Space travel is going to require better propulsion systems, and hopefully gravity control. Setting gravity aside for now, why aren’t we spending nearly ALL of our resources on a productive propulsion system?
I think we need more physics and less geology, and now. Did Columbus want geologist or better boats? We need better boats, then we can get geologist.
because we're not all space kadets with total economic ignorance and also without the slightest grasp of physics