Fact: We don't have the means to get to 581 c in a human lifetime. I take this to mean 1) We can't send a team there. And 2) if we send an unmanned shuttle, no one alive today will ever know the findings. Findings which will 3) be unimportant because we won't have any way of using them once we find out.
I think just maybe we should expend more efforts in shuttle research, then look for planets once we can travel faster.
I want to believe finding 581 c was important, but I can't find the reasons. ...What do you think?
2007-04-25 03:23:12 · 7 answers · asked by Jordan 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
For me, it is important because now we can see that it exists. I stop and think about how long ago it was considered simply science fiction to travel to the moon and walk on it.
For me, it is a matter of discovery that might get some minds contemplating what if...(In the past, people wondered if we could land on the moon or live in space for a period of time.)
Things that have been made for space are being used in almost every home today. I love hearing the answer to...What next?
2007-04-27 07:50:08 · answer #1 · answered by Leia 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You know, I wondered the same thing at first. If I'm understanding right though, this is the first (possibly)habitable planet we've found. Sure we could've built a means of transportation first, but why build transportation when we had no where to go to? We'll probably send a probe to the planet to determine whether or not it is hospitable.
Prior to this though, a means of traveling space was pointless, hence why it hadn't been developed past rockets. Now that we have a goal though, I'm sure a means of getting there will start being developed.
*Edit: I forgot to mention that a planet with the potential to allow life might mean that there is definte proof of other intelligent beings out there. Which would be very profound on the Religous front, as it could change a lot of people's view of the universe.
2007-04-25 10:36:40 · answer #2 · answered by zmes_matt 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's pure science and would you want to travel for 800,000 years to find a planet with a sulfuric acid surface. We cant do that kind of travel.
The Shuttle is dead meat. It has to meet new safety standards by 2010 or be grounded. The new standards aren't being worked on cause it's a total redesign. The next on the board is Aries/Constellation which will be out close to 2020 and it's a modernized Saturn V to get to the moon again.
No one with any sanity is thinking interstellar it's way too far to travel for way too long.
2007-04-25 10:30:04 · answer #3 · answered by Gene 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This 'research' is beyond useless! It is fraudulent at best. Hell I could 'discover' a new planet by seeing a light 'wobble' and it would not need to be repeatable, because the planet is now out of view! HA HA HA!
Ther are only a few reasons for research and each has a USEFULL application.
The 'knowledge' of a habitable planet 120 trillion miles away is, in NO WAY, usefull.
having sex, getting pregnant, and giving birth while never getting off of a pogo stick is much more worthwhile than looking for life and planets that can support life.
2007-04-25 10:41:36 · answer #4 · answered by athorgarak 4 · 1⤊ 4⤋
Can't we just make a discovery without having to make money on it or use it up?? What if tomorrow I invent a space ship that can get us there??
2007-04-25 10:30:23 · answer #5 · answered by jcann17 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its just for scientists to show that "we can see it, but not sure how to get there, but your money is paying off." But who knows, maybe great-great-great-great-grand children will get to see it someday lol
2007-04-25 10:47:18 · answer #6 · answered by Teufelhunden 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
to understand the universe we live in, the unadulterated search for truth
2007-04-25 10:33:33 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