Stop exploring space? No way!

In response to Aidan Rogers' call for an end to the space program , the drive to explore, discover and understand the universe we live in is an amazing endeavor.

[Jay]

People are being killed left and right in this city. It's fair to question how the exploration of Uranus can help the little guy.

NASA is only "symbolically American" in that it wastes a lot of money and makes a few defense contractors very wealthy.

[jackholesofameri ca]

Because it helps promote technological advances. Military defense promotes technological advances. Most of the technology that we use has been a result of NASA/Warfare. The ones that want to end the program need to look at the big picture and not the "here and now".

[OverIT]

The next time you wonder if the space program is worth it, think about what life would be like without, cell phones, computers, electronic watches, IPods, the internet, all the electronic medical equipment from MRI's to heart monitors. Lets not also forget DVD's, HD TV, satellite radio, home satellite tv equipment......

Need I say more??? All these things are directly or indirectly the results of what we learned with the space program. Think about that especially the next time you visit someone in the hospital in ICU or some who's life was saved by an MRI.

IT IS WORTH IT!!!

[jimvandamme]

OverIT wrote:

The next time you wonder if the space program is worth it, think about what life would be like without, cell phones, computers, electronic watches, IPods, the internet...DVD's, HD TV, satellite radio, home satellite tv equipment......
Need I say more???

Let's hope not.

Oh, you forgot Tang.

The problem is, what you get from a spinoff is much less than what you get if research dollars are spent directly on a problem or project. The rest is just burned up to satisfy the "explorers'" curiosity. Don't you think we should be working on energy right now instead of shooting obscenely expensive rockets off to outer space? I do.

[Martin]

We must explore if we are to survive as a race. Eventually our sun will grow old and expand in size out past our orbit. Needless to say, all life on this planet will cease to exist (that's of course if we do not kill off all life ourselves). So we must explore if we are to continue.

I'm sure this arguement will not satisfy many of the "me" people. Yes we have a long time before the sun dies, but we must start exploring now. I do think we could spend the money more wisely than we have to date. But that's another argurement.

[Tool]

Jay wrote:

People are being killed left and right in this city. It's fair to question how the exploration of Uranus can help the little guy.
NASA is only "symbolically American" in that it wastes a lot of money and makes a few defense contractors very wealthy.

Funny you mention Uranus. It's a quite fitting description of where you summon your brain power.

[CHS Grad 1977]

OverIT wrote:

The next time you wonder if the space program is worth it, think about what life would be like without, cell phones, computers, electronic watches, IPods, the internet, all the electronic medical equipment from MRI's to heart monitors. Lets not also forget DVD's, HD TV, satellite radio, home satellite tv equipment......
Need I say more??? All these things are directly or indirectly the results of what we learned with the space program. Think about that especially the next time you visit someone in the hospital in ICU or some who's life was saved by an MRI.
IT IS WORTH IT!!!

Don't forget VELCRO!!!

http://seds.org/technology/spinoffs.shtml
http://techtran.msfc.nasa.gov/at_home/athospi...
http://spaceplace.jpl.nasa.gov/en/kids/spinof...
http://techtran.msfc.nasa.gov/at_home/atstadi...

more detailed list of inventions that were developed by NASA Scientists and Engineers that are now being used by the general public

[CHS Grad 1977]

another website

http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S0000...

[highschoolgirl]

OverIT wrote:

The next time you wonder if the space program is worth it, think about what life would be like without, cell phones, computers, electronic watches, IPods, the internet, all the electronic medical equipment from MRI's to heart monitors. Lets not also forget DVD's, HD TV, satellite radio, home satellite tv equipment......
Need I say more??? All these things are directly or indirectly the results of what we learned with the space program. Think about that especially the next time you visit someone in the hospital in ICU or some who's life was saved by an MRI.
IT IS WORTH IT!!!

Ok. No offense but seriously. Im sure some "albert einstein" would have eventually came along and discovered ways to invent all of those things. Space is a waste of time and money. it kills people and ruins their families. Just like the army. but thats a different story. Space hasnt done all that for us. The actual people have. Space has nothing to do with those people's brains. geez.

[Civics 101]

NASA IS IMPERATIVE TO THE US STAYING ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF TECHNOLOGY AND NOT FALLING BEHIND INDIA AND CHINA.

[Stanislaw]

highschoolgirl wrote:

<quoted text>
Ok. No offense but seriously. Im sure some "albert einstein" would have eventually came along and discovered ways to invent all of those things. Space is a waste of time and money. it kills people and ruins their families. Just like the army. but thats a different story. Space hasnt done all that for us. The actual people have. Space has nothing to do with those people's brains. geez.

Without a space program where do those satellites go? Perhaps you refer to a manned space program? That is a questionable enterprise. With a robotic program you get the new technologies and explore better, quicker and cheaper.
What would men on Mars accomplish that could not be done for billions less by unmanned probes?

[Meya Msia]

Martin wrote:

We must explore if we are to survive as a race. Eventually our sun will grow old and expand in size out past our orbit. Needless to say, all life on this planet will cease to exist (that's of course if we do not kill off all life ourselves). So we must explore if we are to continue.
I'm sure this arguement will not satisfy many of the "me" people. Yes we have a long time before the sun dies, but we must start exploring now. I do think we could spend the money more wisely than we have to date. But that's another argurement.

I think that before the sun expand our Earth already explosion .so we better think some useful way to save our Earth.Do you think shooting rocket to space will help us explore a new planet? No it just keep destroying our ozone layer this will let human die faster only and if those sciencetist found a planet that can let human to survive who do you think will be the people to go there? those rich of coarse . How about those poor people ? Let them countdown the time to death together in this Earth? We are born to protect our earth not destroy it and left it behind . Earth is our Home protect it and stop destroy it

[uscpsycho55]

the thing is, the earth is not dieing, it will not "explosion" the space program is not killing people, and it has never ruined anyones life. Only good has come out of the space program. People think that we could have invented things on our own without NASA. But the thing is, most of the things created can only be discovered in a weightless 0g enviroment. and to think that global warming is destroying the earth means you are an idiot that believes whatever the liberal media tells you, and that you are a pawn to scare tactics. Look at al gore. His ranch uses tons of electricity made by burning coal, and nuclear fusion. Anyways, back to global warming, its not reall. The mean statistical data shows that it has raised 1 degree in the past 100 years. And there was record ice buildup int he poles this year, and more c02 would make it cooler, and water vapor contributes to 70% of the greenhouse effect, c02 contributes to 3%. and volcanoes contribute to 30% of polution on this planet, humans contribute 3-10% So how about you get your facts straight and look around before you make absurd assumptions that the earth is being destroyed.