Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Steve, Shingle Springs, CA — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 01:03:41 GMT

Awesome! I look forward to hearing how these rovers do this upcoming year, and hopefully even more years to come.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

karl hoewt — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 01:19:35 GMT

i'm imagining the day when travelers to Mars will bring back these amazing devices to maybe place on display in the Smithsonian.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

menso — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 02:06:06 GMT

Right on folks... FINALLY we get MORE for our investment. This also shows the public that NASA
can hit a few home runs in ONE game. Sad part is
NO atmosphere so radiation and such will have a MAJOR role in what we can do and how long we can do it on the surface of Mars. I believe the Moon would be a better First choice for LIVING somewhere else and testing what ever systems we come up with.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

JC — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 03:25:01 GMT

Amazing. These 2 rovers (with MGS, Mars Odyssey, Pheonix, MRO etc.) have basically rewritten the books on the evolution of Mars. Turns out to be alot more complex than anyone guessed.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Jeff Mohr — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 03:33:20 GMT

Stunning, amazing, awesome to say the least, what we have done and what we can imagine will be.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Mario J. Brosius — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 03:36:05 GMT

This is so amazing and is a testament of how great our country is and its potential. I believe someday future generations may travel the stars. The human race has so much potential but we need to stop killing our planet and each other to reach our full potential!

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Roger — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 03:37:09 GMT

$820 million, I wonder how many homless people could have a roof with that money, how many hungry people could be feed. How many shoes for the kids that have none. Its this type of spending thats wrong with america. All the project has done is help feed the egos of the people who run it. Without the program, some people would have no reason, no job . . . Gee, it would be terible to see those 100k a year geeks on un-employment like me. I say lets stop funding missions to mars, and fund missions on earth.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

a p garcia — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 03:38:43 GMT

GO-ROVERS-GO

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Bruce — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 03:52:20 GMT

its great its gone so long let it go till it runs out on its own

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Concerned Canadian, Ontario, Canada — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 03:52:54 GMT

Excellent! I always love a space success story. Good to see that the average person is getting a good deal on space exploration. Now, if only I could get up there...

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Doyle L. Goodman, Pittsburg, CA 94545 — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 04:23:06 GMT

1-2-09
Dear NASA. We need to send some plant seeds to Mars.
When I was young, before 18, we lived in the California mountains and made fence posts from
Cedar and Redwood trees. They grow in the thin
atmosphere and cold weather. I think they would
do well on Mars and convert CO2 to oxygen in great
quantities. Then we can live there. We seem to
be the ONLY INTELLIGENT life in the Universe. We
need to spred out in the Universe in case a cosmic
accident should wipe out life on this Earth, so that
our intelligent Life Forms would survive elsewhere
in the Universe.

doylegoodman@hotmail.com

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Deb G, Carlsbad, CA — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 04:28:04 GMT

Bravo Rover Team! Your project should serve as a model that NASA could follow when designing future exploratory missions.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Jagan N, Owings Mills Maryland — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 04:41:43 GMT

Thrilling news in the beginning of the NEW YEAR, to learn that ROVER is moving around, is like hearing from a long lost son, Good to know R-Vehicle is still cruising the RED planet, its cool, cool on the red planet. Congradulations NASA. Jagan/JNT Jan 02:2009

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Southlooper — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 04:42:07 GMT

Yo Rover, any sign of Madoff's cash up there?

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Dave F., Chicago IL — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 04:46:27 GMT

This is such a fantastic mission. Every human on Earth should be excited that we all can learn from the scientific data these rovers are gathering. Children will be studying the results for decades in school! What a wonderful use of our resources.

I know others will scoff and ridicule it, but if American is to remain at the forefront of space exploration (and by extension, science), we have to keep pushing the boundaries, and this is one way we've done just that. I hope we continue to fund scientific experiments such as this one, that are designed to potentially outlast their "minimum" intended lifespan, so the return on investment can far exceed our hopes.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Andrew Kenneth Risso — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 05:06:36 GMT

I am and always have been in support of space exploration, but I have to ask why are we not devoting the same passion and resources towards the exploration of our own planet as in the sea floors for future inhabitance?
I would think with two thirds of our pla net being water, that we would attempt to explore these depths for possible expansion of the human race.
Again I support space exploration, but why only explore the neighbors backyard when we haven't even done so in our own.
Can you imagine the rescourses, history and treasures that may be found in our own oceans? All of which may provide answers to our existance as well as answers to our future.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

David Ray — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 05:18:27 GMT

I only hope the American people recognize what an important achievement this is for the world and how it must be continued for the good of this planet.....

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Charles Neenan — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 05:18:31 GMT

Hats off to NASA and the contractors that designed and built the rovers! Well done. Looks like money very well spent.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Dan — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 05:35:06 GMT

Imagine that. Two vehicles that are lasting longer on a distant planet without repairs than most cars do on this one. Instead of bailing out the automakers we should take that money and hire NASA to build them.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Andrew Bagley — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 05:42:08 GMT

Pride. The only thing I can really relate to here. The sacrifices and great strides, (too enumerable to mention), give me faith in my nation. My faith in the human race is somewhat restored.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Robert — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 05:46:05 GMT

Why doesn't NASA and the woprld governments just admit that life exist on other planets? With the real question being the simple choice in the false "GOD" or "Aliens", I would do as most. I would choose Aliens as being more possible. More people have seen Aliens that a false god. Whenever you bring up the subject of "Space" you really need to address life existing elsewhere. For any lifeform to exist you will logically come to the final logical answer. There is no "GOD". We have to make every effort to get off this nearly dead planet before we die with it. NASA has the answer to our ultimate exit, but Washington and the secret keepers will not allow "Joe Plumber" or anyone else a seat on this exit bus.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Troy Boyle, Erlanger, KY — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 05:47:13 GMT

In a departure from my usual comments, I'd like to say that Spirit and Opportunity have gone a long way toward bolstering the idea that solar system exploration may be best performed by telepresence. The prohibitive cost (both in terms of real dollars and biological stamina and resilience) of sending human beings to such an hostile environment would preclude a five-year tenancy like that shown by these robust human surrogates.

In a very real sense, we are already "on" Mars by virtue of these rovers. They are a product of human ingenuity and controlled via human minds on Earth. As the fields of robotics and data transmission evolve, it only makes sense to continue this kind of robotic exploration. Personally, I'd like to see a similar technology deployed to Europa. Titan, anyone?

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Chris Jones, Southfield, MI — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 06:26:12 GMT

Absolutley extrodinary that the rovers are still working. Hope they go for another 10 years.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

val Houska — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 06:27:17 GMT

I think it is awesome what the landers have taught us.Mars seems to be such a beautiful place.Makes a person wander what it really would be like to live there.Go NASA!!!!!

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Greig Shephard Excelsior, Mn — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 06:28:30 GMT

This just goes to show us how important our space programs are, and how valueable Hubble is to us.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Steve, OKC, OK — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 06:30:20 GMT

It is great that they are still working. The ingenuity and hard work that the people who put these two together definetly show. What would really be an interesting show is that if and when we put someone on Mars that the two are still going and the manned mission could maybe do work on them or add to them to extend there life even more.

But honestly, I think we need to stop looking in our Solar System and figure out how to get out of it. Like sending something to one of those exo-solar planets we have found out there. I would be more interested in finding out the composition and make-up of those planets then anything here.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Tatiana thoene, los alamitos, ca — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 06:42:23 GMT

I saw these rovers being built at JPL in Pasadena, CA.
I am so happy that this mission is such a success, and I hope, that despite financial issues, NASA will keep mission going while the rovers are still "alive".

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

randal — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 06:47:23 GMT

woo hoo...Yeah, just what we really need in these struggling economic times. A real bargain for us taxpayers. AND we get photos of an arid, dry, good for nothing planet. WOOOOO HOOOOO
WHAT A BARGAIN!

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Vincent Fergusen — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 07:43:21 GMT

Amazing, I hope we continue to explore very deep into space. At a time where the world is waging war and dropping bombs on heavily populated areas, it's nice to have an uplifting story for a change. Space exploration has the capacity to inspire us all as one human race and to stop us from bickering about our differences.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Joe Blow — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 11:03:53 GMT

why was it that when i was a kid the first pictures of Mars had a light blue sky? i have looked for those pictures but can't find them anywhere.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Chet Twarog, Hudson, MA — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 11:04:45 GMT

Some day there will be Homo sapien footprints on Mars.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Jeremy near London — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 11:19:24 GMT

Excellent resume of a fantastically sucessful mission. Americans should take great pride and I hope the British will cooperate andothers more in the future with a manned mission!

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

A space exploration fan with a long memory, Newberry, Michigan. — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 12:14:34 GMT

I remember when Viking 1 was lost. I believe it was Sky and Telescope magazine that reported contact was severed due to human error. The probe got the wrong command and somehow shut down. It was still sending back regular weather reports until that point.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

AW, hartford, michigan — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 13:48:51 GMT

It is great to see those rovers still running for five years long after the 3 month warranty expired. Sure wish that our cars can last 20 times longer. Now, that would be a great deal!

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

john moody — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 13:54:50 GMT

good deal!

