Sure Pathfinder landed on Mars, but it is a much greater feat to send people into space and put a human on the moon, than it is to send a mechanical device to Mars. Sorry if I don't get caught up in all the hype. I just feel the nation is getting taken in by the spin doctors that are out to promote their own self interests. NASA has America completely sucked in by the hype. The media has finally got the nation's attention without a war.
Ratings are high, so that is where the news is.
Nobody cares about countries torn apart by civil war. People want to hear about Mars and space. So the media gives them what they want instead of what they should get. NASA has marketed the Mars mission like a pro. The experts at NASA keep mentioning how they landed the Pathfinder at a low price.