How much easier would a Mars manned fly-by be over a manned Mars landing and return mission?

Significantly. The work and development required to land on a celestial body and then take back off from it, is far greater than the work to just fly by one. Not to mention the gravitational pull and atmosphere on Mars are far greater than anything the moon has, lifting back off would be much more complex.

Getting to Mars and back is a very big deal compared to the moon. Fly-bys are (relatively) easily accomplished by robots and the human would have little extra to contribute. Landing, exploring, and establishing a base, on the other hand, is what people do much better than machines. Despite the extra fuel costs, a manned mission to Mars must land or else is pointless. The “Mars Direct” program suggested by Robert Zubin & others seems reasonable.

I’d say at least a factor of 1000 easier.

Why dont you ask the government employees and the inter-dimensional beings (grays mostly) who are already there and have been there for many, many years?? NASA is a joke…“attempting mars landing” ha.ha. Dont be the dummies they have been training us to be…okay? the information is out there…..

@dawnatilla I’m afraid none of what you just said makes any sense.