I've seen a couple of really good articles about why this whole idea is pie in the sky. Cynical me wonders how much publicity the TV production company behind it is getting while in full knowledge that they won't really have to do the hard bit.
I wonder how long it will go on before it implodes. I think it's a shame that so many really earnest people are being used this way, and at the same time I'm also a bit wistful - going to Mars would be awesome. The idea reminds me of the Kim Stanley Robinson Red Mars/Green Mars/Blue Mars books. Really good fiction, but I think that is all it will be for a while.