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Not rude at all, Peter. Respect your opinion, of course, as well as your right to express it.
Still, I'm not so sure. I wouldn't even rule out amateur collectives managing some sort of robotic interplanetary exploration in the future. I try never to underestimate the creativity and ingenuity of the succeeding generations (double entendre intended).
PS. Please don't take any of this to mean that I approve of the governmental cuts to the major space agencies. Rather, the writing is on the wall there for anyone with eyes to see, and I can't see why the downsizing of the public sector bodies isn't going to continue. Something will fill the vacuum, and that "something" will naturally have to be the private sector and dedicated volunteers.
Plus, of course, new agencies formed in the newly affluent countries. (Lets face it, it's only because the UK and the US are now insolvent that they've had to cut back the way they have.)
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