My paper would deal with the financing of a manned mission to Mars. It is critical that tax dollars not be the primary funding source for the mission. Tax dollars are an un-reliable source of financing because many politicians and taxpayers will rightly point out the huge sums required for the mission could be better spent to cure aids, end poverty, or any number of worthy causes. Instead, the mission should be financed through voluntary, charitable contributions and money raised in the free market.

Basically, what I propose is the formation of a private, non-profit, charitable foundation with the sole purpose of raising money to pay for the trip. This foundation would be given a special grant from Congress: the television, advertising and merchandizing rights to the mission. Thirty-second Super Bowl spots went for $2 million. NBC paid over $3.5 Billion for the television rights to the 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008 Olympics. These events are little league compared to the audience that will view the Mars landing. In addition, how much would Pepsi pay to have its name written down the side of the rocket boosters used at launch?

From individuals, the foundation would accept donations in several forms, including those given as gifts in the name of children and those given in return for special considerations. These could include having the donors name included on a CD that would fly with the mission, entry in a drawing for the opportunity to name an additional crew member, or a drawing to get to be the first person to talk to the astronauts after they land on Mars.

My paper explores these ideas and more, and seeks to quantify the money they could raise. Of course, the foundation would turn this money back over to the Government to fund the mission.

Private Funding and Commerical Investment