Comment Re:People always focus on the "how" (Score 1) 475
The moon race resulted in incredible leaps in all sorts of technology. It may be largely symbolic, as far as second "giant leaps" go, but sending humans to Mars is the next step.
And bringing them back really is optional, although our society will need to deal with some issues we find uncomfortable before we can do that. Issues like the right of a citizen to end his (or her) life with dignity, on his own terms, rather than keeping everyone alive as long as possible, no matter the cost or quality of life.
Once that right is established, we can work on ensuring people have the right to choose to go to Mars on a one-way ticket, if that's what they want to do. It may seem like suicide, because the end result will surely be death, but it's all the stuff that comes before death that would make it worthwhile to those who choose that path.