It's much cheaper to make global superpowers economically dependent on each other, so that "nuking ourselves to extinction" event does not arise. With the adde

It's much cheaper to make global superpowers economically dependent on each other, so that "nuking ourselves to extinction" event does not arise. With the added benefit of better economy. (Well, to be fair, trying to send a dozen people to Mars will also generate a lot of economic activity, so maybe it's a moot point.) Also, even with the worst kind of nuclear war we can imagine, the number of people still clinging to the edge of survival on, say, New Zealand will easily surpass the biggest Martian colony we can optimistically imagine for the next 300 years. So, if we're really that worried about our survival as a species, build a nuclear bunker in New Zealand. Actually, build one in every nation on earth. I'll bet it will be still cheaper than going to Mars. Going to Mars is "cool", and I do want to see it in my lifetime, but treating it as some kind of insurance for mankind just doesn't make sense.