Hi Spacers

FACT 1: Fuel fom the Moon might be easier to send to Mars, but we can make it there anyway! And make it easier... especially if there is no water at the poles - the "hydrogen" could be certain minerals that mimic its signature, for example. But first and foremost on Mars all that's needed is a pump for air and a Sabatier reactor, plus a bit of hydrogen.

FACT 2: There is no aerobraking available on the Moon and so in energy terms it costs more to land there and pick up fuel. Perhaps it could be catapulted into orbit via a base but that's a VERY advanced base needed before we get to Mars.

FACT 3: Two years to Mars? Where did you get that idea? Cheapest Hohmann orbit and it's still only 258 days. A 2-year free-return orbit and it's reduced to 180 days at most.

FACT 4: Who needs zero-gee??? Just spin two components via a tether and you have artificial gravity. Or make it big enough to rotate at 6 rpm (humanly adaptable rev rate based on actual studies done) - that's a 25 metre radius for Earth gee, or just 10 metres for Mars gee. Easy!!

It's immoral to debilitate astronauts in Earth orbit for the sake of zero-gee studies that we really DON'T need!

Sheesh! Stop creating impediments to get to Mars to justify the Moon - the Moon is worthwhile on its own! But Mars is BETTER...

Adam