Got curious, looked up the Orion capsule.  It’s supposed to be used ultimately for a Mars expedition.  Looks nifty, though I’m an uneducated amateur.

The Russians are also interested in going to Mars, and are working on the necessary rocket.  Regardless of what mainstream US media claims, the Russians can make superb rockets.  In fact, one of the reasons their Moon program died is that they were working on a rocket combustion technology the US had given up on.  They developed it too late.  They are cranking out trips to the ISS like sausages.  A failure now and then, I’ll admit, on the unmanned flights.

Now, I wonder why the US and Russia couldn’t cooperate, US living capsule and Russian rockets.  I’m more interested in getting to Mars than I am in who or how it’s done.  I’d be delighted to see Russian posters in the capsule and a button on the rocket that said “Fire” in English.

I’m sure others have thought of this, and there’s some reason why it’s not being publically pursued.