Robots are for exploring. Human space flight is for colonization. When
the latter is established they can also be better utilized for exploring,
though I also suspect by then AI and other robotic technologies will be
well along enough to do quite well in that arena, too, and still be less
expensive than sending humans to other worlds.

So as I said, if we send humans into the void, it is for colonization.

What the hell is this with everyone hiding under their beds these days?
Look at that other thread that says worldwide space spending is $62
billion. That's chicken feed compared to the bailout and space always
has the virtue giving something back to the people.

And if the major space players are really smart (private as well as
government funded), they will go straight for the NEOs and other
smaller space rocks first. That is where the money will be. I want to
say science, but that will take a back seat as usual for now and we
need to economic reasons first to get a permanent foothold out there.