The Fun Part of Space Travel

THE GREAT ROCKET STANDS on its pedastal, magnificent, gleaming in the sun. Anyone in the area is strongly encouraged to go by, and take a look at it. In fact, everyone is so encouraged, no matter where you are now.

This rocket, being readied to go to mars, or wherever else we want it to go, is the greatest thing since sliced bread, a true tribute to human greatness. Pardon me while we all pat ourselves on our backs...

in only eight short years people will land on and walk around on the surface of mars. maybe they will stay there awhile, and even leave a couple of folks there when they leave, while back on earth we prepare for  return flight, many return flights. 

A permanently manned and constantly growing colony on mars is just what the doctor ordered for humanity. Among othedr things, it'll get us focused on something good and healthy, instead of the banal cultural trash which consumes most cultures.

also, it will provide a role model in efficiency, in how to live sustainably, providing new technologies with which to save our damaged ecosystem on earth.

A colony on mars will enhance our long term chances of survival and expansion, assuming, perhaps a bit presumptiously, that this would be beneficial to the uuniverse in general, and its life. For our own sake we must so presume, assertably.

Wouldn't it be nice if one of the american televison networks started on ongoing drama, "Mars Colony", running it week after week, year after year, replete with all the melodrama, sex, and violence of any normal, healthy american TV show, with a little science and wonder thrown in?

Then, when the real colony takes shape, we can of course add in all the entertainment options we want. Entertainment is a basic human need, and project mars, project space exploration and colonization is pure, unudaltered entertainment potential.

But gt this: NASA, even though its spaceship is nearly completed, does not have a plan, any plan, to use it, other than to say vaguely that in the year 2021 a mission will go to mars! Well, good enough, i reckon. Build the reusable spaceship first, then, decide how to use it. Only in america, as they say.

Still and all, though, might not be a bad idea ot at least get a few ideas going...after all, that's the fun part...