This Press Release seems in contradiction of your belief that manned spaceflight to Mars becomes less attractive as we watch MER Spirit and Opportunity running around on Mars.

Source: Coalition for Space Exploration

Gallup Survey Shows Americans Support New Plan for Space Exploration
Monday July 19, 2:27 pm ET

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., July 19 /PRNewswire/

-- NASA and the U.S. space program enjoy broad support and interest from the American public, according to the results of a new Gallup survey coordinated by the Space Foundation and sponsored by the Coalition for Space Exploration.

More than two-thirds (68%) of the American public say they support a new plan for space exploration that would include a stepping-stone approach to return the space shuttle to flight, complete assembly of the space station, build a replacement for the shuttle, go back to the Moon and then on to Mars and beyond.

Among the Gallup survey's other findings:
-- Seven in ten adults (70%) surveyed believe the benefits of humans
exploring space are worth the potential risks to astronauts.

-- Two-thirds (66%) of the adults surveyed agree that it is important
for the nation to have a space program that includes both human and
robotic exploration.

-- Two-thirds (67%) of the adult public report having some interest in
America's space program including one in four (24%) who say they are
very interested.

-- Of five possible answers, most (29%) said the most popular reason why
America continues to explore space is because it is human nature to
do so.

-- Two-thirds (68%) of adults agree that the quality of our daily lives
has benefited from the knowledge and technology gained by the space
program.