[r9etb]

What is the rationale for sending men to Mars?

That is, indeed, the question. And the answer is that there's really no point, except perhaps to prove that we can send people a looong way from Earth and bring them back.

But we already know we could do it -- the technical details aren't difficult, just expensive -- and at this point there's nothing else about Mars that justifies sending people to do what robots can do in their place.

[mvpel]

The reason for sending people to Mars is that Mars has everything needed to establish another branch of human civilization.

[Consort]

 Flag of Mars