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Chris, Detroit, MI — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 14:37:15 GMT

Typical government agency. The rovers were suppose to last for 90 days and they have been working for 5 years. How in the world made that prediction? The cost of the program probably also started at $100 million when the rovers were first built and by the time they hit Mars I am sure they actually spent $1 billion.... There is no life on Mars, never has been, never will be, unless we colonize it. give up wasting our money and time. From the articles and experiments that I have read about there is no way that they can say with 100% accuracy that life existed on Mars. Nasa wants to find signs of life so they will. One picture I saw said that ics was there and then a few moments later it melted. How can ice melt on Mars?

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

OneVoice, Frederick MD — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 15:03:53 GMT

First, I'd like to say that I think the two rovers are great. The a data they collected and the questions they answered greatly increased our knowledge of the conditions and history of Mars. I've heard it said that every question the rovers answered generated at least 2 new questions. I wonder at this point though, are they still returning new information or just more examples of things we already have learned? I don't mean to rank on them, but I'm sure itching for something new, either from the Spirit & Opportunity or from upcoming Science Lab rover.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Manuel zapata, Laredo, Texas — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 15:17:18 GMT

What is the point of sending rovers to mars or going back to the moon? What have we really learned and at what cost? Millions of dollars to say Mars might have had water long ago. Who cares. We should take care of this planet before we go and mess up another.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Mark R. Brown, Portland, Oregon — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 15:41:14 GMT

How ironic it would be that if we were to find evidence that Millions of years ago, our ansestors populated Mars? And, like we are doing today, eventually made it an uninhabital place to live because of over population and mere irresponsablility? However, due to their technology, they were able to send life forming DNA samples to what we now call Earth? How probable it is would be the question, but the possibility is always there! The moral of the story would have to be "that we will never learn".

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Hoss, Atlanta — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 15:42:55 GMT

Wow, if GM and Ford could take this as an example! Make the cars last LONGER than promised, instead of the other way around!

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

CHUCK ANTELL, SOUDERTON, PA — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 16:29:34 GMT

$820 MILLION? THAT'S ALMOST A BILLION DOLLARS JUST TO ADVANCE THE FRONTIERS OF SPACE AND EXPAND THE BOUNDARIES OF THE HUMAN MIND. WE'VE GOT BETTER PLACES FOR THAT MONEY. HERE ARE A FEW.
1. ADD IT TO THE $700 BILLION FOR BANKERS. THEY CAN USE A LITTLE EXTRA BONUS IN THEIR PAYCHECKS.
2. SEND IT TO THE BOTTOMLESS MONEY PIT KNOWN AS IRAQ.
3. ADD IT TO THE BILLIONS FOR BAILING OUT THE AUTO COMPANIES.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Tomas — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 16:57:48 GMT

We should give NASA more money not Detroit, at least they can make a vehicle that lasts!

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

san lorenzo, ca — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 17:24:34 GMT

american can build something that last...like the japanese...jejjejejejej

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Dahl R Shurtz Tamaroa,IL — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 17:39:09 GMT

Hats off too the good people at NASA on the rover project.
I always wondered why they cant keep the Shuttle crews at the space station longer doing more repairs or what ever,they spend all that money too get them there just for abour 14 days,can't they double that at least,put more food and oxygen on board and get a longer stay.More work done

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Deuel Andress, Milwaukee, WI — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 18:09:35 GMT

These units are pretty slick. My daughter Chloe , loves them both like pets . She has followed them since she was four. Great job NASA !! Let's Roll

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Gene Eric Mann, Surry ("Mayberry") County, NC — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 18:54:00 GMT

ET & space exploration ROCKS! Rock on Mars Rovers! Rock on, NASA!

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

GWP, Franklin Boro, NJ — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 19:11:38 GMT

Once in awhile, NASA shows their engineering greatness, and these two rovers now ranks up their with the Voyager probes for lasting long and hard after many years of work. Not bad for two rovers who initially was meant to last only 90 days, but now have reached their 5 year mark. :)

Go, Mars Rovers! Keep on trekking! :)

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Moe Howard, Hollywood,Calif. — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 19:25:27 GMT

How much is a scad?

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Terri — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 19:27:13 GMT

Fantastic return on our tax dollars. In reference to
Rogers comments on 01/02/03 10:37 Please sell your computer.
Take the money and go buy someone elses kid the shoes they need.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Jack Haesly, Austin, Texas — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 19:48:48 GMT

The Space program has produced spectacular achievements in our understanding of the our Solar System, our Universe and beyond. There is no denying that fact. However, at this stage, I have a real problem with an ever expanding Space program. Billions have now been spent on the various programs and many lives have been lost in the process. Granted, there has been a certain cost/benefit factor to the Space program. Much has been learned. Our scientific progress has been moved forward enormously. Maybe so.
Be that as it may, now we are being told that, in time, man will be able to venture beyond our Solar System and establish outposts in Space well beyond Mars and the Moon.
That is, in my opinion and others, science fiction. If that is true, all my science teachers and all historical evidence and personal observation have been deceiving me during my life time.
The simple truth is man is now, has always been, and will forever remain physiologically/psychologically held captive and tied to this one earth. Reason: Our species is simply too fragile to endure separation from the earth's environment, cycles and gravitational field for more than a few weeks. Even then... actual experience has shone intense exercises in space are necessary to prevent loss of skeletal calcium and other trace elements to maintain muscle mass and skeletal integrity. Never mind other issues such as reproduction in Space or other factors such as normal fetal development, food propagation and climate maintenance.
In addition, our species will never, almost without question, ever reach other distant solar systems that can support life as we know it. Our species simply does not survive long enough to traverse the travel distances involved. Even under ideal travel conditions and travel speeds, to reach the nearest habitable planet/planets is well beyond our life span. That is true even if one travels at the speed of light. Of course, that is not possible either.
As in War, the Space program, up to now, probably has paid for itself in long term technology gains. However, I for one, think our Nation should now apply all those hard earned gains to solving more urgent problems on this planet...such as how to protect this planet and it's inhabitants, both flora and fauna, from further deterioration, rather than to continue to spend billions figuring out how we might leave our beloved, trashed and sinking ship...Earth.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Keith, Gardner, MA — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 20:17:33 GMT

Quaid! Start the reactor! Free Mars!

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Ryan Haynie, Avon Park, FL — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 20:50:36 GMT

Great job NASA!!! Keep on rolling! But my idea would be to first colonize the moon and test our habitation technologies there before having to spend 3 months each way to Mars to just test our tech! That way, we can get the bugs worked out close to home before going all the way to Mars! Once we perfect our systems, we can then use the moon as an assembly center for the components that will go to Mars and to further destinations in the future! The moon's got a lot of potential!

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

ArrivedBrainDead — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 21:03:27 GMT

It's nice to know some American made things outlast their warranty.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

ArrivedBrainDead — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 21:06:31 GMT

Let's find the team that designed and built the rovers and put them in charge of the Big 3 in Detroit.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Thomas Ashby, Calgary — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 22:17:27 GMT

I find it hard to believe there isn't any geothermal springs on Mars at least. Dead extinct volcanoes should have some evidence of hydrothermal activity. I hope NASA or JPL places rover vehicles designed to last 5 years, thereby getting 15 out of them, and explore the great Olympus Mons area. It has been a real treat exploring Mars somewhat and right at home at the computer.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Uncle Albert — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 22:47:03 GMT

An excellent job. J.F.K. would be VERY proud !
It was his foresight that got the Appollo missions to the moon(and back!),I'm sure he would have approved of the Mars Rover project.
Yes, we could be spending this money on earthbound programs, but the return in scientific knowledge & National pride is beyond measure.
There were probably those back in the day complaining about the expense of the voyages by Colombus also. Every new, investigative challenge will have it's naysayers & doubters. Fortunately, the forward thinking folks usually will find a way to prevail.
This is what advances mankind, rather than stagnating it !

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Richard Cranium — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 00:12:04 GMT

Congrats NASA, some thing American made thats works better than expected. Money well worth the investment. Had the money gone to feed and cloth people in this country, they never would have started working, let alone be working five years later. It just shows that hard working people can make the money allocated to them work. Most government programs don't work from the start but NASA, with some setbacks, has always found a way to make the investments work. Mabey the auto manufacturers should hire some NASA folks to show them how to make what money they have work.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Wdef — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 00:12:34 GMT

For all you complainers, whining about the money spent on these Rovers, about how they could go to feed hungry children and the like.....first of all, this isn't a zero sum game, and frankly, compared to the hundreds of billions of dollars we are spending to keep bankers afloat (which doesn't seem to be working, I will add) it is a bargain.

So what is the use? Why are we bothering with Mars? Besides the technological (think about something that can run for 5 years in an incredibly harsh environment, using solar cells, then ponder that one) there is also simply the effect of dreaming and what that can do. A lot of the technology we take for granted today either came from the original space program or came from people whose imagination caught fire with the Apollo program and went on to create technological wonders like the internet, high speed cheap pc's and the like. Imagine kids whose imagination is caught by the rovers, and decides to go into science and engineering, perhaps to develop the next great thing? If mankind refuses to dream, to learn for learning sake, you end up with the dark ages, either of the medieval sort or in places like the middle east where, despite great wealth, they are contributing little or nothing toward man's ability to dream and learn.

