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Re:SpaceX craft overshot Mars’ orbit and is headed to astero... by woofyman on Wednesday February 07, 2018 @12:32PM (#16326244)
>What is the practical value of that anyway except some scientist's vanity?

Proof of extraterrestrial life would be one of the greatest discoveries of all time with profound philosophical implications.

Re:SpaceX craft overshot Mars’ orbit and is headed to astero... by narrator on Wednesday February 07, 2018 @02:21PM (#16327213)
I don't think it matters. If it's genetically interesting, that will increase our understanding of biology, but otherwise the practical implications are nil. Profound philosophical implications are a joke. You and the rest of the world would forget about it in a week.

Look at the UFO videos the pentagon released in December. No one cares.

Re:SpaceX craft overshot Mars’ orbit and is headed to astero... by saagarjha on Wednesday February 07, 2018 @03:58PM (#16327938)
> Look at the UFO videos the pentagon released in December. No one cares.

Because they don't prove that extraterrestrial life exists?

Re:SpaceX craft overshot Mars’ orbit and is headed to astero... by anigbrowl on Wednesday February 07, 2018 @02:02PM (#16327058)
Yes, but there are two ways to approach that: cautiously explore apparently barren planets and eventually, maybe, find evidence of primitive life life, either ongoing or ancient; or explore as widely and as prolifically as possible.