That’s what two of the NASA astronauts think.
We know how the preparations for landing on Mars have been going on. Not only NASA, but the private companies like SpaceX are planning to send their space crafts as far into space as they can.
There is, however, some skepticism circling around.
According to the 85-year old former NASA astronaut (for Apollo 8), Bill Anders, a manned Mars Mission is a ridiculous idea, and that it should not be the point of focus, for the scientists as of now. He added that he has been a staunch supporter of the unmanned Mars Missions. So according to him, humanity has a long way to go before it can build colonies on the Red Planet.
Anders think that the public is not interested in the said mission, neither does NASA have the amount needed to spend on it.
Here’s what Anders further remarks:
“NASA couldn’t get to the Moon today...they’re so ossified,” Anders told BBC. “NASA has turned into a jobs program… many of the centers are mainly interested in keeping busy and you don’t see the public support other than they get the workers their pay and their Congressmen get re-elected.” (Source: First Post)
Bill Anders, however, is not the only one who thinks on these lines. Another Apollo 8 astronaut, Frank Borman thinks a manned Mars Mission is not stupid, provided it is done by NASA. The “robust exploration” that the likes of Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos aspire to do, is what “nonsense” is.