I also will add, for the poster who is bitter about being unemployed, and for others in the same position, that we have lost good paying jobs because of people who forgot how to dream and learn, and instead "focused on business, real matters" aka making more and more money. Our industrial base, instead of pioneering new technologies and better methods, stuck with 100 year old manufacturing techniques, and then found dirt cheap labor to make those ancient factory equipment produce gold once again, instead of creating efficient production that could pay decent wages. Or the auto industry, whose pooh bah's, instead of embracing better production methods and new technology, employed an army of beancounters and lawyers to fight off change, net result to be seen on the daily news broadcast.We have lost good paying jobs because industry was too greedy and shortsighted to develop new technology, and put their factories using 100 year old technology in third world, overpopulated countries.

The solution to the problems at home is found in dreaming, in understanding the universe, as much as it is in spending on 'brick and mortar things', and if we lose that, we might as well resign ourselves to being a has been nation. I don't think we will, too many people with a fire in their belly (rather then bankers with a hankering for 5 mansions and a hundred million dollar paycheck) to allow that to happen. Imagine if someone in detroit had the imagination the people who created the rovers did, what that would have done for cars?

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Green Acres — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 00:32:39 GMT

Chris, Detroit, MI
"One picture I saw said that ice was there and then a few moments later it melted. How can ice melt on Mars?"

It Did not melt it sublimated turned directly from a solid to a gas.

And for the fella who wanted to plant evergreen tree's
Well there are a few problems with that. Mainly mars has only 1% earths atmosphere, No magnetic field like earth has and the solar wind is steadily stripping away at mars atmosphere, The consequences of this are radiation and the point that i made above about solid ice turning directly into a gas. No liquid water for the plant would kill it and tree's require lots of water. Also if you could get trees to produce oxygen it still wouldn't help until you had thickened the atmosphere to the point it would allow for a warmer environment, On a good day mars temps reach 68° F
and on a bad day to a low of -220° F.

Now ive never seen plants growing in Antarctica and id be willing to bet that Antarctica never sees temps as low as -220° F. Also note the fact that because of the solar wind if you were to fix the atmosphere by engineering a set up to pollute mars like we do here on earth you would have to perpetually reinforce this atmosphere to keep the solar wind from reducing it all over again.

Terra forming a planet is not impossible its just not realistic in the current generation. It would take an enormous amount of money, And NASA still accounts for less than 1 percent of the federal budget.

So for the nay Sayers who want to cut NASA programs i could name quite a few who should go long before NASA is dropped.

Lets see.....hmmm

$515.4 billion for the Department of Defense’s (DOD's) base budget

Lets spend that kind of money to develop new kinds of weapons and say that's ok!

Then we will turn around and blame NASA as the problem with the US economy. Its not the pointless war in Iraq killing thousands of brothers sisters and cousins. Its "NASA"

I'm not saying NASA is a shining star but hey id rather see people shooting into space enjoying the world around them than looking at the back of a coffin lid. Because bush wanted Saddam's oil.

Seriously if ya want to gain some insight watch Fahrenheit 9/11 a great Documentary by Michale Moore
It will have you viewing things in a new light.

All i can say is thank Goodness for Barack Obama

Well i hope this was educational for the good people who read articles here on MSNBC

Your welcome

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Steve, Boston, MA — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 01:28:17 GMT

To Roger (who wondered "how many homless (sic) people could have a roof with that money")

$820 million is something like 3/100 of 1% of the entire estimated US budget of $2.5 TRILLION for 2008.

In 2006, the US gave about $22.8 BILLION in foreign aid, the latest year for which I could find a figure.

Total education expenditures for K-12 in 2004 were approximately $536 BILLION according to the US Dept. of Education (see www.ed.gov).

According to the National Coalition on Health Care at http://www.nchc.org/facts/cost.shtml, total healthcare spending was $2.4 TRILLION in 2007, or $7,900 per person.

Using a population estimate of 300 million people, the Mars rovers cost about $2.73 and that has been amortized over several years of operation from concept, design, deployment and through to continued operations (in other words, more like 50 cents a YEAR for 10 YEARS)

As you can see, a little mathematics is a very useful tool. Before making bald statements and rash judgments against expenditures that increase our understanding of the universe, you should stop and analyze what we got for what we spent. The Mars Rovers have been a bargain and well worth EVERY cent.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

jdog, honolulu, hi — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 01:34:15 GMT

Congratulations NASA. This is the kind of project we should be funding. Now throw away the shuttle and the International Space Station and pour that money into a space elevator. Then we can start making some progress getting off this rock. Our only hope of long term survival is to expand beyond the Earth, and this is the type of work that will make it possible.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Joe Wallace — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 01:38:12 GMT

I am an educated man, and not averse to scientific projects. However, we continue to spend TRILLIONS of dollars on space exploration, and not enough on how to solve the problems on THIS planet. It's about priority, folks. In my house, if I want to INVEST in something, but my kids are starving, I buy FOOD. That does not mean that investment is a bad idea; it just means that this kind of spending is not a good idea right now.

[ALAN ADDS: Just to head off some of the responses to set Joe straight, I'll note that the entire NASA budget is not TRILLIONS of dollars, but roughly $20 billion a year. At that rate, it would take 50 years for space spending to amount to $1 trillion (and NASA spends money on things other than space, such as aeronautics and education). Here's an item that delves further into the cost of spaceflight:]

http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/10/03/1489144.aspx

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Jeff, Honolulu, HI — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 02:00:48 GMT

Jack,

The expansion of the human race into the larger universe is inevitable. While I believe it is extremely important to solve the Earth's current environmental issues, the long term future of humanity is in space. Sooner or later, some cosmic disaster will cause the Earth to be unlivable, and we'll need to have developed the technology to survive in the hostile universe.

In just the blink of an eye, we've gone from cowering in the dark to launching machines capable of exploring remote worlds. I'm firmly convinced that if we don't kill each other first, we'll solve the tough problems of living in space. However, without the foresight and desire to fund such projects, we will certainly fail. Abandoning the science necessary to move us forward is to doom us all.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Eric Loz, Isabela, PR — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 02:40:37 GMT

Why is it that whenever science scores big, someone will always cry foul about the money being diverted from social welfare programs? It's amazing...I guess the example being set by these stellar personnel. Let's keep reaching for the stars...

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

MIKE LARGEN JOHNSON,FL — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 02:40:58 GMT

FAR OUT!

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Alvie C. Beck II — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 02:50:41 GMT

Just think . . . they have now lasted as long as James T. Kirk and crew were supposed to "explore strange new worlds"! :)

Perhaps there will be a New Generation with the new rover (once it gets launched).

Seriously, I hope I am alive when we bring one of these critters back to Earth to display in the Smithsonian.

Gratz to NASA, JPL and all the other teams involved with this mission.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

beavwarius,Reno,NV — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 02:56:51 GMT

I think this is a great feather in the cap of NASA.I would like to see more money spent on unmanned probes to distant worlds,and less talk about trying to plant humans on mars.Mars has no value at this time.the moon is the next logical step.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Susanna Friedman, Houston, Texas — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 03:27:16 GMT

I wonder what benefits our world is gaining due to this space exploration--is it better equipment for medical use? Is it more heat-proof products? I know they want to find if life existed in any form so we can better understand our earth's beginnings. It does show that long-lasting machinery is possible (at a cost!) NASA does't advertise very much, letting the populace know how many wonderful products, equipment, etc. has resulted from their programs. We don't
yet know what they will find--thus man's historical quest for something new continues. Exploration has gone on ever since this earth has been occupied! Hopefully all the programs will be fully funded, and those in the U.S. needing help.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Calvin Hobbes — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 04:15:44 GMT

It's amazing! Five years already. We have learned so much. I hope NASA and geologists get to develop a real plan for comprehensive geological surveys for the future. Here's to NASA not just for another incredible mission but doing it under nearly impossible politics.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Ongoing Process — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 04:50:40 GMT

Please, to those who fail to understand the connection between scientific space research & solutions on earth, please open your mind. It is painful to repeatedly read comments from those who simply don't have the vision to see the big picture. Those with shallow, black & white, "it can never be done" thinking lack the intellectual curiosity to leave the harbor of ignorance. Voyage forth, NASA. I am proud of your many accomplishments.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Patrick Alexander, Yucaipa, CA. — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 05:00:44 GMT

Let us stop the 'moron-a-thon', yes?!? We're spending billions of dollars bailing out companies who can't run a business, and wasting billions every year using finite resources. Why? All because we are too stupid, too stubborn, or just too lazy to get our rumps off the couch or put down the texting gadget; and you are complaining about UNDER a billion! GTFOH! Imagine if your car had a warranty for 5-10 years, but it actually lasted more than a century!!!

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

MM in Havasu — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 05:37:46 GMT

Too bad Mars has little or no oxygen in its atmosphere, that place looks like it'd be an absolute blast for some ATV or dirt bike riding..........maybe some electric motors may be in order.....

