Is space exploration worth it?

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

How 'bout Uranus?

Nah. Your sisters' maybe.

[ed martin]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

Nah. Your sisters' maybe.

OK, let's not even go there.

[Tobra]

without the space program, there would be no velcro

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

Nah. Your sisters' maybe.

No sisters.

[m21sniper]

Got any hot nieces over 18?

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

Got any hot nieces over 18?

All spoken for.

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by Tobra

without the space program, there would be no velcro

That's right. No velcro trousers for you swingers out there.

[Jagshund]

Uh . . . getting back on topic . . . I don't quite think anyone has fully broached the 'humanity' aspect of this. Right now, folks, we as a race are a one-trick pony. One good whack and we're all done. We have to create a legacy for our race that extends beyond our planet and populate the stars to ensure the existence of future generations. There are those who say we should spend money on more earthly needs, socialized health care (don't even start this thread) and such. However, should we become more than 'earthlings', there are strides to be made that could potentially take our grounded squabbling out of the equation as we come to terms with the simple fact that national borders and race really don't matter when you look at the big picture.

[ChrisBennet]

Manned exploration has some political justifications such as:
- Employing Russian scientists so they use don't go to work for the forces of evil.
- Industrial welfare program to keep companies in business until we need them for the next war.

As far a space exploration goes though, manned exploration is a horrible waste since it uses money that could be better spent on unmanned exploration.

As far as eventual "escape" from an overpoplulated planet, we have the technology now to fix overpopulation - birth control. Think what a billion $ in birth control could do for population control. Looking at space exploration as a way to solve our eventual problems is like playing the lottery as a way to get out of debt.

-Chris

[Pazuzu]

Manned space flight/exploration is about 100,000 TIMES more efficient than unmanned. We simply cannot learn enough from unmanned missions. One manned trip to the moon will tell us more than hundreds of unmanned trips to the moon.

If we are going to continue to explore space, we need to send people up there, as often as possible and as far as possible, there's no other way to learn.

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

If we are going to continue to explore space, we need to send people up there, as often as possible and as far as possible, there's no other way to learn.

The new "Ban Island" for PPOT!

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

The day we discover a near Earth object (NEO) on a collision course with us that ground-based telescopes missed will be the day it's all worthwhile. That 100% will happen. Might be tomorrow, might be in 500 years. But it will happen. Imagine if we did find that with ground-based telescopes but didn't have the technology to intercept it because we have no need for such powerful rockets and guidance systems here on Earth.

I can imagine it. Whether it is nature's way of taking care of the over-population problem or God's will, if it is to happen it will happen whether we have a space program or not. it is arrogant and ignorant to think that we can stop a meteor or comet, or even change it's course.

We can't, unless it's in a science fiction movie.
All the billions in the world won't change that.

[RWebb]

Besides the technology - not just Tang, but also velcro, numerous other consumer products, better spy sats, and dominance of the 'ultimate' high ground - space exploration gives us more knowledge.

For example, much of what we understand about the Earth involves comparisons with other planets, esp. Mars and Venus. I have even seen jobs advertised for a comparative planetologist.

NASA and Mil space technologies have gone hand in hand for decades now. It's clear that we would have lagged somewhat in mil. space usages if we didn't have NASA.

The real question to me is whether human space flight is worth it...

[m21sniper]

I find the claim that the military had a net benefit from NASA wrt advancing it's technology as utterly laughable.

That same money funneled to DARPA et al would've paid out far higher dividends IMO. Almost all the tech people are crediting to NASA is actually tech delevoped and perfected by the Military.

The space shuttle is probably the single most wasteful and innefficient program in the history of the US Gov't- if not mankind. A white elephant to dominate all others.

[wrecktech]

http://www.wired.com/science/space/news/2006/12/72276

[Mule]

Spice!

[Jim Richards]

Spice Girls!

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by wrecktech

http://www.wired.com/science/space/news/2006/12/72276

Going to the moon for financially realistically obtainable nuclear fuel redefines the term pipe dream.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

I find the claim that the military had a net benefit from NASA wrt advancing it's technology as utterly laughable.

That same money funneled to DARPA et al would've paid out far higher dividends IMO. Almost all the tech people are crediting to NASA is actually tech delevoped and perfected by the Military.

The space shuttle is probably the single most wasteful and innefficient program in the history of the US Gov't- if not mankind. A white elephant to dominate all others.

you are apparently unaware that the size, configuration and lift capacity of the shuttle were all required by USAF

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by RWebb

you are apparently unaware that the size, configuration and lift capacity of the shuttle were all required by USAF

I believe the minimum dimensions and payload were, sure- for obvious reasons. But i'm not at all sure what the relevance of this comment is...the Space shuttle was not designed by or for the Air Force, nor was it a military program.