It's most assuredly not you alone. All over the world, fans of exploration (for exploration's sake), science, science fiction, and other associated fields are pumping their fists in agreement (or, at least, that's the way I like to see it, because I'm hopeless). Even from a logical point of view: why did we spend the money on extra weight and life-support if we don't intend on distilling further methods of supporting life in space? If the "final frontier" is only going to be tread upon by robots and the like, then why are we exploring it to begin with? Even here, sending unmanned crafts down to explore hydrothermal vents in the Earth's crust to study the life around them isn't just for the sake of biology - it's to allow us insight into other ecological systems so we know how to place ourselves if that situation ever arose whereupon we needed to place ourselves. No research or exploration, in my opinion, is done for the benefit of the hard science itself - it's to prepare us for physical advancement.
In that same vein (yet oddly contrary), I doubt any government would approve such research solely on the basis of improving human morale (as much as I would love that to be true). I'm completely fascinated and full of admiration for those who take first steps on new territory; I adore the idea of cutting paths into the unknown for future generations. (Unless you break axles, kill your oxen, die of dysentery ... ;D) But for most governments to approve such ventures, there usually has to be a promise of return - be it through territory, materials, or other goods. One example is the fumbling fight to introduce democracy to Middle Eastern nations ... I doubt the West would be so eager to persevere in humanitarian efforts if these places didn't happen to be sitting on a cubic arsetonne of oil ... but that's another rant for another time. :P (tl;dr - I'm praying for an excuse of some sort that will make manned space exploration indispensable. Because really, more kids need to say "I want to be an astronaut when I grow up ...")
It is sad that not only the US, but many other influential nations across the globe have misappropriated their funds so. We could totally have clean-burning space cars and timeshares on Ceres if everyone just got along. ;D
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In that same vein (yet oddly contrary), I doubt any government would approve such research solely on the basis of improving human morale (as much as I would love that to be true). I'm completely fascinated and full of admiration for those who take first steps on new territory; I adore the idea of cutting paths into the unknown for future generations. (Unless you break axles, kill your oxen, die of dysentery ... ;D) But for most governments to approve such ventures, there usually has to be a promise of return - be it through territory, materials, or other goods. One example is the fumbling fight to introduce democracy to Middle Eastern nations ... I doubt the West would be so eager to persevere in humanitarian efforts if these places didn't happen to be sitting on a cubic arsetonne of oil ... but that's another rant for another time. :P (tl;dr - I'm praying for an excuse of some sort that will make manned space exploration indispensable. Because really, more kids need to say "I want to be an astronaut when I grow up ...")
It is sad that not only the US, but many other influential nations across the globe have misappropriated their funds so. We could totally have clean-burning space cars and timeshares on Ceres if everyone just got along. ;D