NASA Sets Goal of Man on Mars by 2037

In an article posted today, Sify News reported that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration has plans to put a man on the Martian surface by 2037. NASA administrator Michael Griffin told delegates at the first speech of the 58th International Astronautical Congress held in Hyderabad, India, "We are planning many missions. Our long-term game-plan is to put man on Mars by 2037, so that by 2057, when the International Aeronautical Congress (IAC) holds its centenary, we should be celebrating the 20th year of putting man on the red planet." NASA is currently looking beyond the moon and mars into the inter-planetary system and how the Administration can make the best use of the International Space Station. The eventual plan is to build a space civilization. This will require greater private investment in satellite and rocket launches so that missions to the moon and mars make more sense, economically. "As of now, it appears space tourism may be the only way to make space transportation economical. Though space tourism will generate funds, we have to evolve a mechanism to train the prospective tourists and ensure their safety. We do not, however, regulate space tourism, as there is no such provision in the US Space Act," Griffin added. In order to attract greater attention from private investors, NASA is selecting US firms to build a business model for offering transportation services into space. This is a huge step and quite an exciting goal. This means that in our lifetime, we may be able to go into space.