somebody, anybody, explain the purpose of the multi-billion dollar space program?

Question

why do we spend so much money on the space program when what we need to fix is on the ground?

Answer 1

Our future is in space not on Earth. It is the same question people asked all explorers and today years after their deaths we have the benefits.

Answer 2

I think it's worth the expense, for several reasons.

1) It satisfies the human desire to explore, and expand our domain. This is not a trivial reason. I'm talking about a deeply seated instinct.

2) Establishing a colony on another planet ensures the survival of the species if the Earth should ever suffer a catastrophic event. Stephen Hawking himself has advanced this argument.

3) The best reasons are the unimagined discoveries we will make once we are there. In 1491, who could have predicted the discovery of America and all the subsequent discoveries that has led to?

The space program amounts to a very small percentage of the United States annual budget. I think more should be spent on space exploration.

Answer 3

That's a good question. While I'm not close enough to the facts to admit to knowing the answer, my best sense is that:

1. It's a domestic public relations move to shift attention away from potentially-damaging political heat

2. Technology developed for space can later be used in defense (or offense), energy, health and other sectors. Satelite technology (GPS) etc.

3. It sends a message to the rest of the world that the country is advancing civilization and knowledge for all, (rather than being a big bully) - an international public relations move.

Answer 4

Knowledge. Knowledge doesn't exist in a vacum, it affects everything else. Here's your touchstone for what the space program has done for you:

If something has been made smaller, or more light weight, it's space technology, either directly or as a spin-off. When you launch something into space, the only two things that matter are how much room it takes up, and how much it weighs.

We had computers before the space program, but they were mechanical, huge, and slow. To fit them into a spacecraft, they had to be smaller, lighter, and much faster. We invented transisters, and later printed circuits, and so on, so computers and other circuits could fit into spacecraft. Look at everything that uses transisters and printed circuits and computers. We have them because we needed them for the space program.

Titanium, and all the light weight high strength alloys came from research done by the space program for light but strong metals to make rockets out of.

We needed to know how conditions in space were affecting the brains of the astronauts, so we invented the CAT scan.


And so on, and so on, and so on.......

Answer 5

No offense... yet even as did you commence believing the authorities actual gave a crap about the position they spend the money they grab from the electorate? There would not should be a purpose, with this or some thing else, in the governments eyes. as long as they pay adequate lip service to the idea's of helping those in choose, human beings will save on electing them, and they are going to proceed to do what they please. in my opinion, i imagine there are worse examples of authorities waste than the NASA area software. a minimum of multiple the technologies that changed into designed by ability of this technique has been utilized in different section's in the community. won't be able to say a similar for multiple the different ridiculous courses and initiatives accessible. i'm not particular area exploration actual facilitates the monetary equipment to augment, yet as I reported, there have been technologies and designs advanced by using this technique utilized in different section's. Is it a waste thinking multiple the different issues that opt to be funded? almost certainly. not the worst element we've wasted money on although.

Answer 6

Because many of the technological advances that could fix some earthbound problems could be solved in space.

A good number of materials and technology have been developed from space reasearch.

Mining in space may prove very useful for minerals rarely found on earth.

Also if the earth ever gets overpopulated its present an option of moving up and out.

Answer 7

In the past, the space program was extremely valuable. By solving the problems involved in space travel, many products and methods were invented that made life easier and safer on Earth.

In theory, this is still true, but I'm not so sure. The other reason is that by exploring space we can better understand it, which will help us better understand our own planet.

Answer 8

Because through the research that we have done along side the space program we have found a lot of different solutions to problems on the ground. Such as seat belts in cars, to new metals among a list of others.

Answer 9

Think of this planet as one big ant farm. If you ever had one, you will notice that after a while there are more ants than the farm can sustain. That is why in real life ants form new colonies.

The government realizes that that too will happen to the human population. After a while there will be more people than this planet can sustain. There is a great need for expansion beyond Earth in order for the human race to survive?

Answer 10

If it weren't for the concept of manifest destiny, we wouldn't be here. Our nature is to discover new lands, as the space progam does. Who's to say that 10 years from now the first Mars colony will not be built.