What is the total mission time estimate for a crewed mission including the necessary surface stay?
Answer
~2.5+ Years
For crewed missions, the total mission duration drastically exceeds the one-way transit time due to the constraints of orbital mechanics governing the return journey. While the one-way transit might optimally fall between six and eight months, the crew must remain on Mars waiting for the next favorable alignment that allows for an efficient return to Earth. This required surface stay typically lasts for more than a year and a half. Consequently, the total mission time estimate for a safety-optimized crewed mission involving travel out, stay, and return is projected to be well over two and a half years.
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