Carl Sagan had a similar take. From Pale Blue Dot: > These are the missing practical arguments: safeguarding the Earth from otherwise inevitable catastrophic i

Carl Sagan had a similar take. From Pale Blue Dot: > These are the missing practical arguments: safeguarding the Earth from otherwise inevitable catastrophic impacts and hedging our bets on the many other threats, known and unknown, to the environment that sustains us. Without these arguments, a compelling case for sending humans to Mars and elsewhere might be lacking. But with them—and the buttressing arguments involving science, education, perspective, and hope—I think a strong case can be made. If our long-term survival is at stake, we have a basic responsibility to our species venture to other worlds.