h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

(quizzical wanders in and looks around) It's kinda quiet in here - I thought there would be lots of discussion now that we've successfully landed a rover on Mars. Isn't http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/mer2004/rover-images/jan-06-2004/horizon-540-405.jpg (Gusev Crater) the most exciting thing we've seen in a long time?!

quizzical
(who wants to go to Mars in the worst way)

Yup, great pictures.
I came over quite excited when I heard last week that the US may resume their exploits in space and send manned missions to the moon again and to Mars. I hope it's not just an election gimmick.
Pity about Beagle 2 though.
A.M.

Unfortunately I think Bush's comments about space missions ARE election year posturing - he hasn't talked about how he plans to pay for them and we're running a huge deficit already thanks to his tax cuts, war in Iraq and increased security at home (not to mention a huge wave of people getting ready to retire). Hard to get the populace on the bandwagon when they're already going broke. If the private sector figures out a way to make money at space exploration, though, we'll be there in a heartbeat.

Yes, it is too bad about Beagle 2; I wonder if we'll ever know what went wrong. Mars is a tough place. About two-thirds of NASA's missions failed. I used to say that there was obviously life on Mars because it kept shooting down our rovers.