Here's another dilemma, albeit mainly my personal opinion.

Zubrin has so entrenched himself with the mars issue that some folks would abandon mars just to keep him from going.

You can't read an article lately about mars without Zubrin's name popping up.

This is NOT a good thing. Space exploration should never appear like one man's crusade. In the old days explorers like Bird and Perry used their fortunes or rounded up the bucks and made their own explorations. In those days you could brand an expedition with a name. However, now if the public doesn't like the point man - they discard the message.

In many ways, ironically, Zubrin acts as a mars foil.

These PR stunts have gotten only minimal press coverage - and any money could be better spent in an old fashioned advertising campaign. I think a few billboards near major highways would've swayed and inspired more people to support mars exploration than the camping out schtick.

Heck, the money would be better spent if MS members crusaded and went around to public high schools with movies and try to rally the next generation of voters.

Besides to set up camp in any "Utah desert", as they plan, isn't harsh at all! Setting up in the southern Arizona desert where it can get to 135 degrees (unofficially) and 124 "officially" - that's harsh! If the AC conks out - you die. It's that simple - and it will be that simple on mars.

Somebody get the Mars Society the number of a good Madison avenue ad agency - seriously! Forget all this trying to sell scientists or the media - sell the public...SELL THE PUBLIC.

My ten cents,

SDAI-Tech1