Do you think that it is financially logical to send a commercial mission to the Moon or Mars.?

Question

Elements, gravitational advantages or not, solar radiation, etc.

Answer 1

at this point in time all we have to go on are educated guesses as to what we might find in the way of minerals and if we mined ore it would have to be refined on site and the cost of transportation would be prohibitive. unless some very valuable and here to fore unknown substance is discovered  i'd say stay home for now.

Answer 2

Out of the space race we got electronics and the computer industry worth billions.  Who knows what new things may come out of our next venture?

Answer 3

lunar helium-3 is supposed to be a good deal, I think. of course that depends on developing a fusion reactor that actually produces more power than it consumes.

Answer 4

Cost cannot be a concern other than that meant to be kept at a minimum, and not to the  extent of  compromising safety, and success of the mission.

The mission is feasible, though the "manned aspect" is not the most efficient way to gather knowledge of the heavens. Probes, and all sorts of autonomous, intelligent machines can do a far better job than humans can, for a lot less money and design complications. BUT the adventurous and romantic character of mankind must be nurtured, for we all benefit from search and discovery, somehow, directly or not.  

Think of the computer you are using--the device which is enabling us to communicate;   Did you know that Space research was a catalyst for the development of the computer---and dozens of other inventions and innovations?

The Scientific knowledge that Space research spawns is precious to scientists, from many fields of specialization.

From what they learn, engineers design and you and I benefit.

Did you know that the amount spent on cosmetics in any year is many many times more than the amount spent on space research (in any given year)?

When ALASKA was sold to the USA for a million bucks or so, the state was considered by some to be next to worthless. Think of the GDP of Alaska today.

MARS might seem too costly a target for human exploration but eventually there will be great value realized for having invested in research and exploration of the red planet.

Answer 5

I'm confused by the question? What would they gain by such a mission (profit wise)?

Answer 6

Only robotic missions and then it is still too cost prohibitive.

Answer 7

In the future it may be possible to send unmanned robots to harvest resources off Astroids or Comets. It would be much more cost effective to exploit those sorts of bodies rather than actual planets. If you send something to a planet you have to have a way to bring it back, which means using some sort of propulsion system. The low gravity on astroids or comets would make it much easier to leave them. That and it'd be possible to even just tow such objects closer to earth so that people could break them down. Perhaps future ore refineries will exist on the moon and its low gravity will benefit its workers as unmanned craft tote in raw matterials to be processed.

I think as the technologies become more and more practical it will become more profitable and then more logical to persue.