Part 2/8:
One of the most compelling reasons to consider the Moon over Mars is its accessibility. The Moon is merely three days away from Earth, while traveling to Mars requires a minimum of six months. This vast difference is not just about travel time; it also impacts the feasibility of rescue missions in the event of an emergency. Should something catastrophic occur on the Moon, a crew could be saved with reasonable effort and time. On Mars, however, options for immediate evacuation are limited, which raises the stakes considerably for astronauts on a long-term mission.