[Rodney King]

No, you made a metaphor which I countered. You then asked what the mission was, I responded. Now you're talking about a 7 to 1 return on investment that I've never heard of. The mission today is about the safety of future missions.

OK fine. The mission today is about the safety of future missions. I'm sorry if I got you confused with others who have replied to me, asserting that Nasa returns 7 dollars for every one invested and that for proof of this I should "go outside and look around".

As for private investment, it is typically daunting to raise money when the government is your competition because they have no cost of capital restrictions in their work.

[tfecw]

"As for private investment, it is typically daunting to raise money when the government is your competition because they have no cost of capital restrictions in their work.
"

I would argue the private investment is daunting because no one is likely to see a return in their lifetimes, not because the gubment is the competition. If there is money to be made in space the private sector will be all over it, until then don't count on them doing anything.