if we find an ice crystal on Mars? Why in Gods name does this country spend Billions and Billions of dollars to find out? In what capacity can an ice crystal on mars possibly help human kind?  I guess I just don't get it :-/

That money could be spent on many other things more constructive.

Jimmers

I like the idea of space exploration.  Unfortunately, the rocket scientists are 'union' and thus increase the costs to a stupid amount of money.
Commercial and private parties have demonstrated we can go to space for 10% of the cost we currently pay.  

wrote on May 29^th, 2008 at 12:13pm:

That money could be spent on many other things more constructive.

So could the money you lost in Vegas. That's really not the point, though.

The answer is a) because we're curious, and b) because we can. Learning about the universe is a good thing. Expanding our knowledge of the universe through our own efforts is a great thing.

As a planet it seems geologically dead, no plate tectonics, the topsoil sterile from UV radiation but there seems to have been water in the past, was there life?  
 We've been discovering extremophiles here on Earth lately that have amazing abilities.  Life uses energy, fights disorder being not a closed system, and stores information.  How would it do this on Mars?

Space projects of the future will be looking for life, this is a first step.

Too bad they won't find 100% efficient CH treatment there, lol.

Now maybe that ice crystal is the answer to cost of gas. :-/

Being inqisitive, and the pioneer attitude is part of what made America great. Getting some of that Can Do attitude back certainly wouldn't hurt.
Anyone remember the feeling of national pride on putting the first man on the moon?

I'm just giddy awaiting the answer.

Once they discover old ice they will be able to prove that the universe is nothing less than an atom of a cell of the toe nail of a rather large dragon.

echo wrote on May 29^th, 2008 at 2:25pm:

I'm just giddy awaiting the answer. Once they discover old ice they will be able to prove that the universe is nothing less than an atom of a cell of the toe nail of a rather large dragon.

Punch bowl, meet turd. ;D

Every now and then we do something good. It's our thing. The benefits are often not apparent but are usually quite high. Lots of research wouldn't get done if we didn't weren't able to fool our politicians. The current bunch is afraid of science so we have to go about stuff the long way around.

Charlie