[Renderofveils]

Much better to stay put in nice, safe Europe for a few hundred years until the get the kinks out.

The first manned space mission wasn't to land on the moon. You don't run a marathon without taking a few laps around the block. And to use your example, the caravels used by Columbus had been used for exploration for the better part of 50 years prior to his journey. They didn't just whip them up within ten years of achieving Columbus's goal. They were tested. The one untested carrack he used wound up running aground.

[garjog]

“You don’t run a marathon without taking a few laps around the block.”

If you are saying that trans-Atlantic sea travel had been perfected by Columbus’s time I would question that. These ventures were quite risky.

It is a false analogy to say that space exploration is like a runner who hasn’t prepared for a marathon.

Space travel has been developing for the last 60 years, with the moon landings, shuttle program, space station, pervasive orbiting satellites, un-manned robotic crafts and recently privately financed space ships.

Now is the time for another leap forward.

Who says that we can’t take a giant risk, especially if it is with volunteers using private money?

This program is similar to pioneers crossing the continent in covered wagons — not long after Lewis and Clark mapped it.

The robotic drones will go to Mars first to set things up.

Sounds doable to me.