14 DAY TRIAL // There is currently a lot of ink being spilled over exploiting resources on other celestial bodies, such as near-Earth objects or the Moon. I, for one, don't think we should be doing this. Yes, it would be a cool thing to brag about, but our ways need to change before we start using up other bodies.
Private companies are, understandably, already lining up to develop the necessary technologies to extract platinum and water from asteroids, but wouldn't these efforts pay off more substantially (not financially, of course) if applied to manned exploration of the solar system?
The real question is: should we be exploiting other bodies, when considering that we can't even take care of Earth, and are unable to use its resources in an ethical, responsible manner? Before leaving our world to rip another to shreds, and exhaust its resources, maybe we should take a step back first.
I find it encouraging that some people still have the guts to take on monumentally-complex projects, especially in the United States, where fear of financial failure is spreading like a cancer. However, the goal of these endeavors should be oriented towards forwarding science and understanding, not boosting profits.