Why go to Mars?

A friend of mine asked me about the Mars Science Laboratory and what happens after we land:

and after we get the info..? then what? how will it change or improve our life today? Besides keep you in a job :0)


That is a very valid question and I thanked her for asking!  (This is a long response, but I hope you read it through :) )

Why should we spend money on exploring another planet when there's so much we need to do here on Earth?  Why support thousands of employees for out-of-this-world jobs, when there's probably a few people in everyone's block that are out of work?  Sure, for every dollar in the Federal budget, NASA get's 1/2 a penny, and every year it decreases; it's still money, right?

My honest belief is that it is in our DNA to explore; to develop technologies that will not only benefit our children, but our children's children; to inspire the young that their potential is limitless, that MATH is NOT a bad 4 letter word; that SCIENCE is NOT scary. I believe that preventing human beings of pursuing this "dream" would handcuff the very spirit that drives us.  Ponce De Leon, Columbus, Lewis and Clarke great explorers!  Opportunity, Spirit, and hopefully Curiosity, amazing tools for the current explorers!

It's also valid to ask, what has NASA ever done for me? Here's a nice link that shows what everyday items were developed (directly or indirectly) from NASA:
http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/nasacity/index2.htm

Smarter people can answer this question better than I can, here's Neil deGrasse Tyson answering (it's only 5 mins :) ):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qbm7RWLHI3c

I am truly blessed and lucky to wake up every morning and be associated with NASA.  As a child growing up in Eagle Rock, I dreamed of working here.  I am inspired every single day that our work today will benefit generations and generations to come.

Budget Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budget_of_NASA#Annual_budget.2C_1958-2012