[mayanksinghal]

I think the scientists involved would be totally fine with skepticism about technical decisions that they have made on such missions. I would argue that they might even appreciate it when it comes from people who actually understand the subject (instead of having knowledge worth one wikipedia page). But what might discourage them (and disappoints me, for being a citizen of the country in question) is the lack of trust that is being put in space exploration and petty cost-benefit analysis being used. The same analysis that has been refuted a million other times on hundreds of other occasions in all countries and continents.

[kamakazizuru]

yup - I totally dont understand this - why does no one apply this cost-benefit analysis when the US goes to pointless wars for years on end - spending literally TRILlIONS - for something that will have very limited positive outcomes. Especially given the poverty in the US itself - the number of homeless people and foreclosures.