If you've heard the arguments about whether it's better to send robots or humans on space missions, get ready for them to intensify: There are whole varieties of subarguments.
The subject doesn't impact our everyday life, at least not at the moment, but think long-term, people. We can't stay on the third rock from the sun forever. It's soon going to be time to move. Someone, or something — robots — are going to have to go check out the options.
Robots are much cheaper to send into space, say the pro-robo lobby. That's true. No one denies that the safety requirements necessary to send humans to Mars or the moon do make it far more expensive, but the pro-human lobby say we can adapt to unexpected situations: We are smarter. Plus, a human mission inspires the public more. So it's better to send humans. U.S. President Barack Obama seems to agree: Last month he announced that the United States would send humans to Mars by the mid 2030s.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.