OFF-TOPIC TRIVIA
I've heard orbit being defined as an extended state of free-fall, that sattelites are actually falling toward the earth, but at such an angle to as miss it completely.
BACK ON TOPIC
I suppose, ethically there are so many injustices and problems to solve here on earth without spending billions of dollars on space research and development. Maybe we could spend that time and effort solving world hunger or AIDS. Then again, the top two world commodities are drugs and arms. Stop shooting up, stop shooting others and there would be plenty cash to both produce a first-world world, and explore other worlds.