Mars?

[Surgenator]

Why can't we do both?

Because we have limited resources?

Our resources are not that limited. Plus, the longer we stay here, the less likely we will have the resources to get off.

[downbeatplumb]

Is man kid going to live on Mars in the future?

It is possible but expensive and dangerous so a big maybe from me.

Why is this?? Does mars even have gravity?

Mars has gravity appropriate to its mass.

Will man kind ever come back? If you know answers to any of the questions please fill me in!

Anything is possible but needs the will and the funds to carry it through.

[Gawdzilla]

So far we have a lousy record with regard to Mars landers. A lander with humans in it would have no better odds, probably worse as it would have to be MUCH larger than anything we've softed so far. We're not ready to send humans to Mars with any confidence they'll survive to walk out of the ship on their own power.

Mal: Just get us on the ground.

Wash: That part is pretty certain.

[The Grand Nudger]

@OP. Could have done so nearly 40 years ago, had we wanted to. We're temporarily unable to do so, but not for reasons of cost. If we're going to build that boat (not just an exploration ship...a colonization ship) we'll have to have a good reason to do so. I don;t think we have any reason other than that it's there (which was enough for Mallory - though he didn't build a house at the summit).

http://www.marssociety.org/home/about/mars-direct

[Alex K]

So far we have a lousy record with regard to Mars landers. A lander with humans in it would have no better odds, probably worse as it would have to be MUCH larger than anything we've softed so far. We're not ready to send humans to Mars with any confidence they'll survive to walk out of the ship on their own power.

Mal: Just get us on the ground.

Wash: That part is pretty certain.

I'd also say, first build an livable infrastructure using robots, possibly underground, let it test run a bit to see that the air conditioning etc. work, and then send someone to live in it.

[The Grand Nudger]

Building a subterranean base isn't so easy, especially when a tin can full of goodies will do the trick just as well. But other than digging a whole, thats the general gist of mars direct. Send two unmanned vehicles, a hab and a backup. Then start sending more hab modules that are actually crewed and link them to form a permanent facility. Constant resupply and tons of redundancy. It's just about the -definition- of a government project. Costs enough for senators and reps to make their buddies rich too, but not enough to make checks bounce. What's the holdup, lol?

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Trying to come up with the best ways to colonize Mars is sort of like sitting round discussing how to build a suspension bridge out of mercury - it isn't going to happen.

Boru

[Alex K]

If by colonize you mean having something like a city there with a large number of people, I agree that it's not going to happen any time soon, because there is simply no motivation why one would want to do that. But a small manned mission, why not?

[Gawdzilla]

We could "build" skyscrapers into the walls of Valles Marineris. A colony could roof over a side canyon, or put put domes on the floor and grow crops while living in the walls. Radiation proof, meteorite proof, etc.

[Cyberman]

Why can't we do both?

Yes we could, but still there is a lot wasted on a planet that can not really support life such as us, its simply curiosity, and as they say, curiosity killed the cat.

Except nothing is wasted anywhere except here on Earth. We don't spend money on other planets. The average Hollywood summer blockbuster budget would fund thousands of more worthy causes; do you consider that money wasted too?