 Why does Ben take offence to Cobb's comments about spacemen?
With never a moment to rest, the pursuit through space felt like a game of hounds and hares ... or was it follow the leader? There, among the grizzled veterans of the old Moon Patrol, he'd found friends who understood his dream and who later recommended his appointment to the U. S. Academy for the Conquest of Space. And a month ago, he'd signed aboard the Odyssey —the first ship, it was rumored, equipped to venture as far as the asteroids and perhaps beyond. Cobb was persistent: "Damn fools shoulda known enough to stay on Earth. Under interplanetary law, that would mean ten years in prison and a dishonorable discharge. And whereas no legally recognized ship had ventured past Mars, the souped-up renegade rigs had supposedly hit the asteroids.
 It's deeply personal to him. He grew up venerating space and space travel. He spent his whole life preparing for it.
 He takes a lot of pride in his job, and dislikes Cobb disparaging it.  It's deeply personal to him. Because of his parent's death, he'd taken an interest in the job.  It's deeply personal to him. He grew up venerating space and space travel. He spent his whole life preparing for it.  He knows that spacemen account for the life people like Cobb can live, because of his work.