Is a manned mission to Mars worth the cost ?
Since the beginning of the Space race in 1957, we have had an exponential growth in innovative technology that benefited the space program and had commercial usage. They range from  medical imaging techniques, healthcare monitoring  equipment, artificial limbs, water filtration systems, solar panels and baby formula. The challenges of traveling to Mars and maintaining a sustainable living environment will also foster rapid innovation in sustainable technologies that can help to solve our current challenges on Earth. This could be renewable fuels, rapidly deployable habitats, Carbon sequestration and advances in AI.