[Kazamai]

I don't see the purpose of landing people on Mars. Just to say, "we did it". Wouldn't it be a much more rewarding goal to research and execute systems that could send humans one way to planets in our galaxy. Even seeding organisms on other planets in the hope that they evolve into intelligent life.

[RugnirViking]

'Wouldn't it be a much more rewarding goal to research and execute systems that could send humans one way to planets in our galaxy'

Presumably a precursor to this is creating ships that can get to planets within our solar system, for example mars. This is just one step in a long line of potential goals as we learn what's possible

[gallerdude]

Most people see Mars as great potential for a "back-up" for the human race. If something catastrophic happens on earth, humanity will continue.

[CydeWeys]

I don't see much purpose in the Wright brothers' airplane either, but it was a necessary intermediate step between not being able to fly and today's modern commercial jetliners.

In space travel as in software engineering, you need incremental progress.

[gorkonsine]

Very soon after the Wrights demonstrated their warped-wing technology worked, they were already trying to sell planes to the military. It didn't take long at all for people to figure out they could use airplanes for surveillance and bombing.

There's no such obvious commercial use to going to Mars. If you want resources, they're much more easily available in nearby asteroids.