The politics is far harder than the science. And even if we accept the science we have a big issue of how to deal with it.

The 'clean energy' challenge deserves a commitment akin to the Manhattan project or the Apollo moon landing.

An insect is more complex than a star..and is a far greater challenge to understand.

I'm not myself religious but have no wish to insult or denigrate those who are.

Scientists habitually moan that the public doesn't understand them. But they complain too much: public ignorance isn't peculiar to science. It's sad if some citizens can't tell a proton from a protein. But it's equally sad if they're ignorant of their nation's history, can't speak a second language, or can't find Venezuela or Syria on a map.

I'm a technological optimist in that I do believe that technology will provide solutions that will allow the world in 2050 to support 9 billion people at an acceptable standard of living. But I'm a political pessimist in that I am concerned about whether the science will be appropriately applied.

All space projects push the frontiers of technology and are drivers of innovation.