# There Will Be A Manned Mission to Mars in My Lifetime **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 23, 2009, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-be-a-manned-mission-to-mars-in-my-lifetime/482674 "2009-01-23T18:07:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-be-a-manned-mission-to-mars-in-my-lifetime/482674/1 "2009-01-23T18:07:08Z")
Check Yes or No. YES. (Obviously, when you answer, you’re answering with respect to your own lifetime, not mine.) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-be-a-manned-mission-to-mars-in-my-lifetime/482674/2 "2009-01-23T18:47:33Z")
A year ago I’d have said, “Definitely”. Now I’m not so sure. I’ll give it a 95% chance. If we spiral into a Depression, there’ll be very much less of a chance of one; conversely if we discover life there, then we’ll almost certainly send an expedition. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-be-a-manned-mission-to-mars-in-my-lifetime/482674/3 "2009-01-23T18:56:39Z")
50/50. I’m 24. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-be-a-manned-mission-to-mars-in-my-lifetime/482674/4 "2009-01-23T18:59:03Z")
NO. It could happen, but I expect that global warming is going to become an increasingly all-consuming issue over the next several decades, and there won’t be much enthusiasm or many resources available for the space program. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-be-a-manned-mission-to-mars-in-my-lifetime/482674/5 "2009-01-23T19:08:00Z")
YES. Recent findings give a pretty strong indication that there might be life there. Assuming we don’t fall into a global depression or war, I see no reason that we cannot accomplish this in the next 50-60 years. ---
**Author:** ![Redwing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/dfb087/32.png) [@Redwing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Redwing)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-be-a-manned-mission-to-mars-in-my-lifetime/482674/6 "2009-01-23T19:08:00Z")
YES. It’s a question of drive more than anything else. I doubt that it will be a mission dominated by the USA, but I expect that it will launch in my lifetime, and probably even within my parents’ lifetime. Of course, this question could include how much better our geriatric medicine is going to get. I’m sure that will improve as well. ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-be-a-manned-mission-to-mars-in-my-lifetime/482674/7 "2009-01-23T19:30:15Z")
NO Or at least, I kinda hope not-- I think there are better ways to use limited resources. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-be-a-manned-mission-to-mars-in-my-lifetime/482674/8 "2009-01-23T19:45:12Z")
No. Goddammit. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-be-a-manned-mission-to-mars-in-my-lifetime/482674/9 "2009-01-23T19:49:53Z")
No. Far too costly for any one nation to bear, perhaps for the world as a whole to bear. Much better idea to send a robot, do experiments, and send samples back. No life support to transport, much less cost to liftoff, can have longer mission, no lives lost in case of failure. IF it ever happens, will not be until after 2050. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-be-a-manned-mission-to-mars-in-my-lifetime/482674/10 "2009-01-23T20:04:35Z")
Possibly? Not if the space agencies are smart. Why send men to do what robots can do better? ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-be-a-manned-mission-to-mars-in-my-lifetime/482674/11 "2009-01-23T20:09:55Z")
I wouldn’t think so. 1. It’s too expensive 2. It’s too dangerous 3. The value of such a mission wouldn’t justify the investment We’ve got to many ignored priorities here on earth to worry about joy riding into space. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-be-a-manned-mission-to-mars-in-my-lifetime/482674/12 "2009-01-23T20:11:45Z")
Manned? No. Robotic sample retrieval, yes. At least not based on currently available data. Depending on what the samples returned reveal, that no can become an emphatic yes. ---
**Author:** ![Discordia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Discordia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Discordia)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-be-a-manned-mission-to-mars-in-my-lifetime/482674/13 "2009-01-23T20:22:40Z")
Yes. By China. It will be a stupid PR stunt, accomplishing nothing and costing a fortune. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-be-a-manned-mission-to-mars-in-my-lifetime/482674/14 "2009-01-23T20:53:48Z")
Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Simmerdown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simmerdown/32/14859_2.png) [@Simmerdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simmerdown)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-be-a-manned-mission-to-mars-in-my-lifetime/482674/15 "2009-01-23T21:02:45Z")
No. Ferchrissakes. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-be-a-manned-mission-to-mars-in-my-lifetime/482674/16 "2009-01-23T21:07:51Z")
> [@Simmerdown](#): > > No. Ferchrissakes. You and me both, kid. Before 9-11 and the economic meltdown and the Federal budget deficit reaching appallingly huge proportions, my answer would’ve been different. A thread I started that may be of interest: [An off-the-shelf, manned mission to Mars? - Factual Questions - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=379945) ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-be-a-manned-mission-to-mars-in-my-lifetime/482674/17 "2009-01-23T21:42:00Z")
No. The technological hurdles are too great, the cost is too high, the benefits are too small. ---
**Author:** ![Vox\_Imperatoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Vox\_Imperatoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vox_Imperatoris)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-be-a-manned-mission-to-mars-in-my-lifetime/482674/18 "2009-01-23T22:32:27Z")
YES. And probably a private one, too. Valete, Vox Imperatoris ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-be-a-manned-mission-to-mars-in-my-lifetime/482674/19 "2009-01-24T01:10:06Z")
Much as I would LIKE to see it, I don’t think the cost can be justified. We can learne everything about Mars from robotic probes. Pretty soon we will have a sample return mission, and that will answer most ofthe questions. Still, if we could perfect a nuclear ramjet, there might be a chance. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-be-a-manned-mission-to-mars-in-my-lifetime/482674/20 "2009-01-24T01:33:57Z")
37 years old. NO [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-will-be-a-manned-mission-to-mars-in-my-lifetime/482674.md?page=2)