8.13.2009
Red Planet May be Unattainable
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Due to budgetary constraints, NASA is projecting that the contemplated missions to return to the moon, establishing a moonbase, and sending astronauts to Mars may be off the table. And it may be that by viewing a mission to Mars as 'routine' that it will never be accomplished, due to the costs. Either the perspective must change so that such a mission is viewed as essential for the species - a point Stephen Hawking has often argued, or, significantly different means of planning, funding, developing, and executing the missions must be advanced.
