[onlyrealcuzzo]

Why is it so important to get back? That implies people need to go there, I think? Why?

And would it really not be possible to get to Enceladus and back (w/o people)?

The gravity there is so much less than the moon.

Or is it just the distance to and from Enceladus, and possibly nothing for a slingshot?

[mcbutterbunz]

I can look at pictures of Machu Picchu on Google Maps but the experience of being there is so much better (from what I hear). That's why we want to send people. Presumably those people want to survive and come back too.

[onlyrealcuzzo]

> I can look at pictures of Machu Picchu on Google Maps but the experience of being there is so much better (from what I hear).

Right, but you can't even look at pictures of these other planets because we haven't gone at all.

And if your choice was between spending $4T to go to Macchu Picchu yourself, or look at pictures on Google Maps for free - you would almost certainly not spend $4T "for the experience".

The reality is - Nasa estimates it would cost $4B for another manned moon mission. India just sent a lunar probe to the moon for about 1/100th that price.

Even if we could send someone to Saturn - the price would be more prohibitive than the chemistry.

If it costs 100-1000 times more to send humans than robots - it's probably not worth it.