[trailingComma]

Low enough.

Earth is ultimately just another time-limited spaceship that will eventually loose the ability to support any kind of life due to the natural lifecycle of our sun. Over a long enough time span not expanding off-world is a death sentence for all life on this planet.

It's acceptable to do some small amount of damage to it as part of securing a future for our species (and all the other species we will carry with us) that is not dependant on a single, vulnerable and time-limited ball of rock.

A moon base is a step towards that.

[zapataband1]

These business space missions are using 60 year old propulsion technology and it's pretty easy to figure out the math that shows that a fuel tank the size of the planet cannot take you to any other habitable planet. Scientists -know- that the best way to learn about space and the universe at this point is to build huge telescopes. For profit companies will not save us.

[trailingComma]

No amount of telescopes will provide the off-world low-g manufacturing capabilities necessary to build the logistics we need.

The moon is both low-g and has wonderful built-in radiation shielding (one of our biggest current blockers) via the simple process of going underground.

I don't think you or I are qualified to make absolute statements about the involvement of for-profit companies in that.

[zapataband1]

You have not explained your plan on getting off of this planet but you're talking to me about logistics on the moon? No we don't need logistics on the moon. We don't need Elon musks dumb vanity missions to mars. No, we as a society do not need to continue pouring our scarce resources so that scifi-cultists and some rich white assholes can pretend like they can get out of here alive.

A rat done bit my sister Nell. (with Whitey on the moon) Her face and arms began to swell. (and Whitey's on the moon) I can't pay no doctor bill. (but Whitey's on the moon) Ten years from now I'll be payin' still. (while Whitey's on the moon)