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<blockquote data-quote="Umbran" data-source="post: 9269197" data-attributes="member: 177">Space is terrible.&nbsp; Everything you do for the first time in space is a terrible idea.&nbsp; It cannot become a good idea until you try the terrible ideas a few times first.Folks forget that, for the most part, science (and the technological advancement that follows it) isn't driven by knowing the valuable bits ahead of time, and seeking that specific value.&nbsp; Space exploration is in the &quot;pure research&quot; branch of discovery, not the &quot;targeted profit&quot; branch.The space program pays for itself by way of setting some pretty audacious goals, learning a ton and creating new technologies to meet those goals, and then spinning that knowledge and technology off into completely unrelated activities planetside.So, we don't have to have a clear reason to go - the fact that nobody has gone, and that it will take a ton of new stuff to get there, will create the benefit.&nbsp; And, whatever we get from the actual trip is icing on the cake.And that's aside from the dreams this stuff inspires, which will create the next generation of nerds - and those folks are more valuable than anything else.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Umbran, post: 9269197, member: 177"] Space is terrible. Everything you do for the first time in space is a terrible idea. It cannot become a good idea until you try the terrible ideas a few times first. Folks forget that, for the most part, science (and the technological advancement that follows it) isn't driven by knowing the valuable bits ahead of time, and seeking that specific value. Space exploration is in the "pure research" branch of discovery, not the "targeted profit" branch. The space program pays for itself by way of setting some pretty audacious goals, learning a ton and creating new technologies to meet those goals, and then spinning that knowledge and technology off into completely unrelated activities planetside. So, we don't have to have a clear reason to go - the fact that nobody has gone, and that it will take a ton of new stuff to get there, will create the benefit. And, whatever we get from the actual trip is icing on the cake. And that's aside from the dreams this stuff inspires, which will create the next generation of nerds - and those folks are more valuable than anything else. [/QUOTE]

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