While I think sending people into space, but not all space missions, is a waste of resources that could be better put to use on something else, it is still pretty cool. Then again maybe we should end poverty and feed the homeless before we engage in luxuries. There have been some advancements because of that, but can anybody think of any major ones have been created because of our manned space program in the last decade or two? I would also be wary of any time table they put out, those things always have a tendency to be pushed back again and again, and are often too optimistic. Then again while people probably overrate it's importance it does have some advantages, and I would never want some other hostile or despotic country to get more advanced than we are because they focused on higher technology while we neglect it, and if it can create things that will significantly advance humanity and make it better for us than that’s good. More often than not, unfortunately, I just think they continue to send people up more for it's own sake than anything else. There is nothing wrong with that, but we have to consider it a luxury, and realize there are more important things that need to be addressed first.
