> For now, because mass-produced starships are not a thing yet. SpaceX is on the best way to change this. Ignoring the cost of the rockets, the biggest expense

> For now, because mass-produced starships are not a thing yet. SpaceX is on the best way to change this. Ignoring the cost of the rockets, the biggest expense in space travel is delta-V, followed by life support. That's basic physics, and no amount of cheap rockets will help. > I'd guess if you put in a proper emergency hospital kit on a pre-manned-flight-mission and two ER doctors on the first manned flight you're pretty much set. Your ER doctors won't help if the habitat springs a leak. What I meant was: * ripped space-suit? Die. * leak in habitat? Die * run out of water? Die * plants get disease? Die. * air recyclers break? Die. Plus, there's all the Earthly ways of dying! Fall down a hole, have a rock fall on you, etc. > Lots of dangers that kill in short time on Earth are simply not present on Mars - you won't have deadly new pathogens, no cars, no dangerous animals and cancer can be kept at bay until a flight back to Earth can be arranged. The same can be said for the space station... no diseases, wild animals, etc. Why not build LEO habitats instead? Lots cheaper than going to Mars, and re-supplies are just a few hours away.