Our Future in Space (Video)

This is an interesting discussion about the future of space travel.

On the discussion panel are Phil Plait, Pamela Gay, Lawrence Krauss, Bill Nye, and Neil deGrasse.

Great video.

The problem Bill Nye mentioned with fuel (beer can problem) is why I mentioned putting construction tools in space, in the asteroid mining thread.

Normally to launch stuff in space you need something like a rocket the size of a bus to launch a pebble. You need a rocket the size of a tall building to launch a satellite or a few people. The amount of fuel is ridiculous, but if a vehicle doesn't have to escape atmosphere because it is built in space using materials gathered in space, it could be much much smaller and less expensive.