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Going to Mars is good showy public relations chatter to impress halfwits

You have just insulted every geologist, geomorphologist, geophysicist, astrophysicist, planetary scientist, astronomer, assorted engineers, and the interested public on the planet. How does it feel?

Finish goal set long ago, in galaxy far, far away***Born into the last great era of boys' tales, I was able to battle across Barsoom (Mars, in Martian-speak) with the Edgar Rice Burroughs character John Carter and decipher Wauxums, Delameters and other space weapons. I knew who spoke for Boskone, the mysterious force for evil in the Burroughs books. I roamed the jungle with Tarzan of the Apes and explored "hot and humid" Venus "hidden behind its clouds." That was before mamas started pushing their little darlings, teenage girls tarted up and pubescent males could concentrate on the important matters in life, like finding lost kingdoms, fighting savage tribes and rocket science instead of sex.

This was, of course, the Golden Age of Science Fiction, when we didn't know enough science to understand most of the fiction was impossible. There's no life on Mars or at least none able to invade Earth, and the Galactics, if any, don't call back. However, in the 1940s many of us believed we'd soon be mining the moon - already technically possible - and by 2000 have explored solar space. But you know what happened.

We went to the moon for the wrong reasons, without a backup plan and with no vision. The Little Earthers prevailed, those who say this planet is enough; who cares what's out there; and we should be content to cultivate our pastures, improve our lot and use our resources to make things better on earth. But I've never bought this; I do not believe the human race was made to ruminate and rusticate like sheep.

I believe we're made to push the envelope, climb mountains, cross the void, strive for heaven and raise hell in Hell if we could locate it. I recall the Little Englanders who could never see beyond their gardens and politics. It was the adventurers and misfits who braved the oceans in cockleshell ships, landed on hostile shores and made America in the first place. Providence provided enough people who paid the price of admiralty, to feed their seas with ships and bones. Without curiosity and bravado, our kind might still be cowering up African trees or in Ice Age caves.***

You have just insulted every geologist, geomorphologist, geophysicist, astrophysicist, planetary scientist, astronomer, assorted engineers, and the interested public on the planet.

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Prove it.

Some of them have a vested interest in lifetime sinecures waiting for them if they make the sale. I don't.

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How does it feel?

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It feels good. If I don't disturb the stupid complacency and attempts at fraud of at least 100 people a day, then I'm wasting the gifts I was born with.