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Bob Jordan, Snellville, Ga — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 05:42:43 GMT

Nay sayers, all I can think of is what my gandfather taught me, that if no one dreams no dreams come true. If all people stop looking for good then no good will be done.

These two small steps can become much more than the expense some people talk about in this blog. I think that in the future of mankind these first small steps will be the stepping stones to a much larger piece of the puzzle. Please do not lump me in the catagory of a crazy freak as I own my own business and pay my taxes and my dues.

To those of you who think this is a waste of money. Do you honestly think that the cell phone you have in your hand the microwave you have in your kitchen or the things you take for granted every day of your life are all here because someone did not dare to dream?!!

I for one am proud to see these "litte experiments" continue to do their jobs and make us all wonder and dream about what may be for our future and the future of mankind. I can only hope that they continue to bring us more information and wonderment as time goes on. Yea NASA you rock!!! Oh by the way I am over 50 so don't even go there people!!

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Dan salem, or — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 06:03:06 GMT

well roger, it is just soo sad that it is not all about you. i'm unemployed too, and I say GO NASA!

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Robert Dempsy, Dallas, Texas — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 06:12:38 GMT

$820 million so that two toys can go less than five miles in five years! Almost 80,000 people could be lifted out of poverty for a year with this money. An obscene waste. I hope the people at NASA and JPL will get real jobs helping people some day instead of wasting our resources on these toys. Another example of people who are more concerned about machines than real people who are hurting. I hope President Obama will cancel NASA and turn the trillions of dollars that is spent over to real programs that help real people who are suffering.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Tin Foilhead — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 06:21:51 GMT

There is NO WAY these things lasted this long by accident. They were obviously "helped". And soon enough, those who "helped" will reconfigure and send these rovers back to us with hostile intent! What fools we are!

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Thomas Ashby, Calgary — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 07:41:17 GMT

It's too bad that Mars is the only other planet that remotely comes close to what earth was. Mars failed to evolve in the habitable zone. Tried..but failed.

I don't think any kind of God would play these games in the "creation" of a universe and life/humanity. If "He" did then "Tough Love" SUX ..and so on and so forth !

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

REDNightWriter — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 08:03:47 GMT

Guys wake up call.
Why do you think NASA will spend so much money in those kinds of projects, and many other that are classified?
Do you think the class of technology we posses right now just came out so quick of nothing
I hate to break it to a lot of you but we are not alone in this universe we are a planet in one galaxy that is not even totally explored, there is millions of galaxies, the distances are imaginable and yes it is possible that even some other civilization don't even know about us. Also there is possibility that there are more planets in worst evolution than the Earth planet
There are people or whatever they are that are smarter and different than us and some are here among us, many classified programs and discoveries by NASA and CIA have helped United States of America to stand where we are now.
It is all about power gained by allot of knowledge of discovered technology

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

EFowler — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 08:03:58 GMT

Haesly's comment has THE unfortunate/fortunate truth that space travel and time are finite barriers for our specis. Good luck to the next.. if any.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Ken Reed, Chicago, Illinois — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 10:04:31 GMT

Several people have commented on how we are destroying the planet. Reality check folks! We are killing ourselves, not the planet. Long after our species has died out, the planet will be here.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Bill, Lawrenceburg, TN — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 10:19:42 GMT

Joe Blow:

I also recall the original Viking pictures to show a light blue sky and that scientists were surprised at the color. As I recall, there was a placard on the Viking much like the color bars broadcast for test purposes by TV stations and satellite providers. When photos of the placard were examined, it was found that color correction was needed. The reason given was that in their haste to make public, the JPL engineers failed to correct the color based on lighting or other factors.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

j. anyasi — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 12:01:31 GMT

...way to go. one step at a time, sooner or later humans will make it. great to hear progress

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Matt, Virginia — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 12:19:57 GMT

I am fed up with the many NASA budget cuts. The space program has given us many inovations from velcro to microchips. It also has given people hope that maybe we can work together as a people of one planet. I just hope one day that these rovers will lead to human settlement on Mars.

Maybe the Smithsonian will need to set up museams on the moon and mars for all the probes and rovers that we have sent.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Robert Harris Texas — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 12:58:44 GMT

Great job Rover, You proved the bible is right. God put us here on earth, and that is where I want to be. That is, until He brings me home with Him.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

John Hill, Glendale, Arizona — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 14:44:37 GMT

Anyone interested in a "can't put it down" account of the birth of the rovers should read Steven W. Squyres book "ROVING MARS, Spirit, Opportunity, and the exploration of the Red Planet". It is a fabulous account of the trials and almost disasterous glitches that preceeded this amazing journey.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Charles Cranford, Fishersville Virginia — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 14:53:13 GMT

Undoubtedly this is a unqualified success story for NASA. I feel like a previous poster that we should look towards the exploration of our own oceans in our backyards. What a tremendous opportunity that would benefit mankind immediately if we would only look towards our seas. I'm not knocking the value of space exploration, but perhaps it is time for private industry to take over space exploration and let government take a back door to it.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

M Lyster — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:02:16 GMT

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Eric, Salinas, CA — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:05:40 GMT

Great article Alan! The Mars Rovers are the little rovers that could. What a great investment us taxpayers made in these wonderful robotic explorers. I look forward to more awesome panorama pictures from the rovers.

Hopefully this year Cosmic Log will have lots of great stories about scientific achievements as the Large Hadron Collider comes back online and the Hubble Telescope gets an overhaul.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Steve Singer, Louisville, KY — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:23:12 GMT

For the family who's spouse is out of work or the tax payer who gets taxed to death, who really cares what goes on on another planet? NASA has and always will be a total waste of taxpayer's dollars.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Willis, Philadelphia, PA — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:32:40 GMT

Must be powered by a Chevrolet small block to run so long.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

bob derslis — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 16:12:39 GMT

this shows how are country is better than the other it shows we are very fast and strong and there is nothing we can't do in the future.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Dennis, Richmond VA — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 16:14:53 GMT

Do it again! 2 more of those same rovers (with a couple minor improvements) and fast! Send them to two new spots... and then send more! When you get something right, do it again!

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

l.j.patton s.e.wi. — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 16:27:34 GMT

i am amased at the comments made hear that no one has even thought of the concern of our nations safty and power it brings to our home land secerty and the peace it could bring to the world. as long as we bring in the nations of peace and respect to other nations we can possibly have a safer world on the same mission to explore the depts of our own world w/out war and still try to benifit by knoledge of the outer limits to inprove our own exsintisnt there are many learning oppertunitys to be learned from a planet that use to or had some kind of life on it a why it doesnt something we all could take a look at and maybe use to better our earth as for feeding our young we have plenty here to do that just the wrong people in charge of those programs look to the human factors when u think of whats wrong here i think it is true that the water on earth hold alot of answer to our exsintints and i think we r becoming aware of that and hope like nasa the explore the idea of deep sea and ocean traveling maybe a rover like unit that can stand the issues of the deep and answers will be quickly learn and maybe appyed and make a better world for us all we will be force to do this eventually so lets get started now there is no world peace now and its not getting any better our goverment better learn that all they have is nothing like the rest of us and start doing the right thing for us all instead of a few because we all r going to end up in the same place like it or not so u see we r all egual in the end of things wheather u believe or not if there was a god of your chioce u would be asking 4 the mirical we sure seem to need now take care stay safe and bless us all.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Rajesh Gupta, Bettendorf, IA — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 16:31:20 GMT

Go NASA Go!

Go Rovers Go!

Go scientists Go!

That said, scientists across the world should ask for support from their governments to work across political lines without limitations and leverage the intellect of other scientists from other countries.

I dream that, some day, we will not have any country in Earth and that all the countries will be states or regions under one central government of Earth. I know, people will liken this to Napolean, but Star Trek has proven that it is very futuristic and all we can hope for is that we see that day, someday!

We have scientists from Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, France, India, Israel, Japan, former USSR, UK, USA and a few other countries that can think as a team for the improvement of the world.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Jim Ruble, Beaufort, S.C. — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 16:35:42 GMT

Like it or not, the space program has produced the technology we enjoy today. Its advances have been adapted for our day to day use. Not to fund it would be a mistake but funding it to the extent some want is. I do agree more attention should be focused on earth, our civilization and the cultural problems we all face. How about using some of this money to invest in our children's education so that this scientific research may continue? We could produce many future scientist with this kind of money. I am not against the program, don't get me wrong. If you are going to invest money in space exploration, do it wisely. I agree with Jack Haesly's comments. One of the problems I see is that man has an ego that needs feeding and ambitions that need achieved--the need to be first at something. That emphasis and energy needs to be focused here. Why look so hard out there for life when we sprang from here? There is all kinds of life here yet to be discovered. I think if you look hard enough at our own planet, you will unlock many answers to our existance right here. Like the Bible? To all you non-believers. Say what you want about God. As you reach the end of your existance here on earth and still hold to your disbelief, good for you. I would rather believe and be wrong than not and be right! I do not believe we are the only intelligent life that exists.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

cmac — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 16:44:14 GMT

Roger wrote:"$820 million, I wonder how many homless people could have a roof with that money, how many hungry people could be feed. How many shoes for the kids that have none. Its this type of spending thats wrong with america. All the project has done is help feed the egos of the people who run it. Without the program, some people would have no reason, no job . . . Gee, it would be terible to see those 100k a year geeks on un-employment like me. I say lets stop funding missions to mars, and fund missions on earth."

