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There is a long history of test pilots who risked their lives, and some died, on the way to solving an urgent problem in aviation. There were pilots who died in early production versions of aircraft because of certain flaws or, in some cases, pilot error. Space is a much bigger problem but human ingenuity combined with those willing to take the risk, will keep the space program going forward. There is no particular urgency about going to Mars, only arguments for and against. The same applies to the Moon but there the issue is getting humans to survive there before going further. It appears that the space program is at a similar stage when compared to ocean voyages in large ships. The problem is the space environment is far more hostile. In any case, the desire to explore, advance human knowledge, and continue on will be the driver.

Bacteria on Mars? Lichen? Maybe. But that's not the primary thing. The primary is: Can we find and obtain enough water followed by, can we grow anything there?

<blockquote data-quote="edwest4" data-source="post: 498395" data-attributes="member: 43077">There is a long history of test pilots who risked their lives, and some died, on the way to solving an urgent problem in aviation. There were pilots who died in early production versions of aircraft because of certain flaws or, in some cases, pilot error. Space is a much bigger problem but human ingenuity combined with those willing to take the risk, will keep the space program going forward. There is no particular urgency about going to Mars, only arguments for and against. The same applies to the Moon but there the issue is getting humans to survive there before going further. It appears that the space program is at a similar stage when compared to ocean voyages in large ships. The problem is the space environment is far more hostile. In any case, the desire to explore, advance human knowledge, and continue on will be the driver.Bacteria on Mars? Lichen? Maybe. But that's not the primary thing. The primary is: Can we find and obtain enough water followed by, can we grow anything there?</blockquote>

[QUOTE="edwest4, post: 498395, member: 43077"] There is a long history of test pilots who risked their lives, and some died, on the way to solving an urgent problem in aviation. There were pilots who died in early production versions of aircraft because of certain flaws or, in some cases, pilot error. Space is a much bigger problem but human ingenuity combined with those willing to take the risk, will keep the space program going forward. There is no particular urgency about going to Mars, only arguments for and against. The same applies to the Moon but there the issue is getting humans to survive there before going further. It appears that the space program is at a similar stage when compared to ocean voyages in large ships. The problem is the space environment is far more hostile. In any case, the desire to explore, advance human knowledge, and continue on will be the driver. Bacteria on Mars? Lichen? Maybe. But that's not the primary thing. The primary is: Can we find and obtain enough water followed by, can we grow anything there? [/QUOTE]

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