How to pay the way to Mars

      Will the Obama administration gratify the adventurous-spirited Americans who dream that someday soon, explorers will blast off for Mars, to make one of those small steps and giant leaps, and stick a flag in the dirt?

      Some people ask, “What good does it do anybody to go to Mars?”

      It is too bad that they were not around to ask, “What good does it do anybody to sail west and most likely fall off the edge and get eaten by dragons, Senor Columbus?” Or, “What good does it do anybody for you and Mr. Lewis to go paddling around out in the middle of nowhere, Mr. Clark?”

      Then there are people who say that money squandered on manned space exploration could be better spent on problems here on earth, such as health care and education.

      They said the same thing about moon exploration. So we stopped spending money on trips to the moon in 1972, and that is why we have no problems with health care and education today.

      Going to Mars will be pricey. The Review of US Human Space Flight Plans Committee, after a thgree-month review, reported in September, 2009, that NASA needs at least $3 billion more per year in order to afford any kind of exploration architecture that takes people to the Moon or other destinations beyond Earth. The report said that retiring the space shuttle is retired as currently planned, there will be at least  a seven-year lapse in human spaceflights.

      That's $3 billion on top of the current $18 billion. Numbers like that disturb Congresspersons, who don’t like to spend that kind of money unless Mars is in their district.

      Whatever the cost, the project would create jobs and stimulate the economy. Many scientists insist that unmanned spacecraft are cheaper and garner more scientific information at less cost. But man does not live by data alone. There is something about the human spirit that urges us to explore in person, not by proxy.

      And why should the government foot the bill for a Mars excursion?

      The trip could be financed in the same way Americans pay for many other public extravagances: corporate sponsorship, individual benevolence and fund raising.

      About 50 major league sports arenas and stadiums have corporate names, and companies pay big bucks for the privilege. Wealthy individuals contribute funds to put their names on concert halls, museums, hospital wings and university buildings.

      So, let’s assemble a committee of the wealthiest Americans to trot around and entice other millionaires, billionaires and Fortune 500 CEOs into supporting the Mars project. Solicit donors to endow the chair of each Mars astronaut and get perpetual recognition for it. Let the spacecraft bear the name and logo of the highest corporate bidder.

      Start big corporations competing for naming rights on craters, landing sites, bases and other Martian features. Give exclusive TV rights to the highest network bidder, just like the Olympics.

      The biggest bidding war would be for the privilege of naming the two moons of Mars. When first spotted, in 1877, they were named Phobos and Deimos. Phobos zips around the planet west to east, twice a day. Deimos goes the other way every 30 hours.

      Phobos is Greek for fear, and Deimos means dread, not very inspiring for astronauts risking a stroll on Mars. Sell the names, for a billion or so, to a big company.

      For a price, they could be named Coca and Cola, or Exxon and Mobil, or Wal and Mart.