Should the U.S. stop or suspend space exploration?

Question

What's the point? Seems like a lot of good money to go to schools, medical, & other more important things. Do you guys a gree or disagree.

Answer 1

If you wanted to stop space explorations you should effectively stop most attempts at scientific advancement, because many of them are linked to space exploration.

Rockets are not launched into space for the sake of watching a piece of metal with some people in it shoot into the air.

Instead the space program helps us learn things about how our world developed and is developing. Technologies developed for the space program are used in places far removed from the space program, sometimes in places you wouldn't even expect to find them. (Just a handful of examples http://spaceplace.jpl.nasa.gov/en/kids/spinoffs2.shtml ).

If you stopped the space program, sure other programs might get more funding (but it would be so far distributed that no one would get significantly more), but all the programs would lose the variety of benifits provided by the space program.

Answer 2

I'm not an US citizen to be able to argue on how it should spend its money, but I think space exploration is a good thing and should be done. I think a steady amount of research in any given field leads to a better level of living. If it were not for research, we will be still living middle ages style and would not have conversations on the Internet about schools, medical or other things of the modern times. As for space exploration, I hope the benefits of it will show themselves when we are overpopulated and out of resources, which is not that far ahead.

Answer 3

All of those things already get far more funding than space exploration. The amount they would gain would be a drop in the bucket, while space research - which contributes to virtually every other field of scientific knowledge (you know, the stuff you need to provide for schools, medical, etc.) would virtually cease to exist.

Much of the technology we take for granted today, and which improves medical care, education, and other "more important things" is a dividend of fundamental space research in the 1950s and 1960s

Answer 4

If you mean pure exploration, as in sending out probes and things to distant planets, then I have to disagree with you. It's a neat thing to have new information to teach in schools. We get new information by exploring. Would you really want science classes teaching about Martians and all their canals used to move massive amounts of water over the surface of the planet? Thank goodness we actually sent robotic explorers there to show that first conjectures about images of Mars from telescopes were completely wrong.
As far as the space program is concerned, I like seing things live that occur around the world from news to sporting events. Keep those communications satellites up there sending their information to us. I like being able to talk just about anywhere on a phone that is connected to a series of long range, [usually] microwave frequency transmission towers--basically a ground based version of what's done with those aforementioned communciations satellites. If they were just radio wave frequencies, you'd have to cut the amount of users able to be on at the same time now by over 75%. Radio frequencies cannot carry as much information as microwave frequencies can. Having power is a good thing, too. If there weren't any satellites up there monitoring the Sun for solar storms and flares, we wouldn't know when to prepare the power grid for sudden HUGE EMPs. Too bad this system was only really funded after parts of Canada's grid got destroyed back in 1989. And, lastly, knowing where you are on the surface of the planet is helpful don't ya think? Those GPS things are cool; especially for military forces.
There are so many things you use everyday that are a result of NASA. If you were to get rid of all of it, you'd think you were back in the Stone Age. NASA even has a section on its website geared towards business who want to commercially produce technology they've created. So, even though you don't buy something from a NASA store in a shopping mall, there's still a good chance the tech inside the device you're purchasing was invented by NASA. I think the amount of my tax dollars going to NASA's budget isn't enough.

Answer 5

I think space exploration is needed for the purpose of satisfying mankind's need to continuously prove to himself he is superior or god-like.
It is therefore a form of arrogance or insanity.
A careful continuation of space exploration should be pursued. You don't know when some unexpected bit of knowledge gained may prevent the total extermination of the human race.

Answer 6

Space exploration is good for the economy. It is (or was) Florida's second biggest industry after tourism. It gave us cool products like Tang and Fiberglass and advances in medical science like biosensors that can monitor hospital patients' heartbeat and breathing rate.

Answer 7

NO, not only no, but HE-double hockey sticks NO.

See my answer for these questions:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AkElJux6H9cWJo_zkJnEHKzty6IX?qid=20070826124859AA5R1u8&show=7#profile-info-FVQrCovCaa
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AqXt1VKXcn8cJ8uGQ1Qh5iXty6IX?qid=20070828140710AA75Dxa&show=7#profile-info-Ge8znGxlaa
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070829151333AALYQTC&r=w&pa=FZptHWf.BGRX3OFMiTxRUgG9zlOjHJuN307FoNP_L7EC22lRUZMa8cBQHx_vE7ezgrAZtvddGWR5N7LHYQ--&paid=answered#QZcvW2btVDeT0MfzxbMyN19TtvrVtEQimlZd4zsO_QyRerCg4sYq

Our technological edge came from the space program so if you don't mind being a citizen of a second rate nation then go ahead and cancel the space program.

We are running out of the raw materials we need on Earth and the only new source would be in space.

Answer 8

HELL NO !!!!!!!!

It is man's destiny to explore and the solar system is the next step to insure survival of our species. Machines can not ask questions. That is where astronauts come in to the picture. Now we need to get off our asses and get it done

Answer 9

We are inventing better technology. Sooner we will find U.FO we will hear of them in 2010! Because it's just not possible for earth to be the only place where living organisms live. We will somehow someway find U.F.O's in 2010! I just know it.

Answer 10

Hi. We have as a race always explored. I see no reason to stop now!