One of the most aspirational planetary missions of NASA in decades, the Mars mission is launching this week, with an objective to find out whether Mars was, or ever could be, home to extraterrestrial life. Budgeted at a staggering $2.5 billion, NASA seems to be under immense pressure to rationalize its spending. As the project exceeds time and budgetary constraints (30% over its actual budget and two years late), much rides on its outcome. The mission will use the “Curiosity rover” which helps seek evidence of conditions favorable to microbial life on Mars.
The failure of the project would strengthen the view of those who think that the country just can’t afford NASA, while its success could perhaps make an important advancement in further expedition and a push to send astronauts to the red planet.