If they ever have an opening for a jack of all trades but a master of none I sure would love to go. If it meant that we would be able to continue going even if it meant certain death to myself I still would go.
That is what pinoneering spirit is all about, taking risk.

They will allways use specialists, they will never do suicide missions and they will never accept suicidal pioneers as astronauts.
Devote your life to science in another way and you might be a great help.

Helas modern pioneering starts with excluding risks. No taxpayer is waiting for the billion costing death of a pioneer.
Your death would probably lead to less missions or postponed missions.

So: don't worry, be happy, buy a dirty magazine and learn to enjoy life again. In other words: don't die on us man!

My only real thought was if I could go, I would drop everything just to go. Regardless of hazard.

When the west was explored did the many wagon trains say we can not go because there were the indians of old or that the Rocky mountian blizards were a sure death trap; no they did not they simply went in hopes of a better life.

Thats all that most of us would like to do with the exploration of the moon or of mars. To seek out a better life.

No I would not be suicidal but would only take the risk and accept the out come of it. Devoting time to blog on this site and of many others is the best that I can do to help in the name of science and of the pioneering spirit of exploration. Maybe when I am older and have less responsibility to my family I could follow the dream.

Harold is simply expressing his frustration in waiting for colonization to happen. The tech to deliver humans to Mars already exists and has existed for some time. Reasons for it not happening often center around inflated safety concerns. Yes, we may lose astronauts in a mission to Mars, but that is not a valid reason for not making the attempt. Living involves the risk of death, and that will never change. What bothers me the most is my countries lack of courage and vision. We have lost nearly 700 Americans in a war over a 3rd world country, yet the fight goes on. We have lost 7 astronauts in nearly a decade and our space program comes grinding to a screaming halt. Where is the logic in this? I don't want to put words in Harolds mouth, but I believe that he agrees with me and a lot of other people. Let's take our 80% chance of success and run with it. If we wait till we are 99% sure we can get astronauts there and back, then we will be greeted on Mars by Europeans, Russians and Chinesse who amde the trip more than 20 years before us.

And why all this talk of returning astronauts from Mars? I for one, would opt to stay given the chance. Shouldn't we plan on sending people willing to dedicate at least 5 years of their lives? If we just send people to Mars and look around for a bit, then we will repeat the mistakes of Apollo.

Well you did not put words in my mouth and yes staying for ever would be the best way to colonize. Only make short return visit as need be.
The 700 dead and still climbing makes me very worried for this president and for the next, we must find a solution and finally walk away from this and see what will happen with there new found freedoms. Will the nations people of Iraq just revert back to what they had or will they struggle to stay free that is up to them.
I guess that I have 30 to 40 years to learn the other languages if NASA does nothing.

Maybe it is my lousy English (I thought "helas" means unfortunately), so I'll say it again: I agree that we should take chances.
The point I was trying to make is that Harold should considder the status quo.

I am not sure of what is meant by status quo but thats ok. I am no Rocket sciencetist either. I may think in 3 or 4 demensions but can only express words in 2.
we can agree and to disagree on any subject by following our hearts and minds, that is fine also. That is what forums are for, a peaceful voice of opinions that is what freedom is all about.

Oops, sorry Harold. I looked it up in my English dictionary and it was not in there.
As far as I know status quo is Latin and means something like: the current situation, the current order, the way things are right now. Or something like that.

And I don't know about your job, but your English is fine.