I am an amateur astronomer and very interested in cosmology (the study of the universe and its origin). As such, I take a great interest in research that goes on in this field, particularly the exploration of space by manned and unmanned spacecraft.
My wife asked me a question the other day that really got me thinking, and started me questioning the motives of those who fund space exploration. The main thrust of her question was this:
"Why are millions of pounds, dollars, yen etc. spent on sending people and robots into space, when the same money could be used to find cures for cancer, AIDS and other deadly illnesses?"
I thought about it, but was unable to give her an answer that suitably justified learning about the origin of the universe while billions continue to die of these diseases or live and die in poverty. The fantastic amounts of money spent on space exploration could put a permanent end to poverty and suffering on Earth. After putting our own world in order, the rest of the universe would still be there waiting for us.
I could only think of two arguments to continue with space exploration.
1) Studying the universe and the way it works could eventually give rise to new forms of energy that might provide cheap or even free power and resources for all.
2) Study within the solar system could provide early warning of comets or asteroids on a potentially disastrous collision course with Earth. Early warning could allow formulation of strategies to avoid, or at the very least, survive such a collision.
Can we really justify the cost of space exploration in the face of such great need on Earth, or do we have our priorities completely wrong?
Originally posted by martin williamsPeople are not starving because of space exploration. People are starving because of an unjust distribution of the available resources. We are actually capable of feeding all the world's people with the resources we currently have at hand.
I am an amateur astronomer and very interested in cosmology (the study of the universe and its origin). As such, I take a great interest in research that goes on in this field, particularly the exploration of space by manned and unmanned spacecraft.
My wife asked me a question the other day that really got me thinking, and started me questioning t ...[text shortened]... loration in the face of such great need on Earth, or do we have our priorities completely wrong?
The so called "fantastic" amount of money spent on space exploration would barely dent the world's problems if it were diverted to meet them. How many other things should we put an end to in order to pursue the Sisyphean task of ending poverty and suffering in a system that will simply produce more poverty and suffering?
If you want to help people, then do something useful like changing the World's economic system, rather than fretting about space exploration, which has nothing to do with the problem.
Originally posted by martin williamsFirst off, while scientific advances are all very well the primary benefit to be derived from space exploration is simply by having a new frontier. This is not immediately obvious because you only have a handfull of people in space at any one time compared to the billions on earth.
I am an amateur astronomer and very interested in cosmology (the study of the universe and its origin). As such, I take a great interest in research that goes on in this field, particularly the exploration of space by manned and unmanned spacecraft.
My wife asked me a question the other day that really got me thinking, and started me questioning t ...[text shortened]... loration in the face of such great need on Earth, or do we have our priorities completely wrong?
Secondly the money is already being spent on cures for cancer, it's too potentially profitable for companies not to. You can only spend so much on that or other medical/w'ever research. So the idea that space exploration is taking from that is bunk anyway. The money would more likely go to the military, especially right now...
The problem of the cost should not be approached by reducing the outlay but by decreasing the expense, something the current setup of NASA and other space agencies are not capable of acheiving. They would need to stop spending on "visible results" to acheive this...
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