I believe that manned space exploration is essential. There I have said it. Not irrational, not an expensive gimmick, but essential. Why? Some day, leaving Earth may be the only way the human species can go on. Let’s hope that’s not the case, but hope is no substitute for preparation. Species go extinct all the time as their habitat changes dramatically or disappears altogether (these days often due to human impact), but we are the only species that can pro-actively explore new habitats. The ...

I believe that manned space exploration is essential. There I have said it. Not irrational, not an expensive gimmick, but essential. Why? Some day, leaving Earth may be the only way the human species can go on. Let’s hope that’s not the case, but hope is no substitute for preparation. Species go extinct all the time as their habitat changes dramatically or disappears altogether (these days often due to human impact), but we are the only species that can pro-actively explore new habitats. The ...