Thread: should we be exploring space

I would like 2 know your opinion on whether during these hard economic times we should be exploring space as you may know there is another shuttle mission leaving soon and I believe it is a waste of time and money. What peaks my curiosity is that I live pretty close to Kennedy Space Center and I hear the shuttles when they leave and come the picture in my signature is the last shuttle launch over Walt Disney World that is Tinkerbell Castle

1st off shadowbuild, I would like to say that is an excellent question. My opinion is exploring outer space has got to be a fascination for most people (especially me!) But I really think it could wait a year or two, till things get better you know

thank you 4 your interest that is my point what is the rush

Whats the rush?

Dude, Planet earth has been here millions of years dude. Might as well do it while we can.

By the way, Wrong section for the topic >_<

Why is this in the competition section?


But as to the question, no we should not be doing manned exploring, per say, right now.


- Our technology for exploration and survey is, in the grand scheme of things, primitive. Spending resources on research and development is a much better investment.

- Space exploration, at this time, with our technological level, has next to no economic return. The most economical foreseeable project in the future would be to mine asteroids. The most economical approach would be to focus on science in general, and then when such projects become very economical, to undertake them

- Our society and economy is so messed up, and most people are too busy watching American Idol to know & understand this. We needs to be fixing things right here, right now, before looking at things like this. Things like having a ton of money spent on space programs is cool.... but you have to earn it. You have to have a strong economy.

And we don't. Our government is an absolute joke when it comes to the economy.... and pretty much everything in general. The people responsible for economic policy make Homer Simpson look like Einstein.

The average person is becoming more and more dependent on government, like a spoiled child. How often do you hear people say "Oh, look at this problem. What are we (in the community) doing to fix it? Rarely. More often, you hear "what are "they" (government) doing to fix it/my problems?"


Exploring space isn't a good idea until we as a humanity have progressed much more than where we are now.

didn't realize that I placed this discussion in competition section my bad thanks you for bring it to my attention does any one knows how to put in correct place help

Originally Posted by shadowbuild

didn't realize that I placed this discussion in competition section my bad thanks you for bring it to my attention does any one knows how to put in correct place help

Probably PM a moderator

Originally Posted by mtguy8787

Why is this in the competition section?


But as to the question, no we should not be doing manned exploring, per say, right now.


- Our technology for exploration and survey is, in the grand scheme of things, primitive. Spending resources on research and development is a much better investment.

- Space exploration, at this time, with our technological level, has next to no economic return. The most economical foreseeable project in the future would be to mine asteroids. The most economical approach would be to focus on science in general, and then when such projects become very economical, to undertake them

- Our society and economy is so messed up, and most people are too busy watching American Idol to know & understand this. We needs to be fixing things right here, right now, before looking at things like this. Things like having a ton of money spent on space programs is cool.... but you have to earn it. You have to have a strong economy.

And we don't. Our government is an absolute joke when it comes to the economy.... and pretty much everything in general. The people responsible for economic policy make Homer Simpson look like Einstein.

The average person is becoming more and more dependent on government, like a spoiled child. How often do you hear people say "Oh, look at this problem. What are we (in the community) doing to fix it? Rarely. More often, you hear "what are "they" (government) doing to fix it/my problems?"


Exploring space isn't a good idea until we as a humanity have progressed much more than where we are now.

Exploring space has proven time and time again to have massive positive growth impacts. Think of all the things satellites have been used for. And wireless technology. And scratch resistant lenses, shoe insoles, smoke detectors, medical imaging (CAT scans, MRIs, etc), water filters, dialysis machines, insulation... and well, I think I can stop now. Thats just what I can remember off the top of my head. If you want to look at a full list of the something like 7000 inventions, I'm sure a list exists somewhere online. And most of those were created for the manned space program. You want long term sustained growth? Invest in space.

Honestly, I don't get what the small government thing has to do with anything here. I'm a fiscal conservative to the core, but space exploration is not and has never been the problem with the budget. It makes up about 0.5% of the budget. We pay over 40 times more every year for social security. We paid 40 times more for medicare/medicaid last year (after the new health care bill is counted it ends up looking more like 70 times more). Hell, we paid 10 times more just on interest on national debt. There are a lot of places to cut spending. I dont think space is one that we should be.

Also, it isnt a bailout (or social) program like it seems like youre trying to say. Its not meant to fix the problems of society or anything like that. It is academic scientific research. Unless you also want to argue that medical research is useless, then I dont understand what youre trying to say here.

raigekionyou summed up my feelings on it pretty well. I'd hate to see it put on the back burner, it will be very difficult to get it going again, and unless we want to stop all research because of the economy, it shouldn't be singled out. It really really ticks me off too that I won't be around 500 years from now to see our advancement into space.

Btw, Tinkerbell never had a castle, that's the Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World.