[UnChained]

Interstellar travel doesn't make much sense to me. But travel within the solar system would be pretty cool. It would be possible to commercialize space if there were a way to cheaply get to low earth orbit. I'd love to see that topic discussed . I have an idea that I need to get shot down by someone who knows physics better than me. New thread perhaps? Or somewhere besides FR?

[tim politicus]

I've read some pretty interesting stuff that suggested that interstellar space is not as empty as it seems. What if the missing 'dark matter' is to a significant extent gas giants too small to ignite. Inter stellar space may be much fuller and richer then we now think. Perhaps even able to support life or civilization.

But we would know for sure if we explored where we were going virtually, as you suggested, first. Ultimately, a space faring civilization would do most things ‘virtually’, I'd think.