...Mars flag.I think this was a comet that broke up before it hit Jupiter.
Economic expansion of Deep space is in mankinds future and the United States should lead the way. That means going to Mars and beyond.
Second, when we land on that planet, we must be prepared to occupy it. I would propose that we land with the intent of leaving behind the first settlement of humans, and the intention to return on a regular basis. This will afford the United States the opportunity to set up the government and administrative tools which will see the United States in the driver's seat in perpetuity. Calling it the 51st state isn't all that far fetched an idea. It would give the government of Mars the ability to make it's own decisions, but would allow it to rely on the Government of the United States for certain services. Mars would in essence become the 51st state.
Further I would recommend that the United States return to the Moon and utilize the same model to occupy and govern that planet. It would become the 52nd state. Once these two bodies have been occupied, it would be time to move on to other planets as feasable.
Before anything else I recommend a Manhattan scale effort to develop an SSTO Space Plane within the shortest amount of time possible. I would actually rank this above the importance of landing on Mars or returning to the Moon. We can develop a program to land on Mars. It would in certain ways resemble the Apolo program. We would see huge boosters, modules' landing craft and an escape vehicle from which our astronauts would leave Mars and reenter space, if it weren't for one caviot. Until we can take off from an airport and fly into space aboard a reuseable vehicle as easily as we can fly from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., we will never occupy space. And so I must support the development of the SSTO Space plane in advance of any effort to return to the moon or visit other planets.
That space plane should be built within specifications that would a modified version landing and departing other planet surfaces, specificly Mars and the Moon. It should be developed so that modification of the main design would provide a secondary vehicle that would be capable of traversing to Mars in comfort. Once we have a fleet of these planes/spaceships, they can be stationed in space for trips that start at a space station and end on the surface of the Moon or Mars. The first duty of the colonies on the Moon and Mars would be to develop a landing strip for use by the space plane.
Therefore I propose that as part of the plan to land on Mars by the end of the decade, we first develop the SSTO Space Plane. We then use that space plane to help construct and occupy a real space station and partially construct the interplanetary vehicle with which to make that first trip to Mars, from that platform in space.
Look, this is just an outline. Some of it may be unattainable at the moment. Perhaps this plan isn't as air tight as I'd like it. But it is a framework to build on and it's time the United States reclaim some of the bottomless pit welfare state money and put it to good use for a larger part of mankind that it helps out now.
It's not zero gravity, or strange planets, or the opportunity for a national fireworks display.
The correct answer is: an opportunity to vote with your feet. Freedom is the wealth in space.
Don't expect a government project to increase freedom, except by accident.
Think of it as "shadow boxing" with the Soviets. They launch a big rocket, then we launch a very big rocket; they crash-land an automated probe on the moon, we put one into lunar orbit. Once the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty eliminated above ground testing, this was really the only game in town.
Finally the Soviets realized that they couldn't cope. They even defined the term "Revolution in Military Affairs" to describe their plight.
I don't see anything equivalent to the Cold War to drive a renewed effort in Space Exploration.
And join me in supporting the growing movement onward and upward into space
Yawn.
...Mars flag. well duh...If you wish to travel to Mars you have to use space travel. How else you gonna get there, teleportation?
1. A fully functional self sustainable Lunar colony by July 20, 2019.
2. By 2030 the first LaGrange habitat/factory at the LaGrange delivers it's first solar powered generating station to earth for power delivery.
4. 2040 Permanent colony on Mars.
4. By 2050 all Earth's power is beamed to earth and all heavy industry has been moved off planet. In this way the Earth can become a park-like living room for humanity and all God's children, including the animals that God provided for our physical and emotional well being.