With current technology (both existing and theoretical), I don't think you'd be able to create a rocket capable of returning with healthy people (even just the

With current technology (both existing and theoretical), I don't think you'd be able to create a rocket capable of returning with healthy people (even just the returning bit is a practical nightmare). Also, most people underestimate just how big the radiation problem is in space, since we have an earth-sized magnet to mostly protect us (you can't just make a second earth and attach it to your spacecraft). The apollo astronauts are really quite lucky to not be exposed. http://sciencefocus.com/blog/how-apollo-astronauts-avoided-deadly-solar-flare http://sciencefocus.com/blog/how-apollo-astronauts-avoided-d... The "send people to die on mars" idea isn't about developing the technology to allow travelling back and forth, it is a compromise with todays technology to say "let's go and explore, until we have the technology". So you can't shoot down the argument with "when we have the technology...".