Is Space Exploration Worth the Cost

I would say it's even worth a human cost. Our race didn't grow up over the ages to eat, sleep and sh*t like the animals around us. We should aspire to something more grand.
 
I am qualified to answer. And yes it is.
 
<insert dr. breen speech explaining benefits here>
 
I think the idea is worth it, but we really need to overhaul the way we do it.
 
Look at the people they asked. Real unbiased selection there.
 
In order to be true to our nature, and our destiny, we must aspire to greater things. We have outgrown our cradle. It is futile to cry for mother's milk when our true sustenance awaits us, among the stars.
 
15357 said:
In order to be true to our nature, and our destiny, we must aspire to greater things. We have outgrown our cradle. It is futile to cry for mother's milk when our true sustenance awaits us, among the stars.
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I've always thought that, to assume mankind has a "higher" purpose is to assume that we do not have individual destiny, or that there is some sort of supreme being.

We have individual destinies, and there is no supreme being.
 
We should take all the money we spend on space and spend it on Earth. What's space ever done for us? All it's done is be big and cold and pretty to look at. It's not like we're getting anywhere by going to space.

Where're we gonna go? Mars?

F*ck Mars.
 
Darkside55 said:
We should take all the money we spend on space and spend it on Earth. What's space ever done for us? All it's done is be big and cold and pretty to look at. It's not like we're getting anywhere by going to space.

Where're we gonna go? Mars?

F*ck Mars.
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...it IS spent on Earth.

You think spending monies on a space program means we give it to aliens?
 
Cheomesh said:
...it IS spent on Earth.

You think spending monies on a space program means we give it to aliens?
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Yes... Are you implying spending money on a space program means we don't give it to aliens?
 
Of course, but I'd prefer that space travel wasn't reserved for the elite of the elite. Less than 500 people have ever been into space in our history, and we've had space travel for over 50 years. A few years after powered flight, we had warplanes, and 50 years later we had transatlantic passenger liners.
Space travel shouldn't be just the preserve of governments - commercialisation would make the dream a reality for us all.
 
repiV said:
Of course, but I'd prefer that space travel wasn't reserved for the elite of the elite. Less than 500 people have ever been into space in our history, and we've had space travel for over 50 years. A few years after powered flight, we had warplanes, and 50 years later we had transatlantic passenger liners.
Space travel shouldn't be just the preserve of governments - commercialisation would make the dream a reality for us all.
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It's not that simple. Atmospheric flight is far simpler than extraterrestrial travel. It's also far cheaper. Take a look at the physical training astronauts go through for just ONE mission.
 
Cheomesh said:
It's not that simple. Atmospheric flight is far simpler than extraterrestrial travel. It's also far cheaper.
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It's far cheaper now, due to economies of scale. Nowadays, you can catch a flight from London to Slovakia for the price of two large Big Mac meals, or 50 miles worth of fuel for a mid-range car.
Clearly this doesn't represent the true cost involved. When air travel was in its infancy, it was also reserved for the elite.
Space travel is prohibitively expensive because noone is doing it and there is no competition or business involved.

Take a look at the physical training astronauts go through for just ONE mission.
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Yes, it would require a degree of fitness and training but not to the same extent astronauts require. They have to be able to cope with anything because they operate in high-risk environments with no backup and they are all involved in the safety and operation of the mission. It's like comparing fighter pilots with airline passengers. Current spacecraft are not built with comfort, accessibility or practicality in mind. It's like PCs of 20 years ago - they did their job, and that was about it. There were no resources for making PCs easy to use or accessible, that came much later.
 
Cheomesh said:
You are not an economist.
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Thats not what my certificate of economising says. I had to take 3 days of classes on the internet to get it, and spend 3grand. So I am very qualified. If not overqualified.
 
Krynn72 said:
Thats not what my certificate of economising says. I had to take 3 days of classes on the internet to get it, and spend 3grand. So I am very qualified. If not overqualified.
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:|

Come on now, don't be fail.

EDIT: Now as a taxpayer, you can yay or nay it.
 
Yes.

I'd rather more tax money was spent on the pursuit of knowledge than on war machines.
 
