Poll: Earth Issues Vs. Space Exploration

[Dedpuhl]

The U.S. gov't, as well as many other nations, seem to dump millions of dollars into space exploration. Don't get me wrong. Satellites orbiting the Earth are crucial to today's society. Why in the world do they spend money to send probes to Mars and to the outskirts of the Universe. This money can be used to solve problems (poverty, pollution, etc) in their respective countries. What is really more important:

Fixing problems on Earth

Or

Finding new problems out in space

 

[Bappo]

Well if it wasn't for the money spent in space exploration you wouldn't have Tang! Along with so many other things in our society it isn't even funny.

Where do you think the tech came from to put those satellites into orbit? what future inventions will come about from this research? What draconian measures do you foresee occuring on Earth as the population increases, pollution increases, resources deplete, etc. in the future? Is space a potential option?

You raise a classic example of "what will it do for me NOW?"

I work in a research lab so this is kinda a touchy subject. Just read about our lab developing microbes that eat TNT. Not such a bad thing for unexploded ordinance don't ya think?

 

[kami]

Fixing problems on Earth

Or

Finding new problems out in space

how about both? If humans had no interest in space do you realize where we would be today? Would I even be typing this?

In the distant, or not so distant future space will be our only answer. Earth and whatever is on here will NOT last forever. Sure, it will last while YOU are here but what about many generations from now? I bet THEY will be glad we are spending so much money on all of this now. Look at the advancements we've made in 20 years in regards to space exploration and science. Imagine where we'll be in 100 years? It will all be worth it eventually.

 

[sandorski]

I don't think this question is so cut and dry, either/or, or "one way or the other". Space exploration is like war, it is a great way to advance knowledge and technology which will have benefits back here on Earth. Eventually we'll expand into space where all these current investments will pay off in spades as we find resources and in general more room for expansion.

Besides, even if the money spent on space exploration went to the world's problems, it still wouldn't be enough. Not that we shouldn't seek to alleviate those problems, it's just that both can be done simultaneously.

 

[Gdawg2000]

I dont think we can even have space exploration. Lets face it, every single thing we've tried so send to mars either ends up "lost" or "has crashed or lost communication with". Why spend billions and trillions of dollars on this?? I agree with using that money to help our ecosystem untill we can be certain that we wont "lose" anymore shuttles

 

[Valhalla1]

ungodly amounts of money are spend on space exploration.. I think I read somewhere that they stopped painting one of the shuttle staged fuel tanks white, and saved millions of dollars in paint alone.


but they are researching ways of saving money (which in itself takes costs lots of money).

I saw a cool ass show on TLC the other night about magnetic levitation. they were demo-ing a way to launch satellites into space using mag-lev train technology, launching it without the need for burning fuel, it was badass.

 

[xtreme2k]

Without the will to explore what is surrounding us and space, we will still be living in Caves. Technology wouldn't have moved forward.