Tierney wrote a better article than I could Tuesday about why the legacy for the ages that can happen in our lifetimes is the first footprints on Mars. The sponsor could be remembered as the next "Prince Henry the Navigator, King Ferdinand, [or] Queen Isabella". This is an argument I implied here in a scholarly way and in passing here in a grandiose way and a whimsical way here. In the process I attempt to refute Jeff Bell and James Van Allen who are both opposed.

Sam, Do you feel as though you should have been given credit?
I apologzie for the boring question - a discussion about the proposal itself might be more interesting for everyone - but I was curious.

It's an interesting appeal to ego. There are a few people out there who could beat the world's superpowers to Mars. And acquire fame to last at least a few centuries? That might indeed be worth a few billion dollars to someone.

I don't think I should have been given credit. Assuming an argument is not making one. The four articles cited cover the question pretty good. I don't have much to add at this point. By all means let's discuss Columbus, Isabella and Ferdinand, King Henry the Navigator and Elon Musk and Peter Diamandis and the private race to Mars.