[Lampion]

I reckon that it is from human nature to search for knowledge, and studying Mars can lead us to understand planetary dynamics, and perhaps apply this knowledge in our own planet, Earth. However, I'm not completely favorable to a travel to Mas with astronauts, in the next few years, because that would be extremely expensive. This extremely huge ammount of money could be used in a more practical way. like making people's life better.

Further, there is no point trying to "conquer" Mars. Americans conquered the Moon basically to "show off". The time was the cold war, and the USA had to prove their power to the world, and specifically, to the URSS.

WE have to worry about our planet first, before thinking about colonizing Mars. Mars will not save humanity if the Earth gets depleted or spoiled.

Look what's already happening nowadays: a very wealthy man spent a few dozen million dollars to be the first tourist on the space, a few months ago, and there is an european space program that gives any tourist the chance to experience microgravity for 3 minutes, hundres of kilometers high in the sky, for about 300 thousand dollars. I could think in a 300 thousand ways to spend this money in a better way than that...