Experts Clash Over Mars Exploration Timeline as NASA Advances Lunar Plans

José Hernández advocates for a 15-year timeline and a lunar base, while Elon Musk pushes for Mars missions by 2029 despite SpaceX's technical setbacks.

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.