[Henry Lane]

Nasa is a government agency, after all.

[af_vet_rr]

Nasa is a government agency, after all.

So is the Fbi, Cia, Dhs, Atf, Dod, etc. (sorry, couldn't resist).

Jokes aside, I do think we need to spread out, and Mars is a good start. For the last several decades, we've played the part of settlers (and we settle for just about anything these days), when once upon a time, we were pioneers. Every buck spent on a NASA project is a buck not spent on some liberal project, and while the government is way too big, and is still growing (and showing no signs of slowing), I can easily get behind a NASA project to put people on Mars.

[Yo-Yo]

This has been around for six years.

http://www.enterprisemission.com/press-water.html

[RightWhale]

NASA then figured out how to use the potential of life on Mars to justify its budget

Interesting but bogus. NASA is tasked by Congress to maintain USA preeminence in space.

[Locomotive Breath]

Hypothetical: life, even of a very simple kind, is discovered on Mars.

Question: how does this inform the evolution/intelligent design debate?

Discuss amongst yourselves.

[FLOutdoorsman]

Deception Point redux?

[chessplayer]

So today`s announcement is just a part of a Rovian conspiracy to keep spending money on space exploration? Gotta get my tinfoil hat. *wink*