Posted by Art Kimura on April 04, 1999 at 23:26:37:
Setting a goal of a human exploration of Mars provides a long-term vision that will allow not only the United States but a world wide consortium of countries to develop the steps necessary for the human settlement of space.
Included in this vision will be the International Space Station and the utilization of resources of the moon, perhaps even including a human settlement there. Just as the setting of the goal of landing a human being on the moon before the decade was out by President Kennedy, establishing a goal of a human landing on Mars will foster the technological advancement to not only explore Mars but improve the quality of life on Earth and
provide an infrastructure for further exploration (both robotically and with humans) of space. The current plans for robotic missions every 26 months to Mars provides data gathering to collect data pertaining to developing a resource inventory of Mars for possible human use in future missions, collecting data regarding whether life existed there in the past or perhaps even exists today in the sub-surface soil, and furthering our knowledge of climatic change on Mars which has implications for our Earth's future.
Technology is already available to provide for a safe and successful human mission to Mars....it will no doubt take an international consortium (due to the high cost) to make this possible.
The most compelling argument is provided by Dr. Robert Zubrin who has authored a book and several magazine articles about the operational procedures of exploring Mars. His theory is to "live off the land" as much as possible, much as the past successful explorers of Earth did.
I would suggest that anyone interested in the human exploration of Mars read his articles.
Wtih the recent evidence of frozen water on the moon, there may be compelling reasons to return to the moon. The moon may very well be a way station to Mars. However, the setting of the human exploration of Mars as a goal provides the great vision that our country needs to foster
the technology for the human settlement of space.
My vote is for Mars.