, and by generating rocket fuel for the return mission — by far the largest mass component, and therefore most costly non-development expense of any Mars mission — on the surface of Mars. Back to Top Q: Sending humans to Mars is a waste of taxpayer dollars. A: If done in a cost-effective manner such as Mars Direct, human exploration of Mars can be accomplished easily under the existing NASA budget — which currently accounts for les
