Going To Mars In 2018

A Concept Is So Crazy It Just Might Work

Millionaire space tourist Dennis Tito and his partners have had to tell questioners repeatedly that they're not 'crazy' to think they can launch a man and a woman to Mars and back - but if the Inspiration Mars Foundation's 'Mission for America' succeeds, it may well be because it's just crazy enough.

The plan doesn't involve landing on Mars. It will be a 501-day non-stop Mars flyby. The rocket and crew capsule will be ready to launch on January 5, 2018, when the planets literally align. A launch on or around that date would result in a straightforward, no-fuss trajectory that would come within 100 miles of Mars' backside, and bring the spacecraft back to Earth on May 21, 2019.