NASA has released its plan for sending humans to mars today - in 2028! I don't know how they can plan so far ahead, who knows what technologies will be developed by then!? But if you would like to read it have a look:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7116834.stm

What are your opinions on sending humans to the moon and mars? As a lay person, it seems like they are quite a waste of money for no real gain!

No doubt there were those who thought looking for the "New World" was a waste of time, but it's in our nature (well except for the inhabitants of Leek and Stoke on Trent) to explore and to want to push the limits outwards. As you say, who knows what technologies might exist by then, but who knows what valuable resources may be discovered - and I don't just mean minerals etc, we may gain information that could push out knowledge of the universe further forward. Sadly, I'll be too old in 2028 to enjoy any benefits that this sort of exploration will bring.

This post was last modified: 29-11-2007 04:35 PM by wild canon.

Also, the technology developed to get into space does benefit us all in the long term. GPS and mobile phones are examples of that.