NASA almost ALWAYS provides huge returns on the money America invests in it's space program.

While feeding the homeless and poor is certainly a valid goal, I wonder why people always go after NASA's measly 16 billion budget and never the trillion-dollar war-machine we fund? We spend the budget of NASA ($16B) each and every month in Iraq (while killing 1000-2000). Bring our troops home and you could have $10 BILLION a month for poverty with change left over...but somehow NASA (which kills no one) is the wrong moral choice for the USA?

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Mark, Shelby, Mi. — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 16:47:28 GMT

I work at Chrysler and if we got paid 400 million dollars a car, we could build one to last a hundred years!

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Sarah Gather,Advance,North,Carolina — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 17:05:41 GMT

Ok i know all about Mars, but what about Pluto

[ALAN ADDS: You'll have to hang on until 2015, when the New Horizons probe zooms by Pluto. More about that later...]

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

JPH — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 17:09:06 GMT

[...] No one went hungry because man went to the moon and no on went homeless because to robots went to Mars.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

h bomb — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 17:15:57 GMT

Right on Terri

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

G. Pirnat, La Mirada, CA — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 17:20:11 GMT

Booooooo to the naysayers who believe that this $820 million was wasted in space. Guess what... this money was and is being spent here on earth (no stores in space). That money feeds and clothes and shelters persons here on earth, advances technology that gives us all a better life and provides millions of jobs around the world both directly and indirectly.

Hoooraaay for NASA and the Rovers for a job well done! Congratulations and best wishes for continued success!

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Peter, New York — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 17:33:33 GMT

To Roger, Chuck, and Jack, who expressed some version of the view that this money (and this endeavor) is not well-spent with immediate budgetary concerns here and now, consider:

There are numerous ways we could now (and could have been) taking care of ourselves for a lot less money than we do. For example, we could have studied the effects of carbon emissions and embraced the fact that they damage us long ago. We could avoid wars and seek peaceful solutions to global conflicts significantly reducing our defense budget (and the defense budgets of others). We could have invested in good public education for our children much more than we have and we would have reduced crime in cities, added scholars to our ranks, and run companies more brilliantly than we have been. We could have invested in bio-fuels and renewable energy resources decades ago to eliminate vulnerability to oil prices and foreign oil producers. We might even have averted some middle-east crises if so much oil money were not providing resources for terrorists and state sponsors of terrorism.

So in light of these points, perhaps it makes more sense for us to stop thinking just beneath our noses and look more toward the future consequences and likely results of our spending. If we master long-term space travel, we can extend the lifespan of our species after Earth's ultimate demise. If we fail to master space travel, we will at least have learned as much as we can about the nature of things before we perish. We won't starve either way, but we might survive much longer.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

John, Chicago, IL — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 18:14:27 GMT

Roger -- You suggest that the money would be better spent on welfare programs such as homeless shelters and food stamps. I looked around for some figures and found that the Federal Government spends about one trillion dollars per year on welfare in the United States. Adding 820,000,000 to that would yield:

$1,000,820,000,000

or an increase of approximately 0.082%

That $820 million would fund the United States welfare system for 7.1 hours. Instead we get 5 years of fruitful scientific research on Mars. [...]

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Dyson, Fedup with idiots everywhere. — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 19:09:47 GMT

If only NASA did have a budget in the Trillions like the freaking morons seem think they get. The even more amazing things they would be able to do instead of with the shoestring budget they work on now.

I guess the same idiots think we just launch the money into orbit. All the money is spent right here on earth you simpletons it feeds and clothes a lot of people who work for a living instead of expecting handouts because they decided to have too many kids and now can't afford them.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Alex,West Valley,UTAH — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 19:48:15 GMT

NASA Teams ... Great Job.. Design and Manufacturing departments I give a shout out to you and your Rovers.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Frank Glover, Rochester, NY — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:02:11 GMT

"We should give NASA more money not Detroit, at least they can make a vehicle that lasts!"

You could never afford a vehicle that had the kind of testing and quality control 'overkill' in manufacture that these rovers had. We knew, going in, that if they landed successfully, there would be no tow truck to call.

And even with all that, one rover has a locked-up wheel.

And to be fair, while no Earth vehicle has to operate remotely, in very low atmospheric pressure and temperature (think lubrication under those conditions, for example) and the kind of dust that these do...they also *don't* have to run at highway speeds, run summer/desert hot, do regular starting, stopping, braking in city conditions, face rain, wind (in heavy Earth atmosphere) snow, slush, assorted forms of corrosion, questionable owner maintenance (again, starting with lubrication), the unspoken, built-in assumption that maintenance and repair *is* normally available, so they don't have to be made 'perfect,' have no human safety features (airbag? bumper? seat belts?) and the knowledge that you don't have to go hundreds of millions of miles to completely replace it, if you really must...no, it's not easy to be an Earth vehicle, either. If you have one (especially where winter really means something, like Upstate NY), you know.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Frank Glover, Rochester, NY — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:08:24 GMT

Ryan, you were good up until that last sentence. There's nothing to be gained by assembling deep-space ships on the Moon. Why do that down in another gravity well where parts from Earth must be landed in (I know what you're thinking, but manufacturing and fabrication facilities don't have to be down there, either) and the finished product lifted out again.

'Refueling' is also meaningless for the same reason, plus the fact that the Moon is just as far from those distant destinations as Earth is, and has much the same launch windows.

Technologies can be proven there, but Earth orbit is the logical starting point for going farther.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Frank Glover, Rochester, NY — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:17:28 GMT

"I am an educated man, and not averse to scientific projects. However, we continue to spend TRILLIONS of dollars on space exploration..."

Wrong. If by 'the space program' you mean NASA (which is not all space, either, but I'll let that slide), since its inception in 1957 it has yet to spend even ONE trillion dollars.

Currently NASA is .6% (that's six-tenths of one percent) of the total federal budged, and even at the peak of Apollo spending in 1966, it did not exceed 2 percent.

This is down in the noise of some other federal programs.

Now, go find out how much is *already* being spent on those things that you believe deserve it more, then see if this additional drop in the proverbial bucket is going to change anything...

That's not to say NASA always spends what it has as well as it *could,* but that's another story, and a question that could be asked of any of those other 'problems' as well.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Frank Glover, Rochester, NY — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:21:29 GMT

"There is NO WAY these things lasted this long by accident. They were obviously "helped". And soon enough, those who "helped" will reconfigure and send these rovers back to us with hostile intent! What fools we are!"

Yeah. That's what some people say about the pyramids, and we're still waiting.

How little credit you give the ingenuity of your own species...

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

David N. Smith, Seattle Wash. — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 21:33:13 GMT

Oh my, I wonder if Cro-Magnon said similar things to Homo Sapien Sapien (in not-so-many words as grunts.) I would hope, too, that ignorance the likes of which I have seen written here is in micro-cells and not readily contageous. If we don't at least attempt to reach beyond our planet we are dead when the sun dies- fact. If we do not explore, and learn from our experiences, the kinds of things we need to know BEFORE we venture out to space, we are dead- fact. According to some authorities we, as a nation, lost between 300-1000 people in the westward migration of the 19th century. Does this mean it was not worth it? Since twice as many people (of those who put their locations in the message) are from west of the Appalachians than east, I am left to conclude that exploration was a success. Stay here, safe in your curmudgeon existance, and go the way of the dodo. My kind will remember you sadly where ever the rest of us end up next.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Scott, Kingman, Arizona — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 21:57:04 GMT

Whatever ones personal opinion is about the space program, NASA, etc. the fact of the matter is America and the world in general has benefited tremendously from any and all space exploration.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Conrad Adenauer, Jr.Berlin Germany — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 22:18:26 GMT

Only "intelligent" being in the universe?? The jury is out on that one.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Robert Hill, Westminster, Cplorado — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 22:57:07 GMT

Imagine if NASA built cars! They would be expensive but their lifetime would be decades.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

John Malverne — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 22:59:02 GMT

"The American taxpayer was told three months for each rover was the prime mission plan," Weiler said. "The twins have worked almost 20 times that long. That's an extraordinary return of investment in these challenging budgetary times."

All that means is that NASA set the bar ridiculously low so that it could score a "win" after many recent losses. All that money, time and effort for 90 days of operation? Please, spare us the self congratulations.

It is wonderful that they are working this long, but please don't insult our intelligence by suggesting that NASA has kept them working 2000% over the rover's predicted life expectancy.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Andrew Thomas Duritsky — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 01:00:03 GMT

May as well put my two cents in this subject also.. We are NOT the only life form around..I just can't believe people would thing this.We are probably the lowest lifeform around any where. We are just beginning and when we do advance,then and only then,will we ever meet other life species around..If you believe that we are,then you are in for a rude awaking..I believe we were planted here 1000's of years ago and we are being watch all of the time so see how we are advancing. If we advance enough,then we shall meet them.Think about the great wall thats in the ocean that is over 10,000 years old.As smart as we are,,we cannot cut or move blocks of stone that big or set then as they are set. In the amazon jungle,on top of the highest hill,theres a airport that has been cut into the stone that looks like a great engle..Not where did all that come from 10,000 years ago..Come on,wake up people..only sad thing is I won't be around to see it ever happen..Maybe our great great grandchildren will see it.And what about the stone hench,even today we couldn't do that. The great circles that has been cut into corn fields, so perfert that we still can't do that.We have alot to learn,and the sooner the better or this planted will be gone and so will we..Wake up,see the light,we are just babies...
Than you
Tom Duritsky
58 years young...

