Manned space missions, but intentionally one way to add drama to the trip, and drastically reduce costs. "Marooned on Mars, the team sent farewell messages today to..." ------ And if there will be orbiting "gas stations" they could add entertainment value by having built in lethal security systems and pay for the whole thing by selling live video to the various TV networks around the world. "If they don't manage to dodge the automatic gunfire from the docking assembly, and then refuel, they won't have enought fuel for the de-orbit burn. Isn't that right Julie?" "That's right Don. Look! They are trying to shine a laser pointer at one of the tracking devices. Let's see what happens. But first a word from our sponsor. We'll be right back." ------ Change NASA to a purely military agency so that they can pursue getting out in space with all the right funding and really scary reasons. Mars won't be truly under human control until there are opposing sides camped out there, armed to the teeth. ICBMs on Mars would require a lot less fuel than here on Earth. This would help offset the other high costs of waging nuclear war on an alien planet. Cold War II: Mars