Mars has been in the news a lot lately.
Just recently, studies have shown that the red planet
"belches" methane, harbors organic molecules and once was warmer and wetter than previously believed——all possible indicators of past, and maybe even present, simple life mere.
And last month NASA launched its Orion spacecraft in a first step to eventually send humans on a journey to Mars.
The space agency calls a future human mission to Mars its "next giant leap."
Actually, attempting to eventually send humans to Mars is a pricey, risky leap. And a poor use of a great deal of money.
There are, of course, good reasons for exploring Mars. The first is that Mars is the easiest place to reach to look for direct evidence of fife beyond Earth. One of the biggest questions in science is whether or not life has originated more than once in the universe. Mars is the best place to look.
Another reason to explore is to study the geology of Mars, to answer a range of planetary questions that can improve our understanding of our solar system.
But there are many reasons not to send people to another planet.