[DorianSinDeep]

I think people who don't care for long term investments like this are afraid of the idea that the world will go on without them just as well as it is now. They believe in their fear that some catastrophy bigger than their own death must be coming or what was the point of their life at all? The world was fine before you and it will be fine after you. Endeavours like these are the only worthwhile contributions we have to make towards the future.

[michelb]

I think most people who are not a fan of space programmes would like to have spent that money/effort on humanitarian and socio-economic problems first. I say why not both? Just reduce military spending.