Flying an airplane over Mars has been brewing with other folks since the '70s. We had an administrator, Dan Golden, who wanted to do a centennial flight, the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers. He wanted to fly an airplane on Mars, but that was too quick for the time or not cheap enough or what have you.

I think that was one of the issues of earlier mission concepts, just to fly a new airplane to another planet. While that appeals to me as an aeronautics guy, you've got to know why you're doing it. You've got to have a reason besides just to fly, and this has a very good reason.