Actually it goes into about $4.2 trillion since 1964 but all we have to show for it are some thousands of very nice pictures and some dirt and rocks. I have nothing against space exploration and the new technology it brings but shouldn't we have limits. Now they are going to build a launch base on the moon to blast off to Mars. What is all this fascination of Mars about anyway. Do you realize how many missions to Mars have failed and cost the taxpayers hundreds of millions. For more info see my 360.
2007-06-21 15:57:56 · 16 answers · asked by Enigma 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Government
It's rumored that this next Mars-Moon mission could cost as much as 1 Trillion dollars.
2007-06-21 15:59:51 · update #1
This is our tax dollars at work.
2007-06-21 16:02:54 · update #2
Do you actually think we can live on Mars or for that matter any planet in our solar system. I don't think so and I wouldn't want to anyway.
2007-06-21 16:15:36 · update #3
scott... lol you really proved something there. Medicine taken into deep space is rendered useless to the astronauts because it goes bad. Thanks for the info and education.
2007-06-21 16:28:46 · update #4
I would rather see it spent on solutions for global warming, whether it is spent on alternative fuel and energy research, recycling, water conservation or any of the thousand other things we can do to make our own planet more habitable. Sometimes I think the space program is just a military ploy--a show of strength or an attempt to establish a base for long range deployment of laser beams once they've invented those, too. Remember Reagan and his star wars program? Maybe George Bush thinks he'll find oil there.
I don't care whether or not Mars ever had water on it or living organisms or whatever. It's a dead planet for all practical purposes. I care about this one. I think it's easier to dream about going to Mars than it is to solve some of our real problems.
2007-06-21 16:40:59 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
For those of us old enough to remember the race to the moon, the same questionswere raised then. Look around your house for "space soin-offs (coffee filters, plastics that resist high temps), look at telemetry used in hospitals to monitor patients, clothing materials, plastics, metals. We take all of this for granted. I'm not down with the Mars idea, but continued research in space is fine. Let's go back to the moon to do research.It's closer and a whole lot cheaper to go to than MArs.
2007-06-21 17:07:58 · answer #2 · answered by nomad74 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Quadrillions actually.It's one of the few peaceful things we can do to grow the world economy. The knowledge benefits the whole world, it puts us in a better position to try to do something about global warning, asteroid strikes and whatever there is out there we don't yet know about. Most importantly, I believe freedom can only survive in a society with open frontiers. Without them, we eventually will fill the planet to the point that all freedom goes away and we wind up living in something like 1984. I see it getting closer every day. Is that the future you want for yourself and your children?
2007-06-21 16:12:38 · answer #3 · answered by balloon buster 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Space exploration isn't cheap. Outfitting ships to cross the Atlantic in search of new worlds wasn't cheap either - and didn't pay immediate dividends - but the people of the time had the foresight to understand its importance.
If you're that concerned about hundreds of millions of dollars being wasted, you should call your Congressman (or woman) and have them cut off funding for the war in Iraq. After all, all we have to show for that fiasco is a $500 million bill that is indebting future generations and 3600 American deaths (and countless Iraqis).
2007-06-21 16:08:29 · answer #4 · answered by The ~Muffin~ Man 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
If we were not in a deficit situation, and in a war I would have no problem with it.
How do you know what is "out there" if you do not explore it, it is unfortunate it is so expensive, but that is the way it is.
Besides if we cannot figure out how to get to Mars, then how would we ever explore the rest of the universe?
2007-06-21 16:03:18 · answer #5 · answered by Dina W 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Mars has a lot of natural resources that not only we can use here on earth, but if we can actually terraform the planet.......we can set up colonies there......you never know....mars has countless possibilities....but the only way we will know is to actually get some people out there and check it out...
unfortunately, it is super expensive. :(
2007-06-21 16:11:47 · answer #6 · answered by Anomoly 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well we better get cracking. The planet's getting crowded and developers need more land to build on. Mars looks like a good spot to start.
We just need to perfect teraforming and we're in business.
2007-06-21 16:03:15 · answer #7 · answered by krollohare2 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This is the ONLY chance we have to finally make war scarce.
War occurs due to limited resources. If we get into space, we have a chance to make that a thing of the past.
We stay here, there WILL be a war that destroys most if not all of us.
This mission is just baby steps. That's how it starts.
2007-06-21 16:05:56 · answer #8 · answered by mckenziecalhoun 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not sure if the link will work. But there have been discoveries more imporant than rocks and dirt.
I did a simple search from NASA site's front page:
Medicines
Check it out. Its a start to you education
2007-06-21 16:18:49 · answer #9 · answered by scott_v1963 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is very important to keep moving forward discovering new technologies, new worlds, new ways of doing things. Theses quests expand our very being. I hope we are always on the cutting edge of exploration in every field. That is the human RACE.
2007-06-21 16:16:07 · answer #10 · answered by barry c 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