I'm not trying to lead anyone here.
I, anymore, do not really care as to whether Earth based man, does or does not go into space.
What does bother me, is the pie in the sky attitude, that Earthlings are the only self intelligent sentient beings, within this part of the universe.

I have to say that there are others.
The reason so for my saying, would be a safety factor, that NASA and other space agencies are not counting now.

With all due respect, this is my rough consensus.

Venusians. A double race to where there is two or more sects of these humanoids which seem Nordic.
In Elizabeth Klairers book, Beyond The Light Barrier, one of these beings had said, "I will not parlay with Earth men"!
In the other contact with Venusians of another sect, they choose not to talk, however utilize telepathy.

Acartians. A planet and beings that has a much superior population to Earth, however a one monotoned race and a common government.
They have high technology, space flight and advanced methods of doing things.
*Note, their astronomers were at the time the contacts were being made, looking at Earth anticipating where Earth would be having its nuclear war, so they could passably come here and get property.

Smaller furry dwarf-like races, who have space flight.These types of beings, are direct and to the point.They seem to want things, items and are sometimes not very polite as to how they derive these object.
Some have been noted as furry, but very strong.

This is just a small cross section of the many varied races that are surrounding Earth.
Many of these beings, other than what is said to be behind the door sanctioned with said government here, come to Earth at times, to derive objects stolen or asked for, so they can make their way.

%Try to think of Earth, for some aliens as one big popular superstore?
This is to where these beings can come here, get what they want and leave.

What I'm, trying to equate, is that if there is the attitude to go and discover people and beings and they don't want to deal with Earth humans, this could lead to potentially hostile actions.

So the axiom that we are boldly going to explore space, is certainly flawed within this statements primary logic.

I would like to start off in this thread, by simply saying, that within the design framework of how things could go, that an even input into disclosure puiblically, of some of the off world items, might help.

This is a very big first step for a government that has a terrible time with not only factors of inflicted abuse, but also in dealing with the truth and best alternative when its offered.

There might be military technologies that could protect off world traveling astronauts, if they collectively would develop space flight that would take them deeper.

The best route it seems to go, is to simply come out with the truth, in a moderated forum and let the people deal with this.

For instance, if your going to send astro-cosmonauts to a nearby world and hostilities break out, you might win the first few battles.However know that some of these races didn't get to where they are by easily being pushed around and might counter strategy.

This is probably when a zoned and publicly sanctioned two way point trade center, established on Earth is probably the best way to go?

If you try to explore or what you call discovery of other race, the official way, you might end up in armed combat.

They arn't simple pushovers. Some have alliances and weaponry that far outclasses what Earth could produce. So please stop for a second and think, do you really want to blindly go out there, without dealing with the truth?