Don't follow much space news but guessing it's for colonization possibilities / setting up stations
During work travel a few years back I happened to stay at a Marriott with my wife during a furry convention. We knew something was odd when, while looking for a parking spot, we passed by a patron who was unloading luggage from their trunk and we thought we noticed a tail protruding from the back of their pants. For about a minute we didn't make much of it. Then, while walking from the lot to the main entrance, we noticed from about 100 yards out, a few people in what we assumed were mascot costumes. It was only when we made our entrance that I realized what we stumbled upon. I felt like a regular doctor Doolittle - surrounded by all kinds of animals that I could actually talk to and they to me (well, sorta - when I passed by a couple squirrels near the sushi bar, I was unable to translate the chirping noises they were making to each other). Long story short, it was super entertaining and they were cool when I asked them about their culture, etc. I only wish I loved something (family/friends aside) half as much as they love to dress like furry animals. But I'm boring. Even this wall of text I wrote makes me want to nap.