Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science » in reply to "Mars simply represents the best target for the Human program due to a confluence of scientific interest and human potential."

You Missed The Point Entirely
Mark Eby — (archived)

I'm not saying the other goals in the bill are worthless. I'm saying that stating the other goals in the bill are necessary precursors to Mars is BS. If the primary goal is truly to reach Mars as the section I quoted seems to imply the other goals are diversions rather than major steps towards Mars. I would personally like to see manned missions to NEOs and the Moon as spinoffs of a clear program to reach Mars. The difference is focus on the main prize and long term goal. A focus on the main goal will result in a vehicle capable of all the goals while a focus on these "intermediate" steps will very likely result in several rounds of design of different vessels and wasting taxpayers money IMO.

A launch vehicle capable of reaching Mars can also reach the Moon and vica versa, but Mars is more likley to maintain public support IMO along with a science mission of more intense interest. A mission to NEO's should also be an easy spinoff, but a focus on libration points is just plain silly IMO when we already had developed a vehicle capable of a Mars mission and could relatively easily extend shuttle technology to do the same.

Regards,
Mark

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