The NASA MMO

I've just heard that NASA (you know, the american space agency) has commissioned a company way back in 2009 to develop an online persistent space traveling game based on the real solar system and set in the year 2035. As I read through the related news, one thing immediately sprang to mind; this is going to be really boring, at least for us gamers. Come on, how much fun could we have whilst simulating a trip to the planet Mars whilst trying to protect our on-screen personas from radiation. Wouldn't it be better to add some space pirates, political intrigue, trading and the odd space-fight into the equation. That would make a great game.