Hacker News

Favorites Setup
Comment by p-e-w | original | SpaceX catches the Starship to end Flight 15
[−]p-e-w · 2026-11-15 Sun 00:46 UTC · link
What exactly is “the point” of humans going there, other than science? Telling a hero story that ignores the contributions of hundreds of thousands that made this possible? Gratifying a few mammoth-sized egos?
[−]colechristensen · 2026-11-15 Sun 02:32 UTC · link
You have to start with a justification for "the point" of human life at all which is a struggle with some people who only see utility in whatever their equivalent of a quarterly balance sheet is (this includes publishing papers in academic journals).
[−]p-e-w · 2026-11-15 Sun 03:48 UTC · link
I don’t understand why justifying human spaceflight supposedly requires grand philosophical ramblings about the meaning of life. Justifying brushing your teeth doesn’t require that either, does it?
[−]d0mine · 2026-11-15 Sun 06:51 UTC · link
What is the point of humans here on Earth exactly? Some consider that humans can be replaced by AI today/in near future. Should we just give up and live space to a more advanced civilization?