This is also why a moon base makes so much sense: * short enough that radiation issues can be swerved. * can build shielded moon bases (or dig them?) to prote

This is also why a moon base makes so much sense: * short enough that radiation issues can be swerved. * can build shielded moon bases (or dig them?) to protect people on the moon itself. * can mine the resources for and build heavy, shielded ships on the moon itself and launch far more cheaply. * can also build (on the moon) the shuttles needed to ferry people from earth orbit out to the moon, making it so that the only people exposed to any radiation at all are the first crew to arrive on the moon and stand up a moon base.