re: treating space like a preserve.

Ditto for the earth. It’s likely that environmental religionists will kill far more than they save given they work at cross purpose to progress (and intellect, esp. numbers of intellects). Consider that something almost killed off all of us 150,000 years ago if Mitochondrial Eve is to be believed. Be a pity if mankind disappears because we did not extend every effort to advance ourselves and our technology (and power) just as far as we possibly can. I figure when we have the equivalent of a fully exploitable Sun in everyone’s pocket we’ll have arrived and have a chance. Those that succeed in arguing that individuals don’t need, can’t be trusted with control of this much energy (and must “conserve”) will be responsible for untold death at the time of our next catastrophe. But this isn’t new news. Regulation (and our own sins of omission) continue to hasten everyone’s personal end-of-the-world catastrophe by denying us the medical (and other) advances necessary to live another few pain-free years.