Gary, that's the program that I watched. I think that I might have missed an episode, but you're right - the problems are daunting. We don't even have many of the technologies that will be needed to succeed. It's been much easier to develop weapons technologies to kill the planet hundreds of times over than it is to fund a little space technology research. I love the robotic technologies, and I believe that they should continue. I also believe that we should send people to Mars. Hopefully astronauts will get there before the militarists. The war in Iraq could have paid for a mission to Mars. Kim -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Gary Vardon Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 12:30 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: RE: [Utah-astronomy] Happy New Year (belated) An excellent tv called Mars Rising addressed the problems of a manned mission to Mars. Boy, the problems are sever. For example, The temperature on Mars can get to 60 below zero during the day and minus 100 degree Fahrenheit at night. Another problem is fine dust that can jam technology. How about fixing equipment that is highly complex without experts and sophisticated repair technology and spare parts? How about blasting off from Mars with a rocket that has not been used for years and that has been exposed to the Martian elements and with no support personnel? These are just a few of the many problems on a manned mission.. I think that robotic probes are a better use of funds and much more likely to succeed. Sincerely, Gary Vardon see my website www.wealthbuilder.wwdb.biz use gary1234 as the id Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.15.31/1128 - Release Date: 11/13/2007 11:09 AM