And here is a private Israeli company about to launch to the Moon! https://www.space.com/43209-first-pri...

More so than ever before. Exploring and colonizing space is the best possible chance for the survival of the human race.

“The private sector should lead the way in space!”
I fully agree. The vastness of space has inspired many to steal tons of money and resources from those who made it.

It would seem the news of space, like the economic news and all other things that might, maybe, kinda sorta make America look good, is of no concern to MSM. Folks are not excited - or interested in what they are not aware of. Take your kid to Disney and you drop another grand in the pockets of those that want this Nation harmed, but, if you take your kid just up the road to watch and feel a live launch, you may inspire them to want more than a hat with mouse ears. We covered the last shuttle launch and the first Spacex private launch, it was as inspiring as the former was depressing. https://www.starznbarz.com/Space-shut...

Of course it it, there is endless amounts to learn. Citizens need to know that it is that space, with the Sun which is truly driving our climate, to understand the Earth's magnetic poles and how they are switching, to know how all of it interacts to touch our everyday lives. The Very Large Array is fascinating to visit, and think of the possibilities. The truth is out there - it is for us to find it.

We do have a lot of things we could do here on earth. That makes the exploration of space a lot less interesting.

Except for the idea of a galts gulch in space. THAT would be cool

Just like information technology, which was launched by government programs, but didn't flourish until the dynamics of capitalist market forces energized it, space technology is reaching that tipping point where the commercial world can see an exciting, profitable future. It isn't all about profit (we're Human, not Ferengi), but about inspiration and vision. Now that access to space is becoming more affordable, the expansion of humanity beyond Earth is passing from the realm of fantasy into a believable reality.

I could probably get in trouble here if I offered my ideas regarding this issue!

I don't know.

I shudder at the thought of living in space, on another planet.

Why would it be safer than living on Earth? The probability of an asteroid hitting that planet is just as good as we have here on Earth.

There were some ideas to build cities on the ocean floors. I guess that one is dead.

I really hate to think of any of today's government entities being in space. Just the thought of Trump's "Space Force" conjures up some awful projections. The private sector might start out a little slowly because of a desire to find profitability, but it's certainly there for those with fertile imaginations.

Damned politicians ruined any chances of the govt establishing a base on the Moon. I'm hoping the private industry will do it. I had imagined that there would be a base there where I could live without severe back and leg pain in the lighter gravity environment.

For me?..absolutely!, but I think it is not for perhaps, half the country, maybe even the world. I know a lot of people, including my wife, that thinks it's a waist of time; still others, the greenie type, say..."we don't even know enough about earth, we have too many unsolved problems here, why should we go out there?".

That kind of short sightedness pervades the left. They fail to see the value of what we learn and apply to our plight right here on earth.

I myself, grew up with the promise. It has always held my fascination and has fueled my desire to do something in life that would help insure that mankind survives and populates outer space..