NASA today announced the launch of an Atlas V rocket carrying a spacecraft called the "The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter." The Orbiter is happily on its way to Mars, a journey which will take seven months. The craft will circle the planet for about four years, sending back more information than scientists have had to work with yet regarding Mars' climate, geography, weather and geological past and present. The plan is to see if Mars has ever sustained life, and if human exploration or even, ultimately, occupation is a possibility.

I'm encouraged. It may be the only place to go in the future to escape from reality television. I'm just afraid that if they attain the best pictures we've ever had of the surface of Mars, someone will spot a Starbuck's.

TES