How long does it take to get to Mars?
A trip to Mars takes about six to nine months with current rocket technology. Launch windows, when Earth and Mars are well positioned, open about every 26 months.
The distance between Earth and Mars changes as both planets orbit the Sun, from about 55 million kilometers at their closest to about 400 million kilometers at their farthest. Spacecraft do not fly straight there. Instead, they follow a curved path, called a transfer orbit, that takes advantage of the planets' motion to save fuel.
NASA's Perseverance rover launched in July 2020 and landed on Mars in February 2021, about seven months later. The fastest trip so far was NASA's Mariner 7 in 1969, a flyby mission that took about 128 days.
Human missions
For astronauts, a round trip would likely take about two to three years, including waiting on Mars for the planets to line up for the return trip. Researchers are studying faster propulsion, such as nuclear thermal rockets, to shorten the journey and reduce astronauts' exposure to radiation.
Did You Know?
Radio signals between Earth and Mars take between about 3 and 22 minutes each way, so rovers cannot be controlled in real time.