http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-oe-wertheim7mar07,1,3640536.story?ctrack=1&cset=true Margaret Wertheim: Shortest route to Mars leads through classroom

A good commentary - she suggests we should invest in education rather than hundreds of billions to explore Mars now.

I quite agree, although I still see it as at least a 3-step process.

1. Invest in education
2. Use science to learn how to live on earth sustainably.
3. Then, consider the Moon, Mars and Beyond. (At least in terms of human travel)