To the Moon or Mars?

[sporkafife]

Simple question really. If given the choice would you rather go to Mars or the Moon? You have the choice to be either the first man on Mars, or the thirteenth person to step foot on the Moon.

Here's the catch: Mars is a one way trip, whereas you can return from the moon. Does your desire to be the first man on Mars outweigh the fact that you would never return?

For me personally, I don't really know. I'd love to think I'd go for the mission to Mars, and sacrifice my own life to further the exploration of the solar system, becoming the first man to step on another planet in the process. However, I think when it came down to it I'd choose the Moon. Yeah, people have been there before, but it would still be amazing... and I'd be able to come back home and tell my future kids about it.

[Spartwo]

Mars this planet sucks the gravity's too high the atmosphere is like soup and don't get me started on the amount of sunlight.

But in all seriousness the Moon I would want the option of returning eventually even though in reality the "one way trip" Mars One is doing should end after a decade or two.

Edited August 17, 2013 by Spartwo

[Seret]

Here's the catch: Mars is a one way trip, whereas you can return from the moon. Does your desire to be the first man on Mars outweigh the fact that you would never return?

Why would anyone want to go to Mars just to die? Seems nuts, but Mars One has had enough people jump at the opportunity to do just that.

I'l take the moon trip thanks. Go to moon, come home, hug my kids. Sounds good to me!

[rpayne88]

What do you mean by one way mission? Do you mean I would have to mine or create the fuel to return home because I didn't arrive with enough (some plans include this idea) or that I would die on the surface of Mars. If its the former, I'd take Mars. If its the latter...screw Mars. I don't see ANY mission as complete until the crew is back home with their families. There are 7 billion people in the world. I would be number 13 on the moon. Doing the math, I would still be in an elite group that comprises just 1.8571428571428571428571428571429e-9% of the human race. And, I'd still be alive. And, I wouldn't drag any other crew members to their deaths. Moral of the story: If I would have to die if I went to Mars, I would opt for the Moon.

[Moon Goddess]

first man on Mars, or the thirteenth person to step foot on the Moon.

? (not throwing a feminism fit, just thought it was funny you used man the first time, and person the second. I think the first woman to set foot on the moon would still be quite a big deal though.)

Overall I'd go to Mars. Not for the fame, just mars seems so much cooler. And Mars I think has better chances for in situ resources. And to go where someone has never been before, in our modern world very people ever get to go, "No one has ever been here"

Overall I wouldn't do it, I'm not the explorer type, there are far far better people to do either of the missions than me. And I wouldn't pass the medical tests anyways, too old too fat.

[Rockhem]

My guess is if it is one-way they would send your family also just because at the end of the day 99.9% of people wouldn't do it if nobody they knew came with them.

[Platofan2]

I Would Go To The Moon

[The Jedi Master]

The Moon. I would jump at the chance to go to space at all, but only if I could come back. What's the point of going to space if you don't get to bring stories back to Earth?

[nettcod]

The Moon, just in case I wanted to return.

[sporkafife]

Well, seeing as most replies say the return trip to the moon is what people would chose, I guess this question wasn't as well balanced as I thought I can agree though. However, if NASA knocked on my door and said "we're sending a crew to Mars right now, you've been selected as a member, and the rocket's ready, but you will never return" I think I'd just have to go

Also Rockhem's answer that people wouldn't want to go alone is interesting... because I agree, spending the rest of my days on Mars is pretty depressing, but with a crew of people doing science and stuff it would be a lot different.

(not throwing a feminism fit, just thought it was funny you used man the first time, and person the second. I think the first woman to set foot on the moon would still be quite a big deal though.)

Sorry if there was any offence caused :S I had the question in my head, and I guess I just typed and didn't even think about what was coming from my fingertips. Which is unusual for me, because I usually look back at things I write and make sure my point is being made correctly. I guess I was thinking of using "man" as in "mankind", but just didn't use it correctly.

[Valley]

Mars. I am not a people person, so the idea of not returning to the Earth isn't really an issue for me. I would miss family but I could send them video-letters.

As long as the base had something for me to read and a daily list of chores to keep me focused, such as carrying out scientific tests, working outside on surface equipment, tending the plants in the greenhouse, cleaning the living ares, checking our suits, I think I would be happy for life. I can't see myself getting bored with the view - even if there are dust storms.

And if reporters asked me how life was on Mars I would tell them to ask REAL, interesting, questions and not boring ones, thank you very much.

Edited August 18, 2013 by Valley

[bigdad84]

I would pick the moon, hands down. Unless, I found out I was terminal and only had 2 years to live... In that case, mars would be the place to go.

[Captain Sierra]

I'd like to shed some light on why Mars is a one-way deal, since I haven't seen it said yet. We don't have very good lightweight radiation shielding; solar emissions striking a craft's exterior then transfers that energy to the interior in the form of ionizing radiation (correct me if I am misunderstanding the mechanism here). A Mars trip, to my knowledge, is one way because you'd end up recieving a lethal dose of radiation. You wouldn't live long enough to see the return transfer window.

Given I'm too young to die, I wouldn't go at all. Moon = been there done that. Mars = interesting and fun. But I'm not willing to get fried by radiation (soon as we get plasma shielding working, here I come Mars!)

[Seret]

AUIU you won't take a lethal dose. You will exceed the lifetime maximum that space agencies allow for an astronaut though. It's something like an additional 3% risk of a fatal cancer, on top of the normal 20%ish risk we all have.