Dont forget the cool science stuff space exploration research has given us. Think about the GPS systems and mobile phone networks and TVs and lots of shit with satelites in them. And SPACE LASERS!
 
Didn't synthetic rubber come out of the early space programme too?
 
Don't forget disposable diapers.

I used to have a link with everything the space program has given us. It was frigging long.

Ah, here we go.
 
The idea of abandoning space exploration is terrible. How could we not want to understand the universe better?
We would be doing ourselves as a species a grave injustice.

Cheomesh said:
I've always thought that, to assume mankind has a "higher" purpose is to assume that we do not have individual destiny, or that there is some sort of supreme being.

We have individual destinies, and there is no supreme being.
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"Destiny" is utter nonsense, unless of course you don't mean it in the literal sense and simply mean the way in which our lives autonomously pan out.

Whilst I'm with you on the "no supreme being" sentiment, I think that mankind does have a common, higher purpose. This is no way diminishes our development as individuals, however it is verging on dangerous to stand firm by the idea that humanity cannot hold together as a species in an attempt to become something more than we are currently.

"Something more" however is open to massive interpretation, but if we consider the progression of our species so far, it has usually meant building upon our knowledge of the universe around us, from the smallest, sub-atomic level through tangible Earthly things and past into the cosmos; exploring and expanding our intellect, through art, philosophy, politics, etc.; invention in order to keep us safe, healthy, comfortable and sated.

I'm sure there are more examples that I've missed out, but my point is that all these things have all been collaborative. No nation or society or group of people have been able to have all the answers; our species could not have come nearly as far as it has were it not for some sort of common purpose.

We are by our very nature social and inquisitive beings - we crave understanding and we crave human interaction and these things inevitably intersect.
And it's a damn good thing too.
 
Of course, but I'd prefer that space travel wasn't reserved for the elite of the elite. Less than 500 people have ever been into space in our history, and we've had space travel for over 50 years. A few years after powered flight, we had warplanes, and 50 years later we had transatlantic passenger liners.
Space travel shouldn't be just the preserve of governments - commercialisation would make the dream a reality for us all.
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I agree, space exploration needs to get some hefty private interest TBH. Its like a whole universe of resources to be exploited for profit, its a capitalists dream, I'm surprised the world isn't grasping to get up there.

Its like every profitable metal, mineral and stuff yo ever want, up there in quantity that makes Earths current ration of the stuffs look measly.
 
nurizeko said:
I agree, space exploration needs to get some hefty private interest TBH. Its like a whole universe of resources to be exploited for profit, its a capitalists dream, I'm surprised the world isn't grasping to get up there.

Its like every profitable metal, mineral and stuff yo ever want, up there in quantity that makes Earths current ration of the stuffs look measly.
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Yeah - and I would totally be an asteroid miner. For a while, anyway.
 
I'm not so sure I'd like to fly to space in something that was made by a company that was profit driven ..profits usually means maximising the bottom line any way possible. There are no parachutes/lifeboats in space
 
CptStern said:
I'm not so sure I'd like to fly to space in something that was made by a company that was profit driven ..profits usually means maximising the bottom line any way possible. There are no parachutes/lifeboats in space
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You don't fly with airlines? Or Canadian Airlines have parachutes?

Of course, space exploration needs to be commercialized. Today future of the space exploration depends on White House hypocrites, weak ESA and Russians without money.
 
CptStern said:
I'm not so sure I'd like to fly to space in something that was made by a company that was profit driven ..profits usually means maximising the bottom line any way possible. There are no parachutes/lifeboats in space
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i was just about to say that.

space exploration should be a joint operation of all nations. but now it needs alot more funds.

make the damn space elevator already...you'll see the revolution it will bring.
if i remember correctly...lifting 1 pound into space now costs 10000$, with a space elevator it would cost 100$.
 
CptStern said:
I'm not so sure I'd like to fly to space in something that was made by a company that was profit driven ..profits usually means maximising the bottom line any way possible. There are no parachutes/lifeboats in space
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Maybe not, but think about how cool it would be for your corpse to go around the Universe forever (well... until you hit something). It's a much better way of dying than floating around in the sea.
 
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