I am not really sure why going to Mars is a good idea, and no one has been able to give me an answer outside of new age manifest destiny bullshit.
If you want to research on living in desolate waste lands there are huge swaths of fucking desert.
I don't consider manned space missions inherently as a research project. More of an engineering project combined with an iconic act. I'm sure the egyptians didn't have to build the pyramids, but eventually we are all going to be dust anyway. Why not take part in something grand?
You're right my view was presented with only two options, but my point was that we may end up with a win/win. A scenario where academic achievement goes up in addition to having a manned mars mission. I understand that there may be yet better alternatives, perhaps you could present some?
Slave armies built the pyramids. "Why not take part in something grand?" indeed.
For fun. But no one is forcing me to fund their bullshit on Etsy.
>What is the utility of music?
For fun. But no one is forcing me to fund their EP on Kickstarter.
>Alcohol is a waste of resources.
It isn't a waste if people enjoy it. And no one is forcing me to help get them hammered.
>Climbing mountains is a needless risk.
Its fun and no one asked me to pay for their fucking climbing ropes.
>I'm sure the egyptians didn't have to build the pyramids.
You're right, they didn't. They were a fucking useless piece of shit built by self appointed gods for ego stroking. They were a huge waste of human labor and resources. They provided next to no utility and the only reason they are worth anything today is because people think they are cool. If the pyramids existed today in a first world country that had something going for it besides tourism the land would be worth more by tearing down the shitty stone structures of oppression.
>Why not take part in something grand?
Because I have limited time on this Earth and I would rather my money go to things that I derive utility from:
* Research into living forever. * Making currently uninhabitable land habitable. * Getting drunk.
I derive no utility from some dudes putting another guy on Mars. There may be some incidental research that I benefit from in the long run, but I have a feeling much more utility would be gained by not spending money on jet fuel to launch something at a fucking rock miles and miles away.
>I understand that there may be yet better alternatives, perhaps you could present some?
There are infinite possibilities. 99.9% of the population of Earth will see absolutely no benefit from someone visiting Mars. In fact, some may even be worse off for it due to the pollution created by blasting shit off into the ether to reach a place that has absolutely nothing of value on it.
Here are just a few different ways you could spend that money (164 Billion dollars):
* Give every person on Earth an ice cream cone. * Research Phage therapy further. * Invest in internet infrastructure. * Invest in transportation infrastructure. * Give out research grants. * Clean up the ocean.
All of that will get way more utility for the vast majority of people than flying to fucking mars.