Bush's plans for putting man on the Moon and Mars are idiotic and apparently
a politically motivated publicity stunt. It is so much fun to waste other
peoples (the tax payers) than his own on meaningless publicity stunts like
this.

This money would be much more wisely spent on solving many of the nations
health problems here on earth.

Mars is a totally uninhabitable planet.

The atmosphere is 95% Carbon Dioxide plus minor gases. There is no evidence
of any biological life or material on the surface of Mars.

The surface temperature is -40 to -115 degrees Fahrenheit or -25 to -80
degrees Celsius. Not a very comfortable place to be!

There is no liquid water on Mars and very little water in the form of ice.

In sum, Mars is a severely uninhabitable place and would make presence by
man, only possible for very short periods, incased in a space vehicle or
special space suite.

Survival at the North or South poles is much easier. At least it is far more
accessible, there is a breathable atmosphere and water for drinking.

The Moon is equally uninhabitable. It's only advantage over Mars is it's
greater proximity to the earth.

There is no justification, commercial or scientific, for making human trips
to the Moon or Mars.

All the scientific data required to study these objects in space can be
obtained by unmanned space vehicles and robotics at one tenth the cost.