...The first option is a year trip anywhere in the word with a monthly stipend of $2,000, whatever your currency is. The second option is ten minutes on Mars and you will go down in history.
Which option do you select?
Please, explain why.
I would definitely choose the first option. It'd be impossible to trade a whole year of exploring a new place on our beautiful blue planet with ten minutes on the Red planet. It'd be more than enough for me to just marvel at its bright star from my new spot on Earth.
Can I get a year on Mars, along with enough money to live comfortably there? No?
Okay, I'll take the year on Earth. Now to pick which country... :)
Definitely the first option.
1. It is not that exciting on Mars. It is a cold and hostile environment and there is nothing but red stones. Just "being" there isn't exciting enough for me. I'm also not climbing Mount Everest for just "being" on the top. It's enough for me to see documentaries about it.
2. It takes half year to a year to go to Mars, so a round trip would take one or two years. This long trip for just ten minutes excitement, sound like a huge waste of time for me.
3. I'm not interested in fame and it will be a short-lived one, too. There are people who are preparing for spending the rest of their lives on Mars (Mars One). Once, they arrive on Mars, who is interested in the person, who just spend ten minutes there?