[Robert_Paulson2]

I agree but we don't have the WATER to set up a research colony there yet. Until we can support some of life's basics, rather than take them along... we are going to have to use robots for a while.

I LOVE the space program and want HUMANKIND to go into the depths. But if there was liquid water there, we need to find out how to extract and use it, to sustain life and create the fuel to come back.

We need a lot more data. And we need it fast to make it there in my lifetime. Too bad we are tied up with the mussies! We could double our nasa budget if the nutcakes weren't at our necks all the time.

[LibWhacker]

If we'd bring back Orion, we could build an outpost on Pluto, water or no, because we could lift off from the surface of the Earth with all the water we'd need for a decade-long mission, serving a crew of hundreds. 'Course, I'm dreaming. 'Rats will never allow us to revive Orion -- until we put them in re-education camps!

[GeronL]

I know we're not ready to send people... Stick a rocket on the ISS and send that to Mars =o)

[panaxanax]

"We could double our nasa budget......."

Forgive me, but we're already in debt up to our ears and this war on terror will, I expect, span many lifetimes. Our son's son's will be faced with fighting terrorism.

This may be a stupid question, but could someone please tell me what the heck is so important about exploring Mars? So there was salt water there once. Big deal.

Just my opinion as a layman.