[anguish]

Sounds like something ESA, NASA and the Russians should do together. This is in the interest of mankind, and does not need to be a competitve race between national and international agencies. Besides, such a project would surely consume enormous amounts of cash. I look forward to the day when man finally makes it to another planet anyway.

[RightWhale]

such a project would surely consume enormous amounts of cash

This is important as economic theory and needs to be developed. Investing in a Mars settlement would seem to be the same as welfare for scientists according to some, and it has a similar topology in the initial statement of definitions. However, employing the best and brightest in such manner should have huge benefits for the cost, while welfare as we have seen it practiced has limited benefits. It should create a new category of industry, one that dwarfs most other sectors other than automobile manufacture and agriculture. Look for massive economic expansion.