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Unemployed in Seattle, WA — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 01:04:52 GMT

I very seldom read blogs, but science has always fascinated me. Perhaps because I do believe in creativity, dreams, and the unknown. NASA IS all of these and to suggest that being open to possibilities is a waste of time, money, and resources is ludicrous!

Those of you complaining - when was the last time you volunteered your time to help those in need? If everyone gave one day a month to give back to their community - the results would be exponential.

Great place to start: quit complaining, be proactive, and get busy helping others and this world (and the next)will be a much better place.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

anthony denning, somerset, N.J. — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 01:08:22 GMT

Perhaps the naysayers on the mars expo have points, it
has indicated the limits of human life and just maybe
we should spend more of our research money exploring
our own planet. I am sure the benefit to cost ratio
will look greater in hindsight

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

anthony denning, somerset, N.J. — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 01:32:17 GMT

The naysayers on mars expo may say in future, "I told you so". Suggests "Charity and clarity begins at home".

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Richard King, Wayne, N.J. — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 01:53:03 GMT

An amazing mission and more to be accomplished. One added item is settled. . . The Solar Panel Power concept should be the focus of far more use on earth where the 25 year warranties are easier to support.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

john holland, new york , new york — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 02:55:16 GMT

"Why did we spend all that money building the Parthenon, Pericles when we could feed the homeless?"
"Emperor, why build roads all over Europe and civilize the barbarians when we could feed the homeless instead?"
"Why are we sending troops to defend Europe against the Nazis when we could feed the homeless instead?"
Nobody. Cares. About. The. Homeless. Let them eat each other. I'd rather p--- away a billion dollars on a Mars mission (no question that NASA is horrendously inefficient) than spend it on people who chose to ruin their lives. Face it: a majority of the homeless made "bad choices" to quote the social workers: like drugs, alcohol, thievery, or just plain stupid behavior. The proportion who are mentally ill and turned out of doors by "the system" is miniscule.
So, to summarize: Mars Landers: Yes. Bums: No. Hope this clarifies things"

Please calm down M Lyster and lose the Social Darwinism and elitist attitude. Remember everyone is equal. Being a scientist does not make you superior being or give you more say. Not all poor people choose to be poor and talking down on them like your flawless only makes your hubris stand out more.

With that said I look forward towards Space travel but with a world government to ensure that space is regulated with laws and that space is not used as a way to avoid oversight into corporations and unethical scientists who might try to conduct research that would be illegal or unethical/immoral on earth. Any colony from earth must have the same laws that apply on earth or else it will become the next "lawless wild west" The transhumanists/cyberpunks are probably already dreaming of the lack of oversight and ethics.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Polar resident Fairbanks, Alaska — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 03:12:35 GMT

The benefits reaped from the science of NASA will invariably be over looked by many. However, unlike those earth bound scientists who seek only to focus on terra firma to make the earth more user friendly, NASA has a pretty good track record in making our environment better even while studying ways for the future preservation of our species when our sun begins to run out of nuclear energy. Thank God for those with a long view and the astounding success of the rovers embody the American spirit for making things better for all of mankind.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Daniel, Denver, Co — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:46:10 GMT

820$ Mil. to find dirt? Wow Nasa sux. I see more alien life in a piece of moldy bread than you guys can find with all that wasteful spending.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Gary Starrine, Okinawa Japan — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 06:11:19 GMT

To those who think the cost of these types of programs is too high I remind you that all the money spent on programs such as these would not run the Iraq war for one week! How about using the money we waste on war to help people on earth, and continue our exploration of the solar system.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Marci — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:04:20 GMT

I am amazed and appalled by some of the things I have read here. I have seen people who claim to be "educated" and yet appear to be unable to spell common words. I have read the rants of people who feel that space exploration is wrong. I have read rants from people who think social action is wrong. For as many people as are reading this blog and/or following the space program, there will be as many opinions.

I, for one, am fascinated by the space program and the exploration of Mars. Yes, there are needs on this planet that should be addressed; but by the same token, some of the needs on this planet ARE being addressed by discoveries and technology developed by this very same space program, as has been noted by several other people who have commented here.

I have discovered in my life that hindsight is ALWAYS 20/20. We can see very clearly in retrospect where things should/could/would have been different had we humans only done this instead of that, not only in our personal lives, but also in society as a whole. Until the whole world's populace can see and think clearly about the reactions for each action, both in the short-term and the long-term, we will continue to have the problems we have now. As the population of planet Earth increases, the problems will continue to worsen. We have limited space on this planet, and we have very few options. One is to put a limit on world population growth. Another is to begin working on ways to colonize the less-inhabitable parts of the Earth. A third is to look to space and the stars for more room to expand into.

Sadly, until we humans can learn to live in peace with each other, there will be no real progress of any kind made. World progress will require world unity. We will have to learn to stop fighting over the space we have, and start figuring out how to use it wisely and how to save it from absolute destruction by our own hands.

As for our sun burning out, we still have approximately five billion years. I really don't think the human race will be around to see the day our star consumes this planet.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

SierraDan, Reseda, California — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:08:27 GMT

To Roger:
In other words, shut the NASA down, give the rover operators showels and send them to dig the ditches? And while at it, why not to shutter and prohibit any kind of activity that doesn't directly deal with food and clothing? Just think of all the savings - we can stop funding, lets say, archeological digs - all those dinosaur bones don't have any meat on them anyway. And, hey, national parks, for example, are real burden on the budget. Lease them to the tomato growers (where climate allows). The list is endless for creative mind.
I do understand that you are bitter, but NASA has no hand in your resent job loss.
And here is one little unsolisited advise - look up, look up at the skies - not only because it's raining.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

JR LaBelle,Fl — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:30:51 GMT

I see a lot of uneducated minds in need of guidance.This is the greatest and most powerful nation to ever exist on this planet.Our quest for knowledge has expanded our horizons.The Voyager Missions are our most fantastic journeys.Check out JPL Voyger The Interstellar Mission.If we don't evolve we will become extinct like so many in our past.The human mind is our grestest tool.Our quest for knowledge should be a never ending journey.A little food for the inquisitive mind go to http://jrspacewalker.spaces.live.com/default.aspx read The Universe Calls Just Plant The Seed by JR Spacewalker

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Bob, Ft Walton Beach, FL — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:33:56 GMT

To the people who find the cost of the MER program objectionable, let me remind them that NASA did not send 800 million dollars in a safe up tp Mars and leave it. The money was spent here on Earth, to universities, companies, and individuals who use that money here. Money that was used to pay for shoes, food, charities, and yes, profits. Only a few hundred pounds of metal, plastic, and glass were placed on Mars. The rest was invested here.
The images, data, and ideas the missions have generated are here for us to use in learning about both Mars, and our own planet.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Tuco Ramirez, Fort Worth TX — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:53:26 GMT

If the USA does not do this type of exploration, other countries will do it, like Rusia, India, China, and believe me, they will not say any word about what they find, don't complain about the money spent, that money is also part of the economy of this country, turn it down and you are going to have more unemployment. I paid $3,5000.00 in federal taxes last year, I hope it goes to NASA, instead of Irak.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Mike J. — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:53:30 GMT

Jack Haesly; Good post, even if I don't completely agree with you. So much that is now science used to be science fiction. Light sails and ion engines are now developmental reality - 30 years ago they were purely fiction. The money NASA spends on space travel is so little, with such long-term potential, that it should continue.
True, interstellar travel is a long way off, but 100 years ago so was space flight, satellites, and lasers (especially ones that could knock a satellite down).
Space medicine has made rapid improvements in handling the bone loss issues, as well as radiation protection. I expect the first long trip will uncover other issues as well, but that is how we advance. Columbus' crew was afraid they would sail off the edge of the earth.....

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Ryan, Raleigh, NC — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:53:29 GMT

In response to Jack Haesly's comment:

To some extent I agree with you. The task of reaching a planet similar to earth does seem next to impossible with our current knowledge of physics. However, there are a few things to consider here:

1) Our planet will not last forever. Mankind will inevitably outgrow it, and it is simply a matter of when. Up until now, our technology has allowed us to survive well past the predicted carrying capacity of the Earth for human life, but overpopulation (if nothing else) will eventually catch up to us. The facts are that civilization as we know it depends on colonizing other planets in the future.

2) One must learn to crawl before they can walk. Colonizing a planet very close to us like mars will be drastically less challenging than shooting for Alpha Centauri A or beyond. Not only that, but it would make an excellent staging ground for the colonization of other planets, since we'll have already done it and practiced it.

