Men have long been fascinated with Mars. Historically, it has been thought of as a dead world, a planet teeming with life, as well as a dying world with little left save the vestiges of an intelligent and cooperative civilization. The modern incarnation of humans’ fascination with the red planet is the possibility that it may be home to a primitive life form or the building blocks of life. In any case, the drive is present for the exploration of Mars.
Proposals for such an undertaking come in a variety of forms, ranging from robotic exploration to manned missions. Perhaps the most radical proposal for a mission to the red planet is a one-way manned mission, a mission whose crew will never return home. (The image shows the view of Earth from the surface of Mars – over 30 million miles from home.)
Whewell's Ghost 