Poll: Do you find space exploration *that* interesting or important?

[orderoftheflame]

So we should stop funding research into the energy problem? Forget about fusion power and launch more satellites instead?

I don't think we should stop funding either. Who knows.. maybe we'll find a solution to the energy problem through space technology.

TV, films and games entertain people, and are a part of our culture. Millions are spent on them, and they get millions back in return.

That wasn't my point though was it.

There are far more wastely uses of money than Space exploration, regardless of the profit they turn. They're still frivolities if at the end of the day all that money goes into buying some billionaires next yacht.

 

[Shayne]

Their should be a sixth option for my opinion:

6: We should stop it now, and concentrate on time travel, then go back in time and stop all ideas about space exploration before it even starts.

Summarising: we've not benefitted from it at all, nothing.

 

[Vulcan]

We need our species to progress, but at the same time we need to enjoy our time here, hence the movies - The money is not wasted.

 

[Pighardia]

 

[TheOtherOption]

If we get to Mars in my lifetime that'd be awesome - but the way things are going lately getting back to the moon is more realistic than anything else!

 

[Loki]

A 1 from me. It's such a shame the race to the moon was almost a by product of the cold war. Imagine how much further our understanding of the Universe would be if there were greater collaboration between NASA, ESA, Russia, China, India etc. Our resources on Earth are finite so exploration is essential for our survival

 

[Twentyone]

Summarising: we've not benefitted from it at all, nothing.

Yet.

 

[Six7th]

Summarising: we've not benefitted from it at all, nothing.

Umm..http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/spinoffs2.shtml

 

[Nitefly]

Cheers for the poll mods

I ended up going for 3 in the end because I couldn't commit myself fully for 2. Alternate energy and health care, for example, seem to definitely take priority in my book (although I admit the difference between these examples is a world away from the reality of balancing budgets).

 

[PermaBanned]

I think a lot of people saying they're between one and two may have got confused about the wording:

Space exploration is of upmost importance and should be one of the highest priorities.

Obviously not the only thing we should concentrate on, but after the necessities of life (food, water, shelter, healthcare etc.) are sorted this must be one of the first benefits of civilization.

 

[Pighardia]

I think a lot of people saying they're between one and two may have got confused about the wording:

Options have been edited. Were originally worded differetly

 

[semi-pro waster]

I'm in the camp for option 2 here, I think that space exploration is very important but that there are other more pressing realities that will come up from time to time which need addressing first. I also think that there may be, in some ways, too much time spent in designing the missions - if we assume an average lead time of X years then we're potentially sending up missions to answer questions that were important a few years ago but which have now been overtaken by further developments. This isn't something I've come up with myself I'm afraid though, it was an idea from one of Richard Feynman's books - I suspect it was And What Do You Care What People Think? although I may be wrong on that.

 

[Cosimo]

The ultimate goal of long distance travel and a form of colonisation have to be an option for the very long term survival of our planet. Space exploration programs by their own nature bring benefits to the planet. Not only to the understanding of the science of the universe but improvements in aviation, robotics, propulsion systems, just to name a few. I’m sure the list is far more comprehensive than this.

The creation of wealth by the development of supporting industries gives us the ability reinvest in the future of the plant. Let us not forget that exploration also includes talking a look at the sun and the eco systems of the earth from which we will gain an understanding of how to improve our lot. All very important and not really feasible without a space program.

So it’s not just a case of going to Mars, the benefits of space exploration are of great importance to mankind. I would be going for 1 but given the current financial climate and given some of the problems we all as a planet face together I have to go for the realistic 1.5 option.

 

[Skidder]

space travel is mankind's only long-term chance of survival, until we spread on to other planets, everyday is just another gamble

 

[bsoltan]

Time and money should always be going into advancing our civilisation, not just maintaining it.

 

[BunnyKillBot]

I recognise that i am in a minority here, but i am definitely in the 'couldn't care less' group. Until some bright sparks solves the 'traveling at near to light speed' or 'cryostasis' problem all space exploration paradigms are pure science fiction. The distances involved are so great that until either of these problems are solved, the concept of traveling to and colonising other planets is a moot point. Our current understanding of Physics simply doesn't allow us to travel such distances in any viable time frame.

 

[Skidder]

Our current understanding of Physics simply doesn't allow us to travel such distances in any viable time frame.

Which is why we need to keep thinking about it.

 

[Twentyone]

Time and money should always be going into advancing our civilisation, not just maintaining it.

Nicely put

 

[m4rk84]

I'm also of the opinion that space travel is essential to the long term survival of our species. In other words its of the utmost importance.

 

[BunnyKillBot]

Which is why we need to keep thinking about it.

Thinking about it is different to planning a maned mission to Mars. Have we solved how long it would take to get to even the nearest star? No. Well then, lets solve that first before we start throwing cash away.