600 billion dollars (and counting) could go a long way to resolving some domestic issues. IDK, maybe instead of politicians arguing about where money should come from on some issues, maybe we should ask if it should be spent in the first place? Just a thought. Any others? http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,993172,00.html
Considering that our travels in space and other NASA and DoD projects have resulted in the creation of GPS, new medicines, nuclear energy, cellular communication, satellites, and many other advances that stemmed not as direct objectives but offshoots from developments learned from space missions and components thereof, I find al research and missions like this to be critical to future advancement. If you are looking at it purely economically, imagine applying that logic to past missions. Would it be worth that same cost long term to create cell phones? Well the industry of cellular communications provides a greater GDP increase than the cost off set us. Nuclear energy was not created via space travel, but refined and better understood through NASA and DARPA's efforts, so would you want to tell all the cancer survivors who are still around that their lives were not worth the initial costs and risks of space exploration? And lastly, education and knowledge of science and engineering are the foundations of long term life and advancement of society as a whole. Should we ever worry and take away from growth there? Is it worth not inspiring those young children in grade school like pictures and videos of landing on the moon did for so many others just because of an upfront cost we were able to moderately easily afford? Is it worth removing those dreams and ambitions of being rocket scientists and studying hard to become the best, and removing the pride of American ingenuity and accomplishment from our children and schools? Landing on mars is an image of the American dream. It symbolizes all we hold dear as hard working people. It is what defines us, makes us great, and provides us another stepping stone to be greater. I wrote that on my iPhone so sorry for any auto correct issues. -Jordan
There is no reason to throw money at landing someone on another planet for soil samples if you ask me. GPS, cell phones, nuclear energy, and especially medicine was and would have been already invented with or without our landing on the moon.
My question is why haven't we put a person on mars. That's what I'm waiting for. As for the money it costs I don't care. It's not like they are going to give it to me. "Live Life at Full Draw" Sent from my IPhone
Good points... but is this the right time to "go off chasing a distant star?" (Mac Davis, Lubbock Tx In My Rearview Mirror) with everything else going on in our economy? Will it be a shot in the arm... a kick in the pants... or the straw that breaks the proverbial camel's back? Will it be worth paying for 50 years from now when we are still realing from the debt it created today?
Unlike the trillions we have spent "reducing poverty" the space programs turn out tangible results, or as some might a return on the dollar. Going to the moon, and back was nothing more than a slap in the face to Russia, and it worked ( I think thats where that red spot on Gorbachev's head came from) while the commies tried to keep up in space we were building stealth technologies and the drone program. The Russia space station is a joke and it would have fallen from the sky with out our help. And not only does the space program employ some of our greatest thinkers, NASA also brings great minds here from many other countries, and from what I've been reading lately we can use a few more thinkers around here.
Theres's a thought... what about improving education here so we don't have to bring in scientist from other countries? We have slipped significantly in science and math to well out of the top ten. Or, how about if we partner with other countries, researching together, learning together, spending together and accomplishing something as a World Team? Beats blowing each other up. (I hate war!... I don't sound very conservative; do I?)
Money won't make kids smarter, we throw away billions on education now, ever heard the term "That dog won't hunt"? Not every ones going to be rocket scientist material, but hell today one half of our kids quit school! Why is that an option? We spend millions on schools that kids won't bother going to. Most of these schools have day care so sally can stay in school till she can get pregnant again so our government pays her and her children enough to never finish school or work. Until adults want to be parents and discipline their own off spring during their adolescent years, we will continue to have children having more children and no one ever learning to be self sufficient.
"It is what defines us, makes us great, and provides us another stepping stone to be greater." - That was done when we landed the first mars rover. There is waste in all that we do as a nation. We have become satiated and need to start a fiscal exercise program. Once we work off all the fat and are a lean country again, then maybe we could look at further space exploration.
I agree,I Like the way you stated this. The space travel has created far more income than it has cost.
There's a 7 to 1 return of new technology developed from space missions. We. Need to explore mars for many reasons. One would be the fact that we will soon have to look to new places for the recourses that we are depleting here. Mars is made up of many of the valuable metals we use in our everyday lives.
You missed that point. LOL You can throw money at a problem all you want but the money is not the issue.
No kidding! I mean people get upset when there's someone within 200 yards of their own tree stand - jeez! Never mind from another planet...
NASA has an annual budget ranging from 15-20 billion per year and actually produces tangible economic and technical results. Oppositely we spend 700 billion per year on welfare alone. Let's trim the fat in more substantial regions than worrying over NASA.
