While I agree, that more money should be spent on issues here at home, we MUST explore space because our time here is limited....if we don't, we're doomed as a species.....the reason why astronauts can't go collect the rocks themselves is due to the health risks (at this point) of such long space flight. I saw a NOVA program that said with current technology, any astronaut travelling to mars would have only about 4 yrs to live after the journey due to damage to their dna from cosmic radiation etc. THey'd also be bombarded with micro asteroids (particles) that would penetrate the ship and pass through their bodies.....
Plus they don't have a way to carry enough fuel for the return trip or have a way to produce the fuel required on mars itself.
I tell you, with the amount of money and effort they're spending on mars, I bet the eggheads know something we don't....like maybe there's a planet killer asteroid heading towards earth? Or some other doomsday event......Kind of like being on the titanic after it struck the iceberg....you have the lifeboats but no where to go after you get off the ship.......what you have to do is find a place to go before you strike the iceberg, not after.....
