>>14259174Because it's within the reach of our technology to do so. Establishing a colony would be useful for contemporary science and tourism but it will also be a landmark accomplishment that will set a precedent and would inspire people establish colonies all across the solar system. Once the first colony is established, everybody will want their own space colony. There are going to be plenty of companies building commercial, spaceships, space suits, radiation shields, colony starter kits, what have you. When a large number of people want something that it becomes commercially viable capitalism always delivers.
Once every single body in the solar system has been summited by a human (including Pluto) just like almost every corner of the earth has been explored and almost every mountain has been climed, visiting other star systems will be the next hurdle to overcome.
>le keep dreamingEverything in America was built in the last 400 years. You're already living in the future.
