If you want a reason for going beyond Earth how about the increased chances for the survival of the human race.
Remember the old proverb about keeping all of ones eggs in one basket. That is what we are doing now with the human race, one ELE asteroid and we're done for.
Settling, the moon, the asteroids, Mars, etc will ensure that the human race will survive such a catastrophe.
We have the same problem in Australia.
Over here there has been talk of creating a low level nuclear waste dump in the remotest part of South Australia to store all the nuclear waste that is currently in hospital and university basements around Australia.
Unfortunately as soon as the public found out there were cries of 'not in our backyard' etc etc.
Apparently most people would rather have nuclear waste spreadout throughout the entire country instead of putting it all in one remote place.
Go figure
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If you want a reason for going beyond Earth how about the increased chances for the survival of the human race. Remember the old proverb about keeping all of ones eggs in one basket. That is what we are doing now with the human race, one ELE asteroid and we're done for. Settling, the moon, the asteroids, Mars, etc will ensure that the human race will survive such a catastrophe.
We have the same problem in Australia. Over here there has been talk of creating a low level nuclear waste dump in the remotest part of South Australia to store all the nuclear waste that is currently in hospital and university basements around Australia. Unfortunately as soon as the public found out there were cries of 'not in our backyard' etc etc. Apparently most people would rather have nuclear waste spreadout throughout the entire country instead of putting it all in one remote place. Go figure