Does anyone else feel that the $20 million spent on a space flight could've been better spent?

Question

I mean, really, that's a lot of money that could've cured a major disease or something of that importance! What a waste...

Answer 1

ummm yeah... if you add our space exploration funding to our national defense funding and then put that number next to the amount that we spend on education and health care....

well, just see for yourself:
http://www.truemajorityaction.org/oreos/

Just today, a grade school teacher came through my line at work trying to buy posterboards to decorate her class room. She said it looked like a prison and they wouldn't give her any money to decorate the bulletin board so she had to buy it out of pocket.
Her credit card came up declined and she borrowed the money from her 16 year old daughter.... now tell me that's right....

(add. details - I didn't know that you were referring to a private endeavor... but my answer stays the same for the USA in general)

Answer 2

Money spent on space travel is not wasted. You need to understand that the money spent not only goes to a particular mission. A large part of the money spent on every mission is also money spent on research. If the money would not have been spent on the Apollo moon missions it is quite possible that you would not be using your speedy, small computer but possibly a large, bulky, SLOW computer. Space missions are largely about research, some of which is medical. Many of the things you take for granted today came about because of the space program. Another prime example is the methods used to make sure your food is safe to eat came about because they needed to make sure the astronauts would not become ill in space from food poisoning, these same methods are now used in the everyday processing of the food you eat that you buy at the store, restaraunts etc. We actually recieve a large amount of research for the small budget, and NASA's budget is small compared to alot of government spending. This is just the tip of the iceberg, the space program is money well spent.

Answer 3

You could say the same thing about many things - money spent on a new sports stadium, for example, or money spent producing a movie. Besides, that money will be used by the Russian Space Agency to further space exploration, and space research is worth while. For example, we study weather on other planets to help us better understand our own weather, knowledge which can save lives (e.g., predicting the path of a hurricane). And there are many life-saving technologies that have come from NASA and were put to use in other fields like medicine.

Answer 4

If $20 million was enough to cure a major disease, then I am sure that she would have done that.

The time and money to TREAT a disease is 10+ years and over $1B (just read the annual report of any pharmaceutical/biotechnology company)

Besides, it is her money, she can do with it what she wants, and she has chosen to do something that only a handful of people of done, and none from her homeland. I say more power to her

Answer 5

Let me shine a spotlight at DERRICK R's answer. Take a look at it. It's sad that his response is not atypical in this world. It's like no matter what you do, you just can't shake off people's stereotypes. I just imagine someone saying that about me, "I'm glad he voted democrat, did you know he's Chinese. Good thing, he's not communist." Absolutely ridiculous.

Anyway, yes, I agree that it's a waste of money. But then some would say that it is a waste of money that I bought this laptop I am typing on instead of getting a desktop and giving the extra money to charity.

Answer 6

Yeah because major diseases are cured with 20 million dollars... Cancer and AIDS research alone are nearing the half a trillion point overall...

Let Mrs. Ansari have her happiness... If I had 20 million dollars, I'd be right there next to her...

Go close up your bleeding heart and start doing something instead of bitching about how people spend THEIR hard earned money.

Answer 7

Yes, that very thought crossed my mind.

However, it is her money and she can do whatever she likes with it. I'm not sure if I could turn down an opportunity of a lifetime like that. It is a lot of money, that's for sure. Maybe she'll feel it wasn't worth it when she gets back. I'd be curious to find out.

I don't know much about her, maybe she has billions, and maybe she has already contributed a lot of money towards medical research.

Answer 8

heavyweight boxer, Mike Tyson, spent his entire fortune of $300 million and now has to give sparring exhibitions at Las Vegas to earn his keep.

That is what I call a waste.

I think if I had hundreds of millions I would spend 20 million to go into space and give the same amount to charity at the same time.

Answer 9

NO. I don't. She's wealthy and has a right to do with her own money what she pleases. What would you pay for an experience like that? I think it's around exactly the right price. Who gets to fly out in space? Not a lot. Not a lot at all.

Answer 10

I disagree. Space is like an unknown entity. We are learning what could be out there, and many significant tests occur in space fore a variety of reasons. What if early explorers had decided sailing the world was not worth the money? Someone would have eventually done it, and the resources we have now wouldn't be ours.