I got quite excited when I read your "More millionaires interested in space" post, in particular, internet tychoon Elon Musk's recent interest and appearance at a Mars Society meeting. A friend of mine e-mailed Elon (elon@muskfoundation.com) about various short-term affordable private space ventures that could complement or bankroll a Mars mission.

Elon's response was his main intention is to get NASA focused on establishing a Mars base - and that's that.

IOW, forget a private initiative, let the gummint do it - or at least fund it. Will Musk's Foundation just become another corporate lobby group in DC wanting federal pork?

I wish I had kept the e-mail - it was quite curt and trite. Let's hope other millionaires and billionaires with more open minds (and wallets) come along.