Why We Should Go to Mars
Kenneth C. Brown II

Why We Should Go to Mars
Richard, an author for the website GOVTEEN Global Community, wrote an article briefly explaining why we as a nation, should not go to Mars. Some of the key points of his argument against going to Mars stressed that the financial cost would be too high, it would require several new spacecraft and ground habitats, and several new technologies that currently do not exist. He also was concerned about the budget cuts that have already stripped the National Aeronautical Space Administration (NASA) to a shell of what the space program used to be. He also stressed that we are still in an armed conflict that has put a strain on our nation, economically and emotionally.
Richard's points are solid and very good. I agree with him mostly. However, I feel that for most of the points he states is actual the reason we should go to Mars. In the 1960's and early 1970's America was in heavily entrenched in the Vietnam War, the American people were divided, with a large potion severely frustrated with their government. The nation was also still suffering from racism, the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr, President Kennedy and his brother Robert Kennedy. The Nation needed a positive focal point, a beacon to turn to remind them that even in those dark times there was something in their nation to rally behind, and lift their spirits. NASA became that beacon. The 1960's and 1970's saw the space program reach arguably, the height of success by landing a man on the moon several times.
By successfully landing men on the moon, the American space program inspired millions of young minds to aspire to work in shape or form for NASA. The space program thrived because of that Engineers and scientist from all over the country and world flooded NASA's doors. These creative minds helped to developed the Space Transportation System (STS) more commonly known as the Space Shuttle, Hubble Space Telescope and parts of the space station.
Presently our nation finds itself once again in an armed conflict; we are a nation at war. The American people find themselves frustrated with their elected officials now that there is a government shutdown in effect with no immediate end in sight. The nation is once again in need of a beacon, positive light to stand behind, something to fire the minds of the young and old, something to inspire a nation to see beyond their frustration and anger.
Safely landing and returning humans from Mars, the closest Earth-like planet in our solar system, would be the biggest accomplishment for generations. It would capture the imagination of not only our nation, but the world. From the initial launch, to the six month transit, to the landing. would help to inspire new technologies for generations. The technology used to get the crew there and back, would eventually find it's way into the private sector and enhance to lives of the average person or household. Yes, it would be expensive: however the payoff would be worth the risk. When our space program was in its infancy, racing against the Russians, it suffered many setbacks. We lost several spacecraft to explosions on the launch pad, and lost crew members to horrific fires, as was the case in the Apollo program. Millions of dollars were poured into the space program during that time, a lot of money for that time period. Eventually it overcame its failures to succeed when it mattered.
There is also the competitive spirit that has historically driven our nation to try and be first in matters of human importance: first manned flight, first human to orbit the Earth, first to land on the moon, first to build and fly a reusable spacecraft that can carry up to eight people. During the 1950's through the mid 1980's the Russians pushed us to be the best at what we do in terms of putting people in space and bringing them home safely. Currently it's the Chinese. Will they inspire the United States to be first again? The Chinese have already stated that they plan to make a permanent moon outpost then do the same on Mars.
Despite the state of our government and war weary people, I think our space program is poised to make another great step for human kind.