[icosoheadroom]

People had the same complaint about the space program in the 1960's. That it was feel good fluff. That it was a boondoggle with no substance.

And if you watch old movies, you'll hear it echoed it many places.

Clockwork Orange has the quote from the wino:

   Men on the moon? And men Spinnin' 'round the earth?
   And there's not no attention paid to early law and 
   order no more?!

I don't really agree. I think it's of profound importance to solve the problem of being able to sustain life in an artificial environment.

If we can confine ourselves within an encapsulated environment, and keep ourselves alive by recycling all biological exhaust, and drawing energy from highly durable, efficient power sources, and/or solar power, we can roll those capabilities into ways of life that dramatically reduce human impact on their surroundings. The two concepts are related, because space travel involves the problem of trying to replicate a sustainable terrestrial environment through artificial means.