02-04-2016, 08:44 AM
(02-04-2016, 02:39 AM)Rynn Wrote: True but that just pushes the question one step back: why launch manned missions anywhere? Not really for scientific research, for a lot of things you'll get a better ROI elsewhere (and continually improving probe technology will cut into the manned advantages). Space colonisation is mostly ideological. Which I'm fine with, I just don't see enough people holding that ideology to pursue it at today's (and near future) costs.
Actually the reason is to have backup in case Earth gets hit by giant asteroid or our civilization collapses for one reason or other. I think that is best reason in the world.