I don't consider manned space missions inherently as a research project. More of an engineering project combined with an iconic act. I'm sure the egyptians didn

I don't consider manned space missions inherently as a research project. More of an engineering project combined with an iconic act. I'm sure the egyptians didn't have to build the pyramids, but eventually we are all going to be dust anyway. Why not take part in something grand? Slave armies built the pyramids. "Why not take part in something grand?" indeed.