Mankind has 200 years left...

[BanzaiCat]

It boggles my mind to think how far we COULD be now if it weren't for ignorance and if we actually all did work together as a species. Think of how far back our species has been held by idiocy.

Ugh, that was awfully close to liberal sentiment, if not right over the line itself.

[mirth]

That's what makes a one-way trip to Mars so crazy - there is no compelling reason for us to do it. Those folks are going to get bored quickly IMHO.

There will be a burgeoning Martian porn industry.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!

Let me guess: Two Girls, One Planet.

Red Planet Diaries.

[Barthheart]

That's what makes a one-way trip to Mars so crazy - there is no compelling reason for us to do it. Those folks are going to get bored quickly IMHO.

There will be a burgeoning Martian porn industry.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!

Let me guess: Two Girls, One Planet.

Red Planet Diaries.

50 Shades of Red.

[LongBlade]

That's what makes a one-way trip to Mars so crazy - there is no compelling reason for us to do it. Those folks are going to get bored quickly IMHO.

There will be a burgeoning Martian porn industry.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!

Let me guess: Two Girls, One Planet.

Red Planet Diaries.

50 Shades of Red.

Marcy Does Mars.

[mirth]

I think we have a viable funding mechanism for Mars colonization.

[mirth]

That's what makes a one-way trip to Mars so crazy - there is no compelling reason for us to do it. Those folks are going to get bored quickly IMHO.

There will be a burgeoning Martian porn industry.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!

Let me guess: Two Girls, One Planet.

Red Planet Diaries.

50 Shades of Red.

Marcy Does Mars.

Featuring Marvin the Martian.

[BanzaiCat]

Jokes about red spots are not funny. Period.

[Centurion40]

I think what is being overlooked is that most, if not all, of the great pushes of exploration and colonization in human history were motivated by potential economic gain, not altruistic motivations.

If there were gold, diamonds, or oil abundant on Mars, that could cost effectively be exploited, we'd be there.

Everything we're talking about now would cost vast sums of money with no potential ROI.

Greed will get us to the stars.

Amen

[BanzaiCat]

Nail on the head, Mirth. Unfortunately exploration for exploration's sake is not an overriding desire anymore.

[mirth]

Nail on the head, Mirth. Unfortunately exploration for exploration's sake is not an overriding desire anymore.

I don't think it ever really was. Even in the 1950s/ 60s it was about staying ahead of the Sovs.

I guess you could make the case for the likes of Byrd, Amundsen & Shackelton. Guess we need the next generation of those guys.

[BanzaiCat]

The "little guys" like us dream of space exploration. The "big guys" unfortunately do not share that same dream.

I'd much rather my tax dollars go to paying for moon or Mars colonization (or exploration of Europa) than to some Democratic waste of tax dollars. Or to lobbying groups, election contributions, etc. etc. - so many other good uses for that kind of money.

[W8taminute]

Hmmm...good points by you guys but let's just say there is a zombie outbreak that covers the planet.  Who among what's left of the living is gonna have time to invent a magic rocket ship to save humanity and take them to Alpha Centauri? 

We've never possessed so much destructive power in our history than now and I'm not even including WMDs.  I'm not saying the end is nigh, but to give us 200+ years is still kind of generous to me. 

[mirth]

Every time I look around the office, I figure the zombies have won and it's just a matter of time before they notice me.

[mirth]

The "little guys" like us dream of space exploration. The "big guys" unfortunately do not share that same dream.

I'd much rather my tax dollars go to paying for moon or Mars colonization (or exploration of Europa) than to some Democratic waste of tax dollars. Or to lobbying groups, election contributions, etc. etc. - so many other good uses for that kind of money.

What was it that Ripley said to Carter Burke in Aliens, "At least they're not fucking each other over for a percentage"?

[mirth]

The future of Extraterrestrial colonization is simple:

Survivor Mars

The ratings will be out of this world.