Well, the writer certainly has a point. There is something very basic in answering this question. Life on earth is ultimately unique as long as no alien life is discovered. And yet we strive to know that we are not alone even at the cost of losing this very unique place. Is it the primordial blessing of the tree of knowledge that makes us go there?

There will be life found on other terrestrial bodies. Most will be microscopic and not in the ET range. I reckon most people will not be impressed until it contradicts their holy books and they get an opinion from the pulpit

I think earthlings just don't like the thought of being alone in all that ever increasing space. Also when the day comes and earthlings actually reach the point where we self-destruct they want to at least think that there is another world they can go to.

I found this interesting quote from an alien; "I don't think God put me on this planet to judge others. I think he put me on this planet to gather specimens and take them back to my home planet."