The Clandestine Space Program is something that has been suspected for a very long time .. we know NASA is remaining mum about Life on Mars, take a look at the Martian1 image returned by the Curiosity Rover on Sol 127.

That the Martian bears a strong resemblance to Ernie one half of the Sesame Street Bert and Ernie brotherhood, is evidence manned missions had been to Mars by the time their characters appeared which predated the NASA Rovers by decades.