# Would you go to Mars? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 26, 2011, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-go-to-mars/600841 "2011-10-26T12:25:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-go-to-mars/600841/1 "2011-10-26T12:25:14Z")
On the first manned mission, that is - to set your foot on the Red Planet then return to Earth. It’s estimated that by [the 2030s](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manned_mission_to_Mars) humanity might be ready to take its first voyage to another planet. A round trip could take between 400-450 days. There is also the inevitable danger that comes with space exploration and psychological issues. By the 2030s, most of us would be too damned old, but assuming it could be done sooner than that, would you go if asked? Do you think its worthwhile even trying to go? ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-go-to-mars/600841/2 "2011-10-26T12:38:01Z")
Alone or with a team? How long would the mission be for? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-go-to-mars/600841/3 "2011-10-26T12:41:31Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Alone or with a team? > > How long would the mission be for? You’d be with a small team. Assume the mission is a copy of [Apollo 11](http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4029/Apollo_11i_Timeline.htm), but with a much longer trip and the subsequent increased danger. You’re not establishing a colony or anything like that. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-go-to-mars/600841/4 "2011-10-26T12:43:38Z")
No. I’m a type one diabetic, which would bring all sorts of food complications. Hell, I won’t even go backpacking in Asia like many of my friends have. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-go-to-mars/600841/5 "2011-10-26T12:53:47Z")
No hesitation at all. I would do it. What an opportunity! I would _love_ to see Earth from orbit someday, and watching my planet drift further and further away in the window as I head off to Mars would be so incredible. Plus, I’d be part of history and contributing to science, so even if I were to die on the mission - what a great way to go. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-go-to-mars/600841/6 "2011-10-26T12:54:13Z")
Hell no! I can barely stand getting in an elevator! ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-go-to-mars/600841/7 "2011-10-26T12:59:26Z")
Nah. I’m married and Mars ain’t the kind of place to raise your kids. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-go-to-mars/600841/8 "2011-10-26T13:02:59Z")
Hell yes. That would be amazing. As long as someone makes sure my bills are paid, the house, dogs and cats looked after and my plants watered. I’ll be 72 in 2030, so assuming I’m still alive I’d probably be too old to qualify for the trip though. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-go-to-mars/600841/9 "2011-10-26T13:03:48Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Nah. I’m married and Mars ain’t the kind of place to raise your kids. Sure, sure, it’s cold as hell, but bring a coat and leave the family at home. What an adventure! Yes, yes, a hundred times yes! ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-go-to-mars/600841/10 "2011-10-26T13:05:18Z")
Are there branches of Elizabeth Arden’s or Lord and Taylor there? Because really, anything else would be “roughing it” for me. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-go-to-mars/600841/11 "2011-10-26T13:14:17Z")
I’d have to say that I’d cut off my right nutsack for the chance, even if it meant my death. The trickiest thing I think would be keeping all the tech knowledge in mind. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-go-to-mars/600841/12 "2011-10-26T13:45:22Z")
10 years ago the answer would have been “hell yes!”. But now, what my deteriorating physical condition, I’d just have to volunteer to feed the cat and water the plants. ---
**Author:** ![Scubaqueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@Scubaqueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scubaqueen)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-go-to-mars/600841/13 "2011-10-26T13:46:28Z")
in a nanosecond. if they’d asked me if i wanted a seat on the next shuttle the day after the Challenger explosion, i’d have said yes without hesitation. ---
**Author:** ![Al\_Bundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@Al\_Bundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al_Bundy)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-go-to-mars/600841/14 "2011-10-26T13:50:34Z")
The thrill of just experiencing something one time would not be enough for me. I could never give up my outside exercise routine for more than a week, let alone 400 days. The risk/reward ratio is outlandishly high in my opinion. I just don’t see any gain in going for free. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-go-to-mars/600841/15 "2011-10-26T13:58:41Z")
Yes. Even if I knew I probably wouldn’t make it back. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-go-to-mars/600841/16 "2011-10-26T14:04:17Z")
I think I’d want to take at least a brief look at the quality of the preparation, the other astronauts, etc. to get some notion of the chance of success. If I decided it was something like 80% or better, I’d go. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-go-to-mars/600841/17 "2011-10-26T14:06:39Z")
I love the idea of it. What a wonderful adventure. But in reality, I’m way too chicken. ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-go-to-mars/600841/18 "2011-10-26T15:06:34Z")
Yes. Especially if I don’t make it back. ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-go-to-mars/600841/19 "2011-10-26T15:37:45Z")
I want to experience being out in space looking back at Earth and all but I don’t know whether I’d choose Mars as a particular destination. Perspective of space from Mars can’t be all that different? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-go-to-mars/600841/20 "2011-10-26T15:40:51Z")
Spend over a year cooped up in a tin can? Forget it. We’ve got plenty of pictures of Mars already, it doesn’t look worth the trip. The fact that no human’s ever set foot there before mildly increases the appeal of the trip, but that just ratchets it up from “no fucking way” to “fuck, no.” FWIW, I think they’re being overly optimistic about the 2030s. Hell, nobody’s been back to the moon in nearly four decades, and Mars has to be at least 100 times as difficult. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-go-to-mars/600841.md?page=2)