3) Gravity is not as great an issue as you might think. Yes, low-gravity conditions have been shown to be harmful over time, but one can simulate the effects of gravity by centrifugal force from a spinning spaceship/station. This has its own complications, certainly, but it effectively mitigates the majority of gravity-related issues while in space. Once on mars (or any other planet with less gravity than earth), the low gravity becomes a larger issue for long-term residents, but if we are hypothetically speaking of the colonization of other star systems, it is a problem solved by looking for rocky planets of approximately earth-size.

3) The "billions" spent on space travel pales in comparison to the wealth spent on the rest of the earth's problems. Frankly, it pales in comparison to the amount of money spent on sports celebrities and movie stars. You are absolutely right, the Earth is a sinking ship. But I strongly disagree that an extra few billion dollars a year will solve any of mankind's problems, or really even put a noticable dent in anything.

4) According to our current knowledge of physics, reaching other stars is extremely difficult, requiring technology we are unwilling to spend money on, but it is certainly possible. We can't travel faster than light (there might be a work-around, but we don't know it yet), however even if we only accelerated to a significant fraction of that speed, there are dozens of stars within half a human lifetime of us, and of those, at least half a dozen are in a comfortable-looking sequence and could become a future home. Sure we don't have the technology yet, but our current knowledge does not tell us that such travel is impossible or that we could not find ways around the obstacles (such as with spinning ships, cryo-preservation, gravitational slingshots, etc.) This will eventually become a NEED for humanity, not a nifty sci-fi geek fantasy, and once that is realized you may be surprised what scientific ingenuity can come up with.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

James French — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:07:17 GMT

Wouldn't it be great to actually do this same type of research right here on our own planet? There is soo much of the earth's ocean floors that we know very little about, and this is in our own back yard. Designing rovers to work within the depths of our oceans would be a much greater engineering marvel that the ones on Mars. Boys and thier rocket ships!! Think of the return if we spent 820 Million on Ocean Research and actually discovered new life here on Earth that could be explored to better life for us all.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Sam Chupp, Atlanta, GA — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:22:01 GMT

Wouldn't it be great if we could have a functional robotic autofactory on the surface of Mars? That would mean we could prototype and create new rovers all the time, tailor-made for individual missions. Mining and ore processing robots would be the first created, to provide raw materials for future robot prototypes. Imagine a team of humans arriving on Mars with a pre-built habitat, already made by industrious robots on the surface!

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Adam, out on the prairie — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:38:44 GMT

As always the article is thought provoking and the comments of the readers run the gamut from the sublime to the ridiculous.

In my opinion this is money well-spent. Money is never wasted on pure knowledge.

But I think, before we delcare ourselves the only "intelligent life" in the universe and promot the idea that we need to reach out and colonize the stars, it might be a good time to take a little look inward.

If you view the history of the planet as a football field running from south to north, from the beginning to the present, our so-called "intelligent life form" occupies about the last five millimeters before you reach the North Goal.

Now, turn around a look back toward that south goal from our measly 5 millimeters and reflect on all that came before us. And while you stand there in awe at how insignificant we are when compared to the history of our planet and the overall lifespan of the universe
consider, just for a moment, that we are nothing more than a cancer, slowly destroying this otherwise healthy, living organism we call the earth. We've done more damage in our measly 5 millimeters of existence than all the creatures of the countless millenia before us.

At our present rate of distruction of the earth's resources we won't last another five millimeters, much less make a full INCH of history on this vast football field.

Is that what you call "intelligent life" and do we really want to inflict this on other living worlds?

Just take a minute, lay your prejudices aside, step out side the confines of your tiny, greedy, minds and think about it.

Then let's see if we can't find a way to preserve what's left of this precious living planet and stop the destruction of our natural resources and ourselves. And if we can do that, then, and only then should we reach for the stars.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

J9 — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:26:34 GMT

To all those complaining about spending $820 million when there are hungry, homeless, pollution, etc. right here at home base... There isn't enough money in the God's universe to solve these problems, which are basically issues of logistics and greed. I pretty much guarantee that my $30 a month sent to an evangelist in India is better spent and produces better results than all the billions EVER spent to fight hunger -- so NASA, JPL, ARC, and the other related research institutions can have my tax dollars with my eternal blessings and thanks.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

David E. Powell, Ocean City, New Jersey — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:05:30 GMT

This is truly awesome stuff, and realy deep. Hopefully the new rocket programs stay on schedule, because this is giving us the real data to go on the next steps that the human race needs to take.

The people complaining about the money need to remember that social spending dwarfs the NASA budget. It's like the people who say we shouldn't have a military when that is dwarfed by social spending also, and NASA's budget is much smaller than the military's.

Forget the "haters" and the luddites. GO NASA!

As for "joe blow" the pictures you saw of a light blue sky on mars could have been tinted or colored using a computer program, in false color. It happens sometimes and gives a real unique look. Think like a reverse negative of a photograph. Computer-rendered images often have false color added in to make certain features stand out, have sharper contrast, etc.

Though if there was really a light blue sky somewhere on Mars, that would be awesome.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Brent Koller, Milliken,CO — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:20:50 GMT

Fantastic!!!
I think Elton John said it best:
Mars aint the kind of place to raise your kids, in fact its cold as hell. think about it people

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Thomas Ashby, Calgary — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:18:08 GMT

One thing all this these discoveries have done is put a damper on science fiction. Science fact seems to be showing us that there is no dream out there. It's all dead and probably always has been.

Back in the early days before rockets, the solar system and galaxy was what dreams of space were all about. Only telescopes and conjecture fed the imagination. Now digital images and hard science is kind of wrecking those dreams.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Frank Glover, Rochester, NY — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:37:05 GMT

"All that means is that NASA set the bar ridiculously low so that it could score a "win" after many recent losses. All that money, time and effort for 90 days of operation? Please, spare us the self congratulations."

'Recent losses?' Come now, this is nothing new. Most other space probes greatly exceed their minimum project operational times as well. Some are shut off while still reasonably operational, because there's no more money in the project to continue to collect data, and the finite resources of the Deep Space Network (of tracking antennas) had to be used for other things. (I believe that was the story of one of the Viking landers.)

This isn't NASA trying to make itself look good, it's conservative engineering that doesn't over-promise. "We expect this much performance. Do your most important research within that constraint. Anything you get after that is icing on the cake...."

Most people are happy when something keeps working, far beyond the 'warranty period.'

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Derek Roth, Dyersburg, TN — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:01:52 GMT

Jack Haesly, and other nay sayers,
Exploration is the very soul of man. Man will never create a perfect existance, and the thought of giving up exploration in order to "solve" our problems at home is simply rediculous. There are countless examples of benefits that came to countries with the guts to explore new places. If it were left to doubters, we may still be pissing away are existance in Europe with no knowledge of North or South America.

Also, for all the scientific things we "can't" do, I am just thankful you are not in charge of any scientific developement for we would surly fail.

The following is a list of things we can't do

1. fly
2. break the sound barrier
3. escape Earth's gravitational pull

There are countless others, but I hope you get the point.

Go NASA, Go anyone with a dream to excell in science and discovery.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Debbie Copeland Oroville Ca — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:21:05 GMT

I think the Rovers are pretty cool. And I believe we should continue to explore outer space just for the knowledge it brings. However, I do believe in God and if God wanted us on Mars that's where we would be. Instead we are on Earth where he put us. We can't get along with each other on this planet. Even if we could move the human species to another planet to live on....it wouldn't work because we haven't learned how to live together on Earth. This may sound pessimistic but is not intended to. My point: you reap what you sow. Instead of blowing up countries on one planet...we would be blowing up entire planets. Thankfully, I will be long gone before any of this happens anyway.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Frank Glover, rochester, NY — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:46:04 GMT

John;
"a world government to ensure that space is regulated with laws..."

Um, we've managed to produce a very workable set of maritime and aeronautical regulations, without going as far as a 'world government.' There's no reason to think that space need be any different. And it's just as well, as a world government seems not to be in the offing, and we can not wait for it.

Why do you have a problem with people having the courtesy to go *far away* to do what you consider questionable and unethical experiments? Seems to me that being safely across the solar system (or farther) is a good thing. Frontiers have been settled in the past to escape oppressive governments, it won't stop outside the atmosphere, either...

Daniel;
"I see more alien life in a piece of moldy bread than you guys can find with all that wasteful spending."

Then please do tell us what planet your bread came from, for that's the only way it could be alien...

James;
"Wouldn't it be great to actually do this same type of research right here on our own planet? There is soo much of the earth's ocean floors that we know very little about, and this is in our own back yard. Designing rovers to work within the depths of our oceans would be a much greater engineering marvel that the ones on Mars."

So, you're completely unfamiliar with the history of manned and unmanned research submersibles going back a century or so? That kind of thing *is* being done, it's simply not as expensive, nor as newsworthy.

Again, before you want to take 'space' money and spend it on something else, make sure you know what's *already* being done about your favorite 'something else.' Want something as astounding as Mars, underwater? Google 'black smokers' for a start...

Brent;
"I think Elton John said it best:
Mars aint the kind of place to raise your kids, in fact its cold as hell. think about it people "

I'm sure the Eskimo/Inuit people would find that notion astounding, too...

