[fhbdukfrh]

Unfortunately(and it's truly unsexy science) not much compared to twenty years of unmanned space exploration.

Everyone loves the idea of humans in space, but we learn so much more from robots and computers it makes the manned programs such a waste...

[stjohnswarts]

Without heroes the public will turn against it and not give a damn about robots and computers. I think we need manned space programs to keep the momentum going. Otherwise everyone will be like "why are we in space when the homeless don't have homes". I know it's stupid logic but that the way the masses think quite often.

[kidsnow]

Most people I know were, and still are, pretty excited about Spirit and Opportunity. Those were exciting robots at the time. Especially the fact that they worked for so long! 14 YEARS. The design is validated, let's have an assembly line cranking them out and tweaking them.

[adrianN]

We learn a lot more about how to do manned space flight from actual manned spaceflight than from robotic missions though.

[nitrogen]

No amount of unmanned exploration can help when the question is, "How soon can I vacation (or conduct business) in space?"