Quote Originally Posted by Gelatinous Cube View Post
Even if this turns out to be a giant financial disaster, it will be important in advancing our extra-terrestrial capabilities. Sooner or later Humanity has to leave this rock, and its made a much harder goal because people are generally incapable (or unwilling) to look so far into the future.
Unless we somehow make a breakthrough in propulsion technology we won't be leaving the earth any time soon (~150yrs). Even if we had a ship that could constantly go 10% the speed of light, it would take nearly 2 days to reach Pluto.