NASA has a continuing problem of laying out reasons for it to do things. The Mars mission is an example. Now we could always say that the Russians, Chinese, or whoever, is going there and we need to beat them to it, but perhaps a clearer head should prevail.
Scientific exploration is always good but a great deal can be accomplished with non-manned missions.
NASA now is seeking public input on setting up a manned base on Mars. As NASA states:
NASA Announces Journey to Mars Challenge, Seeks Public Input on Establishing Sustained Human Presence on Red Planet. What do you need to bring, and how do you minimize the need
for delivery of future supplies in order to establish a sustained human
presence on a planet 140 million miles away from Earth?
NASA is embarking on an ambitious journey to Mars and Tuesday
announced a challenge inviting the public to write down their ideas, in
detail, for developing the elements of space pioneering necessary to
establish a continuous human presence on the Red Planet. This could
include shelter, food, water, breathable air, communication, exercise,
social interactions and medicine, but participants are encouraged to
consider innovative and creative elements beyond these examples. Participants are asked to describe one or more Mars surface systems
or capabilities and operations that are needed to achieve this goal and,
to the greatest extent possible, are technically achievable,
economically sustainable, and minimize reliance on support from Earth.
NASA expects to make up to three awards at a minimum of $5,000 each from
a total award pool of $15,000. NASA’s efforts for sending humans to Mars is well underway today,
with spacecraft monitoring Mars from orbit and rovers on the
surface. The International Space Station is testing systems and is being
used to learn more about the health impacts of extended space travel.
NASA also is testing and developing its next generation of launch and
crew vehicles -- the Space Launch System rocket and Orion crewed
spacecraft.
It appears that NASA will award the public for their good ideas. Remember that it is taxable! And also if it does not work they will blame you!
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