Comment Re:"Undetermined Payload" (Score 1) 51
Exactly who are they racing? Putting men or satellites in orbit has become quite pedestrian. Private companies offering launch services are only possible because of the money spent and the R&D generated by 50+ years worth of government sponsored missions and supporting technologies. That is the way things should work. And until the government actually comes up with a realistic destination the unmanned probes flying around the solar system gathering information will have to suffice. Spending shit loads of money for a "plant the flag" mission to Mars seems like a tremendous waste of money.If a private company wants to take on a manned Mars mission more power to them.