The best fuel route for Mars involves arrival when two planets are almost on the opposite of the day. This launch window is repeated every 18 months, and the nine -month travel time means that any onboard problems need to be fixed by the crew, with no rescue choices. Faster routes can be achieved (approximately six months) but it becomes very intensive energy.
This is why the lunar gateway is easy to use, allowing astronauts to depart from the moon, far from the immense gravity of the soil, and head to Mars from there. Of course the material for the gateway needs to be sent to the lunar gateway first. But by dividing energy requirements to this means slower but better propulsion methods Can be used for part of the Mars travel part.
No doubt that, at some work, Spacex able to make a Landing on Mars. But will they be able to bring people there and bring them back? As a company the idea of income would be a strong factor, along with astronaut safety. We just have to look at some more Recent Boeing Problems (Astronauts are stuck at the International Space Station for seven months at the time of writing) to see that private companies may want to slow down a bit when it comes to carrying people.
This is not likely to happen though, with the Muscle influences greatly In the White House administration, and the suggestion of fellow billionaire Jared Isaacman (A private astronaut) As the new leader of NASA.
Critical decisions
So there are two options for NASA to choose from: either ongoing to go to the Artemis program and the Lunar Gateway, or goal for Mars and mainly depends on the muscle.
Funding both options probably means never happens. Of course, Mars's mission would be easier if the The gateway is already present in the moon.
The timelines involved here are important. Spacex says it will send five uncrewed starships to Mars next year with a Goal to send people to Mars in 2028. This seems to be ambitious, especially since it involves refueling in orbit, but if additional funds and material are placed on the project, it can be earlier than that.
As the Lunar Gateway will be built early in 2027, so it is not likely to be operating in 2028 anyway. So the prioritizing of the exploration of Mars at the Lunar Gateway can really go to Mars – but it's dangerous.
If the US is taking plans to explore the moon, other countries can expand their existence in those areas more easily – with the potential to have an easier route to launch on Mars. These are likely to take longer hours of time, but if Musk fails to get people to Mars over the next few years, these countries may have an edge.
