Overview
- Former NASA astronaut José Hernández argues that human travel to Mars is at least 15 years away, citing unresolved technical challenges like life support systems and radiation protection.
- Elon Musk suggests SpaceX could send humans to Mars as early as 2029, though recent Starship prototype failures raise questions about readiness.
- Hernández supports retiring the International Space Station and redirecting funds to develop a lunar base as a critical precursor to Mars exploration.
- NASA's Artemis III mission, scheduled for 2027, aims to use SpaceX's Starship for lunar exploration, which NASA views as a stepping stone to Mars.
- NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are returning to Earth today after a nine-month mission aboard the International Space Station.