[Travis McGee]

When you spend money on space exploration, the cash does not get sent into orbit. It stays right here on the ground, fueling thousands of companies and workers and fosters innovation.

Except for the innovation part, you could say the same about massive govt programs to build pyramids in remote deserts, or dig massive ditches and then fill them in.

Unless you can convince me the moon is full of unobtanium, waiting to be hauled back and smelted into something useful.

[Teacher317]

The difference being that the future of mankind is not going to be centered on the advances we make in earth-moving capabilities... but extra-terrestrial travel, transport, colonization, and resource exploitation almost certainly is.

[Fester Chugabrew]

Unless you can convince me the moon is full of unobtanium, waiting to be hauled back and smelted into something useful.

Problem is, if we bring too much of that stuff back the moon will traverse into a bastard orbit, we'll lose the tides, and future pirates like Blackbeard will have to be executed in a different manner.

[BitWielder1]

Except for the innovation part, you could say the same about massive govt programs to build pyramids in remote deserts, or dig massive ditches and then fill them in.

Doing something that has not been done before stimulates innovation. Digging ditches does not. Unless it's on the moon.

We got a huge technological boost from the first wave of the space program. The benefits from a new wave may not be quite as spectacular but I still hope to keep it going.

Mining in space will be more about not having to carry building materials out of earths gravity well than to find something exotic to bring back.