The Space Shuttle

[OldBadfish]

Do you think after all of the missions to space our government needs to be spending billions going to space, when that same money could feed many starving children?

I mean space exploration is great, but we keep sending up astronauts and they do nothing but circle the earth, it seems a waste of money and resources.

I mean what is really being accomplished with all the shuttle missions?

At the least save some money and shoot for Mars or something.....

 

[Arikay]

They have been doing many experiments that may help us better understand things.

they have also been building a space station that will help further are exploration of space.

Unfortunatly (and sadly) if NASAs budget was cut, I doubt we would see any of that money, it would just go into some other government funded program or politicians. So I figure its better that its being used for science, than paying for expensive lunches.

 

[Angel75]

"The space station research will bring knowledge and insight about the far reaches of space down to Earth. For instance, studies of the Sun's effects on Earth will improve forecasts of events ranging from the temporary disruption of telecommunications to the long-term alterations in climate. The practical applications here on Earth gained from space science on the International Space Station will be invaluable. This unique venue offers the opportunity to pursue investigations into solar studies, cosmic rays, the physical and chemical composition of the space environment, as well as the presence of dark matter in the universe"

"To extend the search for our origins and for life in the solar system"

"to improve our understanding of the past and future of earths systems by improving our knowledge of the past and future of other planets"

 

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/mars/why_explore/index.html

 

 

[notto]

 

[Micaiah]

Several reasons guide mankind to explore the solar system. First, we extend the search for our origins and evidence of life beyond Earth. Knowledge of our past and understanding of our future improves. Our presence across the solar system expands. We fulfill our quest for knowledge and experience. Finally, we open opportunities for commercial development.

Thye above was from the link given above which appears to be a NASA sponsored site. Sometimes I wonder if it isn't just boys with toys. The research is sold as helping humanity, but those starving to death woud have difficulty accepting that rationale.

I don't find the search for origins an acceptable justification for the expenditure. As a Christian I know from where I came, and I know where I am going.

There is still a lot of land on our earth that can be irrigated and farmed. The money spent on space research could be spent in this way to support earth's population.

I'd be interested to here Christians who seriously support the notion that we should look for another planet to inhabit, along with some sort of rationale. I believe our Creator is in control of earth's destiny. His final plan for earth is bleak. The best chance for humanity on earth is to book a ticket for heaven.

 

[webboffin]

Nothing wrong with space exploration. There have been many things man has benefited from with space technology and take for granted (communication and sat. TV for instance). Feed the world and not going into space seems an idealistic notion but if Nasa or anyone else stopped bothering with space you think all the people in the world will have filled tummies? Realistically - no. Technology and frontiers are dreams humanity has never been able to resist.

We know much about the impact humans have on our enviroment with space technology. The list goes on. I am sure many could come up with other things. The Space Shuttle disaster was sad but space does come with risks.

 

[Micaiah]

Originally posted by webboffin
Nothing wrong with space exploration. There have been many things man has benefited from with space technology and take for granted (communication and sat. TV for instance). Feed the world and not going into space seems an idealistic notion but if Nasa or anyone else stopped bothering with space you think all the people in the world will have filled tummies? Realistically - no. Technology and frontiers are dreams humanity has never been able to resist.

We know much about the impact humans have on our enviroment with space technology. The list goes on. I am sure many could come up with other things. The Space Shuttle disaster was sad but space does come with risks.

Okay, satellite technology seems a reasonable area in which to invest. Would this technology exist if we didn't send a man to the moon? Anyone know NASA's space budget? What percent of NASA's space budget goes into research on satellites?

You may have a different opinion on the expenditure if you watched your family perish throuh starvation.

 

[webboffin]

But NASA and starvation are not linked. Why not pick on another government expenditure? How about US spend less billions on military (why spend money to kill perhaps) and feed the Earth's poor. If I was watching my family starve I am not going to say - darn that NASA !!! Why not instead the West give the Third World a fairer trade deal where they can get a fair price for their labours instead of being extorted? That would do much more than the paltry NASA budget in comparison.

 

[Late_Cretaceous]

Maybe people should say "we are not going to go out to a movie, or a museum, or to a resturaunt until we have payed off our mortgage. We won't go on vacation, or buy toys for the kids, or books, or a TV, or anything else except the basics until we are debt free. We will live on nothing but beans and rice and fish once a week. No renovations, no flower gardens, not even any pets until our objective is realized" .

That would be wise, financially. YOu could pay your mortage in 15 years. Of course, your kids would not know much about the outside world. You would not have any fun, and you would have missed out on a lot of stuff. But, hey you would be financially stable. No friends, nothing interesting to talk about, but in the black.

The space program sets up its own challenges. Without the science and engineering required to make space flight seem routine - we would have slower computers, know less about osteoporosis, understand less about our universe. The world would be a poorer place. Besides, it is human nature to explore for the sake of exploration.

 

[webboffin]

I do agree, and really you cannot stop technology progressing in any field. Else why was money spent on the technology research that your computer, tv, video or why on cars, airplanes, headache pill or anything else instead of it being spent on the starving?
Space research is not just going out into space it has it important purposes and implications here on Earth that benefit all of us. Maybe the medical industry will get something out of it too.

 

[seebs]

Originally posted by Badfish
Do you think after all of the missions to space our government needs to be spending billions going to space, when that same money could feed many starving children?

I mean space exploration is great, but we keep sending up astronauts and they do nothing but circle the earth, it seems a waste of money and resources.

I mean what is really being accomplished with all the shuttle missions?

At the least save some money and shoot for Mars or something.....

Er. They do lots of things; I assume you're aware that they don't send astronauts up into space unless they have something for them to do up there.

If you want to know what's being accomplished on shuttle missions, go look 'em up. There's lots of 'em. They're feeding people doing research on the space station, they're launching satellites, they're repairing satellites... They're building the framework that will, one day, *allow* us to do things like "go to Mars", or "build a Moon base".

The reason people starve isn't lack of money, or lack of food. For some time, it's almost always been "their government refuses to allow food to them". There are occasional famines not caused by civil wars, but the majority of starvation these days is a result of the local government not *caring* what happens to the people, or in many cases, actively starving some places in the hopes of defeating rebels.

 

[webboffin]

It is really very complex and not tied to one thing. I wish people was not starving, seeing pot bellied babies in poor countries is noones glee. Just it is the world we live in. Doesn't mean it should be acceptable but blaming something with no relationship to the cause or aid to the sad plight of humans is not the way to go about it. Governments of the countries affected and the West need to look at the causes and try and help or solve in direct and helpful ways.