This is in response to suntrack2:

The american space program has done some amazing things. No doubt about it. And it will continue to be an important part of space exploration. It's just the way of any government agency to work slowly and safely. The dynamics of a government agency are such that risk/reward is weighted differently than in the private sector. As long as nobody dies, you get paid, so make sure nobody dies. It's a laudable ideal, but when you triple-check everything, it takes longer.

Private enterprize has to make sure everyone stays alive as well,but that is not the only constrait to 'getting paid'. You have to get there, and bring back something useful. (or make money getting there...) Not laudable, not a 'good' thing, but results are much quicker in coming under these dynamics.

All I'm saying is that as long as the major players in the space industry are governments, the pace will be slower, and much, much safer.

Or, you can go with the much scarier commercialization of space, where it will be more dangerous, but much more rapid expansion of the humans' domain in space.

I think the Centennial Challenge that NASA is doing right now will show whether or not the two can work together; private & public sectors. It has wroked in nearly every other application before, I don't see why space exploration isn't ready for the two to help each other out.

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Nothing in life is good nor bad; thinking makes it so.

i don't know what is the mass expereince so far you have tallied both the sides, everyone think that whatever the company or institution there, the fruits as well as the secure life both they require and ofcourse they do not want to loose the lifes, no question rise about the commercialization of such explorations but explorations must be done at the discharge of very good experience for the earth people and for their benefits and beneficiaries. your posting sounds quite well twitchy and aeolous. we have a habit to compare the things with the others, this is a sort of natural gift to analise and to compare with others, the differentiations will come latter in limelight when the great and good experiences gathers later.