Dirty

Hell if I know... Maybe something hitting the Earth? Or maybe a catastrophic earthquake or something? Not sure exactly, but that is why that the reason we are trying to send people to Mars

rondo

Damn, I never read that part at the end of the article. If this is truly the motivation behind, then its just disgusting. Space exploration/Colonization should be more out of fascination than desperation. My excitement was more due to research opportunities and the amount of data that could be communicated back. Even the discovery of micro-bacterial organisms would be huge. Also, the fact that its usually a good idea for a number of nations to get involved in such a big project in and of itself would be a unifying factor.

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I came to Berlin looking for love and success, but I decided to settle for sex, drugs and rock and roll.

Dom

We want to explore and understand the universe because it is in human nature to be curious and to want to understand. Not to mention increasing the longevity of the human race. A mass extinction will hit Earth eventually, and if we haven't spread to other planets and eventually other solar systems, etc. we will be wiped out. But personally, I think curiosity is the main thing. What's the point of existing if we do not at least try to fulfill our nature for discovery?

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