>>31482 Kinda the other way around, Grim. It's our gov. funding private industry to develop space systems and travel; it's in the billions. Obama has just proposed a 15 billion bill before Congress.

I really fail to see the point of settlements on Mars. The inventions that come out the mission itself will be interesting but living there??? Maybe it will be a 'leap-frog' type of settlement; first Mars, then Pluto and so on.

>>31485 I do not personally have any mementos from him. My cousin does have an autographed photo from him. On his gallery site, you can see that he paints scenes from his experiences, texturing the canvas with mission tools, moon dust, and fibers from uniforms that have made the trip to space.
http://www.alanbean.com/gallery4.cfm?id=1985-Helping-Hands

>>31484 cool, you got any cool bits from the missions? Moon dust or something..

One of the brave men in this photo is related to me. Alan Bean, Apollo 12 mission, is the cousin of my Great Grandfather on my mother's side.

Make it a smaller sign as NASA's current budget is only 0.48% of the US Federal Budget (or at least according to penny4nasa.org).
I'm pretty sure most of their funding comes from corporate America. Then again why should they get more from the federal budget, right? First solve all the shit we have on this tiny globe, than party on Mars.

more reading material:
http://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/05/us/nasa-contract-russia/
https://www.nasa.gov/content/reach-for-new-heights-nasa-budget-unveiled-for-fiscal-year-2016

I'd like to see a big sign on the side of one of those rockets that reads: "Your Tax Dollars at Work".

>>31474 Probably something really imaginative like Mars Mission 1 and then Mars Mission 2, etc.

Project Forrest could be one

Have they given a name to the Mars missions yet? You know, an overall name for the explorations and then maybe a manned spacecraft to land on the planet?

such beautiful shots..and the quality (droool)