[galaxyLogic]

Makes me wonder why put all this effort to make space-travel safe for crews. Why not focus on remotely controlled or AI autonomous vehicles instead?

[ben_w]

I think we already do — there have been roughly 15 satellites etc. launched for every human who has ever reached earth orbit over the entire history of human spaceflight.

[galaxyLogic]

Good. I was just wondering why this project in particular needed to have a live crew.

[jonplackett]

It’s hard enough to get an AI to work well in a known situation line driving, never mind an unknown planet.

But more importantly - where is the fun in that?

[galaxyLogic]

You are right some people find it fun to go to dangerous places, I assume. Think about the crew of StarTrek and of course Buzz Lightyear. Personally I would rather send someone else to space than go there myself :-)

[jve]

> Makes me wonder why put all this effort to make space-travel safe for crews

Would you want to board that capsule yourself, otherwise?

> Why not focus on remotely controlled or AI autonomous vehicles instead?

Buzzwords doesn't make something more reliable/less error prone. You really think that by throwing in something like AI, which can fail in unexpected ways, be a good idea?

[galaxyLogic]

I think it's worth studying and developing further, for instance study how to make AI which will not "fail in unexpected ways"