[camle]

i disagree with that. there may not be any obvious short term profit centers (no gold rush), but there cannot NOT be any long term positives.

[kjam22]

no business person would see Mars as a competitive field for coal, or iron, or whatever. The R&D is not affordable in any fashion. No way.

[thepainster]

There is really no immediate benefit to going to Mars except to explore. It is Man's desitiny to explore and eventually colonized space. We might as well get started now. I would like to see us get to Mars before I die. I may be a little selfish in my desire, but that is my option as I get old......