In sci.space.policy Christopher wrote:

Unfortunatly the UN consists of 200 countries, and for a UN Mars
mission which countrys national is going to have the honour of being
the first person to step onto the martian surface? You could ignore
the wishes of the smaller nations, but the permanent members of the
security council and none menbers consist of richers and more powerful
countries i.e. Would America allow a French astronaut to be the first
or vice versa.


You assume most of the 200 would care about competing who would be the
first to set the foot on Mars. Thats silly - most of them won't and
many probably couldn't care less if they even participated.


Christopher
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Kites rise highest against
the wind - not with it."
Winston Churchill

--
Sander

+++ Out of cheese error +++