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Originally Posted by Scucca  Try answering the question! I know, I know, harsh idea |
I figured I made myself clear, but I'll be more explicit for your sake:
I do not believe the government has much of an incentive for space exploration. Other than minor achievements and the inevitable man on Mars, unless any other nation gets serious about space exploration, or this planet runs low on a nearby resource (fissionable materials) I just don't see the return on the investment.
The people just don't care anymore, so there's no political will. Heck a few months back when we found the first, and then dozens of planets capable of sustaining human life NOBODY GAVE A **** because Anna Nicole Smith died...
However, there are commercial incentives for putting people into space, creating and miniaturizing new tech, and inevitably exploration/colonization. As trips such as the coming Virgin Galactic flights become affordable and ubiquitous, more and more corporations will find that there is money to be made in space.
The inevitable next step are various classes of space hubs (entertainment, bars, etc...) then eventually real estate and private transports for the wealthiest space industrialists.
Eventually even those measures may become affordable for consumers, when we can reduce the cost of getting **** into space.
Enough of an answer for you?