"The issue here is Mars, I believe, and the fact that -- for example -- most THEMIS images are taken in fully five bands, but only one is released. So all we see is a black and white image, when full color is (or should be) available. The "allocation of scarce resources" argument has nothing to do with it. The data for color images has already been acquired. Its aquisition is part and parcel of the original allocation. The color images, however, are missing, and the data to assemble them is not being released. And amazingly, we hear claims that the planetary science community isn't all that interested in color images of Mars anyway, so it's OK. Even if there was interest, it would be very hard to assemble the color images, what with registration and calibration issues and all... I maintain this is nonsense."

Ok, so if it is soooo easy, have a little patience and wait for the data release, assemble the images yourself and show us your RGBalphabet soup Monet.

"And what, pray, are the "key fundamental questions about mars " you want answered? And how would you like to see them resolved?"

Ignoring the fact that you're reflecting my own rhetorical question back at me.....