60 MINUTES Space Segment

CBS's news magazine, 60 MINUTES. had a segment, reported by Bob Simon, on what the media insists on calling "NASA's" plans to return to the Moon and go on to Mars. In fact, NASA has no authority to make such plans; the agency is pursuing a plan laid out by President Bush, and, so far, supported by Congress.

The segment was largely positive towards the effort. Simon pointed out, for example, the tiny percentage of the federal budget that actually goes to NASA-- something the media often fails to do with NASA, or other federal programs, for that matter. In the name of balance, Simon had Rep. Barney Frank in the report. Frank, in effect, said he wasn't interested in putting people on Mars just to prove we can while other matters need resources.

That argument was likely twin born with the space program. One suspects those who use it could always find something else more worthy of resources than spaceflight. To that extent, it's more simple dismissal than reasoned argument. Frank put an interesting twist on it, however. Sending humans to Mars shouldn't be done just to do it. Establishing permanent human outposts on the Moon, and later on Mars, should be done as part of broader scientific and economic policies. The effort risks human life. It should be done with commitment and serious intent or not at all.