Off to almost Mars:
Google is loaded with data on failed Mars Missiona by just about everybody. You must look for them. True there were a few good ones to.
"Mars probe program
In 1969, the Soviet Union prepared an ambitious 5-ton orbiter called M-69. Two copies of the probe were both lost in launch mishaps involving the new and powerful Proton rocket.
In 1971, shortly after Cosmos 419 failed to launch, the Soviet Union successfully sent Mars 2 and Mars 3, nearly a decade after the launch of Mars 1, all part of the Mars probe program. The Mars 2 and 3 probes each carried a lander, both arriving on Mars in 1971. The Mars 2 lander entered Mars' atmosphere at too steep an angle, causing it to crash, and the Mars 3 lander functioned for only 20 seconds after landing. They were the first human artifacts to touch down on Mars.
In 1973, the Soviet Union sent four more probes to Mars: the Mars 4 and Mars 5 orbiters and the Mars 6 and Mars 7 flyby/lander combinations. Of the four, only Mars 5 succeeded; it transmitted 60 images before suffering a transmitter failure. Mars 6's lander transmitted data during descent but failed on impact. Mars 4 and 7 both missed the planet."
The brits lost one in 2003 and we lost some more along the way. Suppose we speed things up and we send a large craft to Mars and it takes 3 months to get there. If the craft is intended to be the temporary habitat they crew must stay there. If not then a craft of weight must be retained in orbit to bring them back in another 3 months. A few trips like this will use up years and with the prospect of a 10% nominal faiilure ratio it will be a long hard effort. From the moon you can build the habitat and send the constructed habitat on to Mars when your ready ready with less fuel expenditure and greater pay loads.
Not my field so I will stand correct by some one in the know. Their plan will not tollerate many failed missions and that could doom it.
jjw
