[nuke rocketeer]

First of all the Saturn 5 plans were not destroyed due to a treaty with the USSR. Boeing still has'em. A updated S5 would ideal for launching the components of a Mars mission into orbit, including, gasp...must I say it?...A NUCLEAR REACTOR for propulsion and power. With large enough fuel tanks (use water, not hydrogen) you could use a high-g boost (NERVA style) and get there in less than 2 years. But it should not be a land and run mission like Apollo. Land, set up a permanent base leave a crew to keep it running and some come back to Earth. It would also make use of not just one ship but at least 3. Dual use nuclear propulsion could be high g NERVA style and then switch over to ion propulsion using cesium as a working mass.

[hopespringseternal]

With large enough fuel tanks (use water, not hydrogen) you could use a high-g boost (NERVA style) and get there in less than 2 years.

Two years? We can do better than that with chemical rockets. Did you mean 2 months?

[sierrahome]

First of all the Saturn 5 plans were not destroyed due to a treaty with the USSR. Boeing still has'em.

That is fantastic! I am basing info through info gained on the Science Channel special aired over the weekend on the Mars Landing. In the 1 hour documentary it was specifically stated that the S-5 plans were destroyed. Leave it to me to believe anything stated through the media. Thanks for the info.