I originally conceived of Get Your Ass to Mars in the late summer of 1992. One of the primary motivations behind it was that I hoped that some real-life space scientists and other interersted parties might take note of the story and perhaps create a real Mars mission much like the one in the story. Of course certain problems arose (including the increasing dumbing down of Ameicans) that made that utterly unlikely. Nevertheless, GYATM continues. After all, if I can't see a real Mars flight in 2005, I might as well see a fictional Mars flight in 2005. Better that than being a total victim of the technophobic Unabomber groupies of the world!
