[Strategerist]

The "spend any amount of money on space for national pride" crowd will go nuts.

Actually the crowd that will go nuts are the crowd that feels emotionally threatened by the idea that unnmanned missions are infinitely more cost-effective.

[Rodney King]

Actually the crowd that will go nuts are the crowd that feels emotionally threatened by the idea that unnmanned missions are infinitely more cost-effective.

Yeah, good point.

[LIConFem]

"...feels emotionally threatened by the idea that unnmanned missions are infinitely more cost-effective."

Since when is "cost-effective" one of the main goals of science and exploration?