What's the purpose of NASA? I see it as a waste of time and money. Your thoughts on the purpose??

Answer 1

They spend million of dollars on space exploration, and we have no cure for cancer, cystic fibrosis, Parkinson's disease just to name a few. That money, or at least part of it could be used for research , study and experiments to try to find a cure for these diseases.

Answer 2

Why do people see science as a threat and single out NASA as a waste? Do you consider the war in Iraq a good investment? NASAs budget is nothing compared to what the US is spending on pointless wars. In fact the health care cost just for obesity related illnesses is way more than NASAs whole budget. Get your priorities straight and take a look at some numbers. And exercise. If all americans did for just 30 minutes everyday it would save your health care system the equivalent to about one annual NASA budget every year.

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Philip, you´re thinking about the industrial-military complex that likes to keep warfare around so that they can get their hands on the trillions spent on war while the soldiers are put at risk and the taxpayers are conned into believing there is a risk...

Answer 3

The only "waste" is that we--you, me, and America--is losing out on a whole range of benefits because short-sighted politicians for the last 12 years (and even before that) have failed to fund NASA properly.

In the abstract, NASA and space exploration generally provide us with a wealth of scientific knowledge. That is sufficient reason for NASA by itself. But for those who insist on "practical" benefits--make no mistake about it: without a continuing flow of new basic scientific research, America will soon become a second-tier nation. That is the foundation of technology--and like any other structure, you must start with the foundation.

The list of technologies that NASA has played a critical role in developing is almost endless. Including the computer you posted your question with. Plus a host of other items: weather satellites, GPS systems, solar power ahd hydrogen fuel cell technology. Satellite communications. Even familier products like teflon and Velcro.

And the tens of thousands of lives that would be lost every year that would be lost if it were not for the medical technology developed by this "waste of time"

Other nations are wiser than our leaders have been in the recent past. If you STILL think NASA is a "waste of time" then consider this: the following countries have active space programs, several of which include manned spaceflight activities: Britain, Germany, France, Italy, India, Australia, Russia, China, Japan, Canada. And the list is growing.

Even if you are sufficiently lacking in curiosity about our universe to want to understand and learn about it--understand this: we either explore space--and make comparable investments in other areas of scientific research as well--or we get used to being a second rate country.

Answer 4

Go and read up on what NASA has actually done and is doing now, and how pathetically it is funded compared to health care.

The person who complained about the money we're spending on NASA and the lack of cures for certain diseases might like to go and check the US Federal Budget. You are clearly going to be surprised that NASA, on its $17billion is doing so much, while the $800billion invested in medical aid hasn't come up with those cures you seem to think would be possible if NASA were closed down. Is that $17billion really going to make so much difference?

Answer 5

The main purpose for NASA; other than space travel and better technology, is to make air travel; airplanes, safer. For the many millions of people that do a lot traveling, that is a good thing because less plane crashes caused by turbulence, wind shear, etc... means less death (for the people on the plane and on the ground, especially for the lucky ones that live near an airport). Less plane crashes means an increase in tourism, increase in commerce (trade), and most important better air shows.

Answer 6

Without space technology we'd have very few of the technological "toys" you enjoy today.

GPS navigation, cell phones, personal computers, are among the most obvious items we have use of that would not exist if NASA hadn't been out there inventing the technology to send men and women into space.

There are those of us who believe that mankind must eventually guarantee its survival by spreading from this world onto others. If a single near earth orbit asteroid could destroy mankind, then doesn't it make sense to try to even up those odds?

Answer 7

A waste????

Purpose - To learn more about the origins of the human race. How everything we see and use came to be. To realize we are not one planet in a small universe.

You must not realize the thousands of technologies invented by NASA in its attempts to learn more about the universe. Earth makes up .0000000000000000001% of the universe....we are insignificant...its the greater picture that matters. (Number is probably millions of times larger...I'm just trying to scale it down so Yahoo will display it)

Answer 8

NASA was established so we could occupy the moon before the Ruskies did. Big businesses likes to keep it around so the taxpayers can take all the risk while they make all the profits.

Answer 9

Fortunately, your opinion does not matter. NASA is the best investment in our education and future that this gov't has ever made.

Answer 10

Have you looked at the *rest* of the government lately?

Besides, it's only 1% of your taxes.