Does anyone really find it surprising that Mars tops the list? It's sexy and exciting, a brand new target for manned missions. It's been the setting for how many recent movies? Goldin spent years talking Mars to anyone who was breathing. In other words, it's gotten a ton of press over the last while.

The moon, on the other hand, gets a "been there, done that" response which is too bad because having sent 12 people there hardly rates a "been there," and most certainly not a "done that."

Should we base these decisions on what the public finds most interesting and exciting? Should we have cancelled the Apollo program when the public stopped watching it on TV?

Just askin'...