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.
> 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.
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.