You worked at NASA and don't understand what overcoming the challenges of a man mission to Mars would mean? Wow. First, the man mission to the moon was a complete waste too. But, look what huddles were crossed in the in the attempt. Understanding of the mechanics of spacewalks (took five attempts and almost killed the first walker), long-term space records (we actually thought that exposure over two weeks would kill), docking procedures (it was impossible to dock two spacecraft), creation of effective spacesuits, vast improvements in rocket design, geez the list goes on and on. The useless moonwalk project was a unbelieveable boon to spaceflight. Heck, it even gave us Tang, actually the crossover technologies gained from the useless man mission was worth the cost tenfold.
What pencil neck geeks fail to understand is America's need for a bold project to unite us! Not everything as in life is black and white, balance sheets. The nation was united behind the moon project and what is missing in America now is a sense of national purpose. Technological advancements will come: Life support, health maintenance, propulsion, aerobraking, radiation protection and plantary transportation. Plus, ideas and technologies not even in conception now.
So, basically I think you and Larry are wrong!
Dan Golden used similar arguments in his passionate appeal. The Spinoff benefit number he quoted was seven to one though.
Don't misunderstand me. I am VERY much in favor of space exploration. I never said that the lunar missions were a waste. There was a substantial spinoff benefit from that activity. A manned mission to Mars wouldn't require much in the way of new technology though. Now we are in a situation where the terrestrial Hi-tech sector is at least a decade more advanced than any hardware that gets to be flight qualified. Hi tech is doing very well without a big government funded. low tech, quest for the Holy Grail.
Another benefit of the lunar landings was their awesomeness. We put men on the MOON!! To my perception the lunar landings will always be more meaningfull than a Mars landing could ever be. Maybe our first interstellar journey might surpass it but I seriously doubt it.
You said we need something that everyone could get behind to unite us. Don't you think that colonizing space is a worthy undertaking? I am sure that building autonomous space tugs and mining ships and factory ships would present technological hurdles that would provide myiad spinoff benefit. It would be very cool too.
It's entrepreneurs who drive almost all beneficial societal change. On our way to the asteroid belt we could learn everything we wanted too about Mars. The problem with a Mars mission is that it has to be a government project. No sensible businessman would ever invest in it.
Admittedly, not everything of value can be measured on a balance sheet, but most scientific progress has been brought about as a direct result of some "for profit" activity. If the US government has 30 to 100 billion dollars laying around that it wants to spend on science with a hope that some spinoff benefit will ensue I can suggest a lot of things way more significant than a manned mission to Mars.
*True artificial intelligence and machine sentience
*Recombinant DNA built viruses that kill cancer cells or reverse the aging process
*Low cost space access technology. (Skyhooks)
*Really Really cheap energy production technology.
A crash program for any of these projects would require more money than the typical coporation would put at risk so government involvement would be ok for a while. Any one of these endeavors, if successful would make it much more likely that you would eventually see the science on Mars that you want.
I'll say it again. Mars is a dead end. It doesn't lead anywhere. Unless of course, you really believe that those structures on Mars are proof of extraterrestrial life, that I'm sure, trumps everything else including common sense...
Pencil neck geek? Ad hominem?