(Replying to PARENT post)

In terms of distance, sure.

In terms of delta-v, the budget for the moon is upwards of 50% that for Mars.

EDIT: The 50% figure is from memory, and upon further reflection is probably not quite right, so take it with a grain of salt. I just wanted to point out that distance is not the only relevant metric.

๐Ÿ‘คandars๐Ÿ•‘8y๐Ÿ”ผ0๐Ÿ—จ๏ธ0

(Replying to PARENT post)

>The 50% figure is from memory, and upon further reflection is probably not quite right, so take it with a grain of salt.

You're actually underestimating. Mars has an atmosphere, so spacecraft can use aerobraking to significantly reduce the delta-v required to get there. The moon has no such benefit โ€” propulsion is required all the way to the surface.

The advantage of the moon, of course, is that it's not limited to transfer windows every two years. If there's an emergency or resupply is needed (or you just want to expand the mission), another lander can be sent at any time. (With some restrictions, like hitting your desired landing spot and making sure the sun wasn't in the Apollo crews' eyes at landing. But regardless, no longer than 28 days between windows.)

๐Ÿ‘คrory096๐Ÿ•‘8y๐Ÿ”ผ0๐Ÿ—จ๏ธ0

(Replying to PARENT post)

๐Ÿ‘คvaluearb๐Ÿ•‘8y๐Ÿ”ผ0๐Ÿ—จ๏ธ0

(Replying to PARENT post)

BUT ... getting from the moon back to earth is very easy and fast. From the mars not so much.
๐Ÿ‘คhutzlibu๐Ÿ•‘8y๐Ÿ”ผ0๐Ÿ—จ๏ธ0

(Replying to PARENT post)

However, you might use a space elevator at L1 or L2 (or both) that allow capture of HEO or launch or inter-system vehicles with only efficient high impulse rocket motors.

Note that you could use Spectra/Kevlar or other common high strength materials with a taper ratio of only 4:1 with a lunar elevator. It might take "only" ~50 tons of spectra to hang the weight and allow lifts of a 1000kg or so... its much more doable than earth or mars.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_space_elevator

๐Ÿ‘คkurthr๐Ÿ•‘8y๐Ÿ”ผ0๐Ÿ—จ๏ธ0

(Replying to PARENT post)

It makes much more sense to use the moon as a stepping rock. At least my KSP experience has taught me that :)
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(Replying to PARENT post)

Yes, so those two metrics boil down into time cost and fuel cost? Any other costs for just the transit?
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(Replying to PARENT post)

Nope. Mars is actually lower than the Moon due to atmosphere.
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