The value of manned space flight?

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

All I have to say is: If we can figure out how to live on Mars, we sure as heck can figure out how to make Earth stay livable. And we better do that quick, because we won't like it on Mars.

 

[Cordwainer Fish]

And we better do that quick, because we won't like it on Mars.

For one thing, it ain't the kind of place to raise your kids.

 

[Ryujin]

That launch was pretty cool. I was watching it on the BBC and I kinda wished the presenters would just stop talking and filling air with nothingness, as I'd rather have just listened to the NASA comms (fortunately they did that at T-5 and didn't start babbling nothing again until a few minutes after launch).

The NASA feed cut away to show the spectators as the solid booster separation was happening, so I missed that

 

[Morrus]

The NASA feed cut away to show the spectators as the solid booster separation was happening, so I missed that

It’ll all be on YouTube at least.

 

[Pale Violet Light]

We spend more now on fixing problems than we have ever spent yet we have not solved hunger. We have not provided homes for the homeless

We will never solve hunger, because a) it’s a very difficult problem, and b) there is no will to do so, as people would rather blame the unfortunate for their problems rather than address systematic issues. Furthermore, life is not all or nothing. Social spending has alleviated distress and suffering for billions of people - that is in and of itself a worthwhile goal.