[Spiff]

Until we conquer the Earth's gravity well, we're never going to get anywhere. We can't surface launch the class of ship required to safely provide interplanetary travel - it must be constructed in orbit. Put the $100B plus into developing and constructing the first space elevator after which it will be easier to construct more, and then you'll have something. Reliving the 50's and 60's of "space travel" (bah!) in the first decades of the 21st Century is pointless.

And until we conquer our own planet and harness its energy, we'll never conquer our nearby star and planetary system and harness its energy. Until then, we'll remain a measly Type-0 civilization capable of only a few rare slingshot type attempts at nearby orbs.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Until we conquer the Earth's gravity well, we're never going to get anywhere.

That's one reason the Moon is important - it will be the first off-Earth filling station.

[RadioAstronomer]

plus into developing and constructing the first space elevator after which it will be easier to construct more

There are some real problems due to lunar tides and a non spherical Earth that may preclude such an endeavor.

[Doc On The Bay]

We're BETTER THAN THAT!!

Doc

[Romish_Papist]

Space elevator? How many Mohammedan-hijacked planes would it take to bring that down? And I have no doubt they'd try.