Two celestial bodies beckon: the Moon and Mars. The cost vs. the benefit of any science project must be balanced. Therefore, what is the rationale for making Mars a long-term target of human space exploration? Many scientists have suggested that the finding that microorganisms live on Mars, whether made by astronauts or by robot probes, would be one of the most important discoveries of this new century.
Human Astronauts may or may not be Needed on Flights to Mars and Beyond
Ultimately, human missions may or may not be needed in the search for living microbes or fossils from past life on Mars; that is, from a scientific perspective automated probes and robots alone may make more sense until more is known. And in the case of Europa, space scientists are not even close to thinking about how a human mission would ever be carried out. But perhaps there is another reason for humans to make a trip to Mars beyond the needs of the search for life -beyond the need to investigate the possibility that Earth's life began on Mars, and idea known as transpermia- and that is to bring humanity together in the context of a space mission that should not be pursued by only one nation.
The Moon may Serve as a Source of Energy
The same may or may not be true of the Moon, since humanity's interest in it relates not to any prospect of finding life, but as a source of desperately-needed energy. Some experts have proposed that going to the moon is in national interest of the United States. As for Mars, however, going as part of a new space race could be a missed opportunity, even a terrible mistake. Thus, the time may be right for the US to start talking with Russia, Europe, and anyone else who may be interested, about going to Mars together, as Carl Sagan proposed two decades ago. If this is the case, then humanity might create an international space agency that would manage such expeditions.
Overall Benefits of Mars and Lunar Missions to Biology
By studying such microbes, if they exist and are recovered by astronauts,this investigator has proposed that it could do as much for biology and medicine as the discovery of the workings of DNA has been doing for the last fifty years. This may lead to medical breakthroughs unimaginable today and for this reason, even while emphasizing human Mars exploration. At the same time, many have suggested that governments mustn't neglect to send probes to the outer Solar System, particularly to Jupiter's moon, Europa, which may be as good a candidate as Mars for harboring native life.
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