Thomas:
"One thing all this these discoveries have done is put a damper on science fiction. Science fact seems to be showing us that there is no dream out there. It's all dead and probably always has been."

A: So? That's just *this* solar system. There's still the rest of the galaxy, you know...

B: So? That just gives different possibilities for writing SF set in this solar system.

Yes, new knowledge invalidates stories, but it always makes new ones possible. For example, Allen Steel's series of colonization stories set on 'Coyote' a fictional habitable moon of a real gas-giant world we now know (but did not know about, 10 years ago) to exist at a livable distance around the star 47 Ursae Majoris...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/47_Ursae_Majoris

Debbie;
" However, I do believe in God and if God wanted us on Mars that's where we would be. Instead we are on Earth where he put us."

And you know that was God's intent, because...?

Humans appear to have originated in East Central Africa. Now we are virtually everywhere on this planet. Arguably our history has been nothing *but* migration. There's no reason to think this trend will stop at the atmosphere, either. If God exists and has issues with this, I must assume we'll hear from him in no uncertain terms. Otherwise, we push on.

"Thankfully, I will be long gone before any of this happens anyway."

Yes, I agree, that's pessimistic. Me, I'll be disappointed if I *don't* live to see (and maybe even have some small role in) human expansion into space.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

john holland, new york , new york — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:58:54 GMT

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Frank Glover, Rochester, NY — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 23:49:38 GMT

"Criminal behavior is still criminal behavior no matter where it happens. Allowing people to conduct that type of research where they can't be seen only encourages people to leave to avoid person responbility. The world is hardly oppressive like you claim when it comes to science and scientists are famous for complaining when we don't give them a blank check to do whatever they want."

Science, like anything else, costs money. That alone says nothing about the nature and ethics of the research. Even politically correct research we can likely agree on (cancer, for instance) doesn't come free. And who is 'we?' If you mean government funded research, paid by taxpayer dollars, the mechanisms for oversight have always been there.

If it's private funding...see above. Non-government sponsors will want to know what's being done with their bucks, too.

Oh, and it's not as if 'scientists' (who aren't this strange, separate class of people as you seem to me to be suggesting) have you by the throat. No one is obliged to fund what either they, personally, or the laws see as a questionable proposal to *begin* with, and a lot of researchers find themselves in the depressing position of spending more of their time seeking funding and dealing with red tape and regulations than *doing* research.

Example:

http://discovermagazine.com/2007/oct/science-that-the-government-doesn.t-want-to-exist/?searchterm=stem%20cell

And for those with an inadequate sense of 'personal responsibility,' (of which there are aplenty) I seriously doubt that questionable ethics in science was their role model. Sadly, most people don't know enough of *anything* about science for that.

"The laws can easily apply to each colony with a galaxy wide police force."

Okay, I suppose my real question is why you consider some of the actions you described as 'criminal behavior,' some of which aren't illegal even now.

I don't have a problem with many of the goals of transhumanists, for example and consider myself one to a large extent. But as with many other things, I'd prefer to wait for version 2.0 of whatever biological and/or technological enhancement is in question.

A 'world government' of consistent laws is no more (and, I suspect, even less) likely to produce *rational* legislation than any one specific country can today. But least now, if you don't like things in nation A, there's always some chance of emigrating to nation B. However, with nowhere in the solar system that's outside of its boundaries or control (as you seem to prefer), I also question the ability of a World Government to remain democratic or benign, when it knows there's nowhere the disaffected can go (escape?) to, at least until interstellar travel is possible.

There are reasons many came to the Americas (which even then was referred to as the 'New World.') those reasons haven't disappeared.

And in any case, I don't want a government telling me that I can or can not have whatever such enhancements I may choose. (And again, why the specific concern with transhumanists and cyberpunks? Don't you think the familiar, common-garden forms of crime will still exist when humans expand into space in large numbers? The kind we might agree are harmful? You worry about the new and unfamiliar, I worry that conventional organized crime, for example, may see new possibilities.)

And as a practical matter, it's not hard to hide the things you fear, right here on Earth, if you have the resources. Even a World Government can't look into every building, every remote location that just *might* possibly have a secret laboratory...

And would you trust it, if it could?

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Jonny — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:27:50 GMT

With all the economic problems in our world today, perhaps the human race is ready to overhaul itself. To think "growth" instead of indulging backwards and stagnant thoughts that obviously go no where. To forgo mediocre pleasures and easy goals and make way for dangerous and rewarding risks of exploration and discovery like the explorers of old. You, the modern man, have become fat and lazy and crave food, power, money, and consumer electronics more than elemental passions within your blood, and you know it sucks. Passions clouded and lost beneath layers of fear, hurt, broken heartedness and other distractions. You remebered that when you were a child things were different, and something changed as you grew older. The world used to be an awesome place. Wake-up call: it still is, but even on a daily basis you expend huge efforts to convince yourself otherwise; don't rock the boat right? Don't ask for help, don't appear weak. Too many rules. How can you dig out your heart? What does it take modern man? Will you answer the noble call deep within you? or will you make the futile effort of silencing it every day until the grave rises up to meet you just in order to cope? Coping isn't nearly enough for me, not even close. Discover the timeless individual value of your life and its contribution to those around you. Your children, family, friends, and neighbors deserve at least that much from you.

Ok I'm done with the self-help rant. It may not be the greatest spiel, but still I hope it will inspire a little forward thinking.

Frankly I'm amazed with what NASA has done. I don't think I could even fathom engineering such a fine reliable piece of machinery that can be remotely controlled from such distances. Mars exploration has discovered opal gem stones and other similar gem stone minerals and hydrated rocks. It's no longer a question of if there is water on Mars, just how much. Also the recent discovery of carbonate rocks makes it that much easier to build infrastructure on the red planet using steel, and this also serves as evidence of ancient water. Carbonate rocks are used as "flux" material for smelting iron in the steel-making process. It is now possible to forge steel items on the red planet the old fashioned (and simpler) way (as opposed to employing chemical vapor deposition). Unless NASA is pulling our legs with all these exciting press-releases, colonization of the red planet is getting easier everyday. There are plenty of challenges though, the discovery of Martian soil being predominantly perchlorate was a big disappointment for agricultural potential and the search for life. This means we will have to rely on hydroponics bays for a long time on Mars.

However, with all the challenges and benefits, we are learning the ropes for habitation on Mars. We are a long ways off, but this just gives us plenty of time and reason to work on our global "baggage" (war, economy, climate change) so that exploring this clean red slate first-hand will become more than just a few pages in a history textbook.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Jack Haesly — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 03:11:00 GMT

People that read and commented on my post about space travel have completely missed my point. I am not now... nor have I never been against space exploration, research or the like. In fact I worked years in a university and in a business research setting. First at the Nelda Childers Stark Laboratory for Human Nutrition at Texas Woman's University in Denton, Texas where Dr. Pauline Berry Mack discovered calcium loss in humans due to prolonged immobilization of people such as is experienced in space travel and further invented bone density calcium measurement technology and... at Texas Instruments, Inc., in Dallas where I worked in the Silicon Device Laboratories, SRDL, working around and in the shadow of such people as Jack Kilby, inventor of the integrated circuit and Dr. Robert Baird, co-inventor of the IR Led.
Having said that, let me explain. My argument against massive space spending at this time has several points. On the one hand man is now and has always been too fragile to travel to distant planets and survive for the long term scenario. No matter what the speed of travel or closeness of the nearest suitable planet, man will not get there. Period. I would be delighted if anyone could prove me wrong on that point.
On the other hand while massive gains have been made in materials and technology in space exploration, we need to put further extremely expensive studies on hold for a time, and instead concentrate of taking care of the millions that are homeless and starving on this planet at this very minute.
Malaria kills millions of people worldwide annually and that problem needs addressing through education and prevention.
Cancer has been steadily gaining on us and no real cure is at hand...and yes, I am aware cancer is a multitude of different diseases.
The reader might be surprised to know that over ninety percent of the people over the age of sixty in Kentucky have lost all their teeth and a clandestine growth industry for that state is illegally manufacturing dentures for those very people.
A B-2 bomber is designed for one thing and that is to destroy cities and kill people. Each copy costs our government two billion dollars. That's 1000 million dollars for those that can't keep up with the zeros. The U.S.A. has crashed two B-2 bombers this year alone. How many pairs of false teeth could four billion dollars have bought for the seniors in Kentucky? Think about it.
Forty percent of the entire U.S. population has no health insurance. That is a crime in itself.
Again all I am saying is that our limited funds should be spent for the short term on goods and services that help and care for people here and now.
It is ludicrous to spend billions of dollars on deep space exploration for the future while we suffer fouls lightly here on earth.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Howie — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:59:56 GMT

How Can we Justify spending a Minimum of 20 Million dollars to keep the Rover program running to December 2009? Where is all this money going? Who is checking to see how this money is being spent? I think the costs are way to High.

Mars rovers hit 5-year mark

Ben — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:03:43 GMT

Terri, right on! Roger apparently wants us to focus on creating even more of a welfare state than we already have. It’s good to help our fellow man but at some point, the deadbeats of this world need to understand that they're going to have to stand on their own two feet. Comrade Obama doesn't understand this and it scares me.