NASA administrator Michael Griffin announced this Monday that they aim to put a man on Mars by 2037.

"This year marks the half-century of the space age ushered in by the October 1957 launch of the Sputnik-1 by the then Soviet Union", he noted.

The international space station currently being built in orbit and targeted for completion by 2010 would provide a "toehold in space" from where humanity can travel first to the moon and then to Mars.

"As of now, it appears space tourism may be the only way out to make space transportation economical. Though space tourism will generate funds, we have to evolve a mechanism to train the prospective tourists and ensure their safety. We do not, however, regulate space tourism, as there is no such provision in the US Space Act," Griffin added.

Critics noted that 30 years is far too long a wait. They believe a private corporation will beat NASA to the punch, since US government spending is currently focused on other priorities.

Image above is a panorama view of Mars from the Mars Pathfinder.

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