text: The author suggests that studying Venus is a worthy pursuit despite dangers, because Venus could have been at one point our most Earth-like planet and may eventually become a planet that is able to sustain life. Venus had at one point contained similar characteristics like that of Earth, and could possibly be an opportunity for sending a human to another planet which could advance technology enough to sustain life there. The author states, "Venus was probably covered largely with oceans and could have supported various forms of life, just like earth...Venus can sometimes be our nearest option for a planetary visit". The fact that Venus could have possibly sustained life in the past means that there is a slight window of opportunity for it to sustain humans and be "our nearest option for a planetary visit" again.