I suggest that going to Mars means permanence on the planet - a mission by which we are building up a confidence level to become a two-planet species.

Going to Mars would evolve humankind into a two-planet species.

The life expectancy of people going to Mars may be decreased by the higher level of radiation that they receive.

We need to begin thinking about building permanence on the Red Planet, not just have voyagers do some experiments, plant a flag and claim success. Having them go there, repeat this, in my view, is dim-witted. Why not stay there?

Space is not just going up and coming back down again. Space is getting into orbit and being there, living there, establishing a presence, a permanence.

I think there would be no shortage of applicants to the government astronaut corps to be settlers on the planet Mars. And I think this would be very inspiring.