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Now a SpaceX probe on Mars in ten years, that I can definitely believe.

• rbanffy 16y ago
  Ten years for an orbiter? Feasible. For a lander? Very, very hard. They can do it, but they'll need some luck.
  • Devilboy 16y ago
    Could they not simply purchase existing technology?
  • hugh3 16y ago
    Do you think so? A Martian lander is an easier job than an Earth lander, and they've already built one of those. In fact, there was the story here the other about how a Dragon can theoretically land on Mars, so if they just manage to build a big enough booster it should be well within their capabilities. Still very expensive, of course... they'd need to talk someone into paying for it.
    • JshWright 16y ago
      Why would a Martian lander be easier? On earth you get to use parachutes. The Martian atmosphere is too thin to use parachutes for any significant payload. I know SpaceX is planning on a thrust-based landign system for Dragon, but the "lander" they've "already built" relies on parachutes.