McFly said:

>IMO--once again--a space program dependant upon public fascination is
>doomed to limp along in fits and bursts. NASA has to simply get on with it's
>business, ignored if need be. In fact, that might be preferred to laboring under
>the spotlights. That way it won't be tempted to pick its targets based on the
>temporary interests of a fickle public.

Bulls eye! The Space Program as currently conceived is doomed. To make matters worse, the Mars Program's popularity was based upon the search for life (a big mistake). I predict that within 2 months, MER A and B are going show that Mars has been cold and dry for billions of years. NASA's basic Mars sales pitch is just about to go down the toilet. How do you sell the Space Program? Answer: You do it through colonization. Sure it may not happen in our lifetime but we can do the ground work now. America is based upon the Golden Rule, i.e. He who has the gold makes the rules. How do you make the Nucor Corp. a solid believer in a manned Mars program? Offer them several million dollars to develop a new steel smelting technology. How do you make the Corning Corp. a space age groupy? Offer them several million dollars to develop glass manufacturing technology for iron rich environments without carbonates. How do you make the Monsanto Corp. use its congressional lobbyists to support NASA funding for Mars exploration. Offer them several million dollars to develop new strains of plants that can live in Martian conditions. This is the new approach (the only approach?) that doesn't require John and Jane Q. Public to remain interested.

Gary