> We should be doing more with the money -- taking flight to Mars, establishing a foothold on that planet. A permanent base on Mars.

I totally agree. We never know what might happen to Earth one day by something that is done by the human race or Mother Nature herself. But from what I do know (which isn't a lot since all those NASA people know a lot more about it that I do), trying to "colonize" Mars would be kind of hard. The last time I heard, with today's technology, it would take six months (earth time) just for them to reach Mars from Earth. Then from what they know. It would take between 6 months - 1 year (or maybe more) of manual labor just to get enough full to make it back to Earth from Mars. Then there isn't a lot of water on the surface of the planet (hence, the red planet). Temperatures of that planet are lower than Earth. From what I remember, the highest it has ever gotten is like 69 degrees F. The lowest is probably around minus 200 or more. I can barely stand it when it's 0 out. Don't forget that the "air" there isn't like earth. It's mainly Carbon Dioxide (CO2). The atmosphere of Mars (from what I remember) is a lot thinner than Earth. Less protection from UV rays. Personally, I don't see how we could survive on Mars. But anything could happen. Look at the technological improvement in the last 100 years.

~x~Band-"I like it here on Earth."Aids~x~