Plus, it’s a fascinating place, even if it is devoid of life. Part of its appeal is trying to determine whether it will ever be able to sustain life because I think that at some point we will have to colonise it, not only as we squeeze each other off Earth but because we need to make a solid start with space exploration and the moon is the most convenient starting point.

I agree that poverty relief and job creation are massively important, but we shouldn’t cast aside dreams of inter galactic space travel simply because it doesn’t seem financially prudent. If we all had that attitude I reckon we would all stil be living in isolated pockets of humanity never knowing that a broader world exists.

And, what is Google going to do about global poverty relief anyway. They’re about (or are supposed to be about) making information accessible and bringing the moon closer to humankind is one way of encouraging learning and nurturing dreams and adventurous spirits.

But I’m a bit of a sci-fi geek and virtually a Trekkie, so my views may be somewhat biased