This search for the origins of life is the Grail to those who still do not see that the purpose of exploration, whether clothed in the labcoats of science or the immaculate uniforms of national security, is to scout out new lands and resources. Then settlement.
Indeed. Considering that there are those that think that this earth is getting over populated, we damn well should be looking for other places to colonize... but most the people who are complaining about over population are also against us colonizing some other un-inhabited world...
Weird huh?