In response to this reply: Ok, I'm not the original poster, but here goes. The continued existence of the entire human race may depend on space exploration and subsequent colonization. One comet or black-swan type disaster could wipe out humanity as a whole. This is not without precedent (dinosaurs).

Each time we leave this planet we punch a whole in our ozone layer that can't be repaired! Some things were meant to be left alone. Simple education like teaching man to fish and read (not like our socialist education system here in America) will improve life and decerease deficits on this earth! Socialism is not the answer!