NASA To Team Up With Russia For Future Mars Flight
xp65 writes "NASA has invited Russia to carry out a joint manned flight to Mars, the head of NASA's Moscow office said on Tuesday. Russia is currently planning to send its own expedition to Mars some time in the future. Marc Bowman told an international aviation and space conference in Moscow that the Mars mission should take advantage of the achievements made by the International Space Station and use a multinational crew."
I think your underestimating the importance of competition.
Russia going to Mars alone could motivate a second space race. The end result is someone standing on Mars in 10 years instead of 20. NASA is more likely to get funding and motivation if they are competing.
Just don't have any women on board, particularly Canadian women, otherwise the the Russians will kill each other trying to kiss her.
Mars Epic Fail (Didn't last even one month):
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6955149/page/3/
Mars Epic Win:
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/07/15/after-three-months-in-a-tin-can-six-men-end-simulated-mars-mission/