Do we need to recapture people's interest in space missions?

Answer 1

Our interest in space, moon landings, Mars landing, space station, etc is a hang over from the belief of the 60s that America can do anything. We now know we cannot, and many people are coming around to the point of view that we must refocus our attention on problems on earth and in America. Space will be there forever; we do not need to rush into space; we need to spend that money to help the earth and help America.

Kris, Ph. D.

Answer 2

We'd better. There's a new space race on--and its not jsut the Russians, either--there's at least 10 nations with active space programs of some sort now. And that's where a lot of the new technology and knowledge that will determine who the 21st century leaders are.

But don't expect any real change for another 3-5 years. The key to public interest is they have to have something to be interested in. When NASA does get a chance to do something (e.g. the Mars landers Spirit and Oppportunity--NASA had over a BILLION hits on their website) people do get interested.

But for that to happen, we need an administration to exercise real leadership and get things moving again. Not political sound bytes like Bush's "return to the moon" PR--which has never been funded--the Republicans CUT NASA's budget.

That will happen. International competition, a new administration--and the increasing success of the commercial space entrepreneurs--will eventually push the politicians into acting.

But don't expect people to get interested when the best that's going on is Bush's directive to abandon the research the ISS was designed for and focus on "anti-terrorist" military projects (no, I'm not kidding--read the White House policy directive on the subject last year--I think you canfind it on space.com).

Answer 3

Yes, we certainly do. Without interest, it will die out and vast possibilities of gaining even vaster amounts of knowledge will be lost, until they wake up and see that we will have to leave this planet in the future, when either the sun dies, explodes or goes red and engulfs the inner solar system. Or when we collide with Andromeda galaxy. Possibly when the moon leaves orbit billions of years sooner than these others, as it`s absence may cause some real bad effects. We may have to leave because of a massive comet or meteor impact.

Answer 4

it would be nice. if people would once again look up in the sky and want to know what is out there, maybe we would get mroe interest in science and maybe more people would do better in school, and want to grow up and be a scientist or an astronaut instead of a drug dealer or a gansta.

it would be nice to regain that, but i don't know how. i just try to tlel people the truth of what is up there, and hope that that encourages them to find out more.

any ideas on what could be done?

Answer 5

The only thing people seem to understand is money, you change that and you will grab their attention

Answer 6

you never had my attention.

Answer 7

Why ?