....Like a lot of you, I also thought that , by 2000 , we'd have our robot slaves , moving sidewalks thru most cities , rocket packs and such.... But , I did know one possibility was getting to Mars. Whether or not it could happen in our lifetime , meaning that of my g- g - generation , and some of the younger people up here , too , I questioned , even then (Then being the 70s)... Obviously , we had to figure out how to sustain life on the moon before we could opt to travel there , and actually stay for a few days. Part of it IS the enormous costs of such a project , and part of it is , would we be able to keep our Astronauts , or could Russia keep their Cosmonauts alive on Mars , were either of us to go there in the near future ? I don't know , I have my doubts , and , I have'nt been following the progress of what is still only a proposed mission. Does such a proposition hold an interest to me , like it did when I was a kid ? Yes , it just is'nt as big of a deal , in my mind. I believe we'll get there , someday. If we don't get there in my time , it's OK. I told my friend's son , who was then about 10 , he asked me about this same thing , and I told him , I'm pretty sure we'll get to Mars in your lifetime , but , I'm not sure about mine , but , it's something to look forward to , either way.