Could a manned mission to Mars (and back) be done NOW!?

[Pacman1978]

A question for the science section regulars. If funding was unlimited, public and private sectors partnered up, is it possible? Is current tech sufficient? How much would it cost and how long from drawings to watching a launch?

Having binged on many many discovery programmes and youtube stuff I am just curious as to the answer. Could an unmanned craft be sent ahead with supplies or fuel for the return journey be ready to lift off in say.. 12 months?

Thankyou ✌

[Pacman1978]

Great replies! Thanks. Really interesting regarding the link posted.

Random (stupid) question.. Is it feasible to launch a craft from Earth, land on a suitable asteroid and hitch a free ride to near as mars as possible then complete the mission under power?

[Pacman1978]

Eric Mc said:

Curiosity is the largest object we've landed on Mars to date - and that has the same mass as a compact car.

Is there a (probable?) reason why we can't just send everything needed in multiple crafts limited to the weight you mention? How many separate crafts limited to that sized mass would it take? (how many trillions of $ too!)

Interesting stuff for sure!

[Pacman1978]

How small a craft (for the astronauts) could we get away with? If I recall the habitable part of the iss was made from an unused rocket? could something that size or smaller do? If that could be landed (in one piece) could that also double as living space whilst on Mars?

(apologise for being so technical!)

Thank you :-)