Space Program: is it a wise use of our money?

Question

I know we have the strive to expand our knowledgeof the universe but who thinks that al that money could used to better life on earth?

Answer 1

I see a lot of bad arguments on both sides of this issue. For instance, it is often put forward that the money spent on our space program could be put to better use here on Earth. But if we are never to spend a penny on space programs until all famines, poverty, homelessness, violence, drug use, illiteracy, wars, diseases, [insert favorite cause here], etc. etc. etc. are taken care of, then we will NEVER have a space program. Face it, different people have different priorities, and as long as gov't controls a big chunk of our money, we will always have some disagreements over how that money is spent.

On the other side of the issue, some people say to look at all the great spinoff technologies that came about from the space program. But this is mostly popular myth--most "spinoffs" were either already under development, or had already been developed, & simply co-opted for use in space. Also, even Carl Sagan himself said that spinoffs are not a good justification for space-program spending; if you want to develop product X, just spend the money on developing it directly, rather than hoping it will come about as a spinoff tech. Sagan believed that space should be explored for the sake of science & exploration.

There are some people who say that we need to establish a presence off-planet so that if something happens to Earth, all of mankind won't be wiped out. This may be true--over the course of a million years or so. But there are simply no threats so impending that are dire enough to wipe out all of mankind. (Hate to tell ya folks, but that includes even the worst-case global warming scenarios.)

So is a space program justified? I guess that's a matter of opinion. I think I agree with Sagan on this one; a space program should be used to explore space and expand our scientific knowledge of the universe around us.

The spending of taxpayer dollars on a space program has always been controversial, but in a few decades it may also be moot. As the private space industry matures, we will eventually see private companies taking over more functions of our space program such as manned missions and satellite launches. We'll also see a blossoming space tourism industry, and eventually space mining and space power generation, both of which promise to be _extremely_ lucrative to those who can make cheap, reliable space flight a reality.

One way or another, we'll get into space, and eventually we WILL stay there. Perhaps it's for the better if we can wean ourselves away from taxpayer-funded programs, with their gross inefficiencies, slow innovation, poor safety record, and vulnerability to the prevailing political winds. I, for one, look forward to it.

Answer 2

Humanity having the ability to live/travel in space is, long-term, our only hope for survival. Eventually our population will overcome the amount of living space we have on Earth (unless nature or natural disaster steps in and reduces the population greatly)...and granted it may be many centuries before this is a problem, but it will happen. It would also give us a means for survival if something (asteroid, global warming, etc.) happened to Earth and made it inhospitable. If we don't go into space, our survival as a species is limited to Earth's survival. Besides, with all that 'space' out there, think of all the wonderful things we can discover! I think money spent on the space program is money well spent.

Answer 3

Someone before said that if it wasn't for the space program, you wouldn't be on The Net now ... that's not entirely true. What IS true is that you would not be using a "laptop" or a cellphone or listening to an iPod. Prior to the need to coordinate orbital mechanics of multiple bodies in space, computers were the size of small houses. It was the need to put a computer on Apollo that first started the drive to make computers smaller ... first to electronic relays and then millions and then billions of relays on a microchip.

The airbag in all our cars was developed first by a company called TRW - who first developed the Lunar Module descent engine (rocket). All an airbag is a very small rocket blowing gas into a bag. An airbag is a minaturized version of the LEM engine.

Space drives research and development ... it gives a country a goal to aim at ... it gives children and poets something to dream at. It always returns 10 fold in the future what is invested in it now.

.

(... and no, I do not work for NASA. )

.

Answer 4

If you think it's ok to let someone else decide how your money should be spent then you really have no say in the matter. "Wise" use of your money is moot when someone else other than you is making that decision. When someone else decides how someone's else's money rather than solely their own is to be used, there is no incentive to be responsible about it.

However the government decides to spend your money, they are doing so without your expressed consent. Just try saying "no" to a use of your money that you disagree with and see what happens. Today you may agree with how the state spends your money (sheer luck). Tomorrow, the tables can easily be turned.

Support private efforts to go into space. If you don't agree with how they are using your money, don't give them any. With NASA and other forms of socialized space programs, you have no say in the matter. They will take your money regardless of how it is used.

Answer 5

Money spent on space travel and space research generates a huge return in the gross national product. For every dollar spent in defense, we make from $7 to $10 in GNP, but for every dollar spent in space, we make $10 to $15 in GNP.

This is because of the people it keeps in jobs, materials and services purchased to get the job done, etc. But on top of that, we are learning new skills and facts that create new products and industries all the time. Contrast that with a dollar spent on welfare- it goes nowhere except away.

We could save the economy by spending most of our money on space travel since it would generate far more income and technology and industry than any other investment. But we must get that spending away from NASA and into the private sector where real, huge growth potential exists once you get away from government control and waste.

Space technology will provide us with medicines, energy, metals and alloys, new electronic and computer advances, to just name a few. It has already done that for us but most people alive today are not aware of it because they have had these things all their lives.

Answer 6

The space program is fairly economical now, compared with the exhorbitant plans originally hatched.

Robotic exploration is the way we are going and the way we should go. It is so much less expensive than trying to make exploration safe for humans. Also robotics for space will have tremendous spin-offs here on Earth.

Answer 7

if it wasn't for the Space Program you wouldn't be on the net right now and cell phones wouldn't work ...a lot of stuff that came from the Space Program is used on earth... better than spending all that money on wars

Answer 8

Every dollar spent on the space program promotes the development of lifesaving technology here on Earth. Consider: GPS.

Answer 9

it is a VERY wise choice!!

in, like, millions of years, the planet will be in jeopardy, and if we can find ways to live on other planets, other galaxies, then we can still live

what if the earth became overpopulated?? where would we go?

we could go to the moon, mars, or other planets if we go there and find out how to live there

i think that the space program needs a BIGGER budget

Answer 10

I don't. I think instead of spending money on weapons it should be spent on an International Space Program to find habitable planets or else.