I am in a Science Seminar class for my senior year of 2008 and we have to debate on whether it's a good or a bad deal to go and explore space. I am on the "con" side so I was hoping if I can get some help on this.
2007-10-17 03:49:03 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
You've been given the wrong side of the debate which is going to make things harder.
The main easily refuted argument is that we should be spending the money here (which ignores the fact that space spending is very small and that not spending the money on space will make solving our problems harder).
Space technology could be used to divert an asteroid towards the Earth but if we don't have space technology it'll just be a matter of time before that happens naturally so it doesn't seem like such a good argument.
2007-10-19 17:45:26 · answer #1 · answered by bestonnet_00 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On the plus side, roughly 99.999999999999999999% of the universe is off this planet, so if the human race is to have any future it will be out in space. If we turn inward and worry more about Earth than the rest of the universe, we don't have a future.
On the down side, the kind of energy required to travel through space at any reasonable speed is so large that spaceflight technology can also be used to create very effective weapons. For example, a powerful engine that can carry large numbers of people around the solar system in a few days or weeks could also be used to change the orbit of an asteroid so it would crash onto Earth.
But despite the risks, in my opinion there's nothing more important right now than getting the human race established in space. Until we have self-sustaining colonies around the solar system one major catastrophe could wipe out most of us (e.g. an asteroid hitting Earth by chance, not design), and until we have self-sustaining colonies across a hundred light years or so, one very major catastrophe could still wipe us out (e.g. a nearby supernova which would kill all human life through radiation).
2007-10-18 06:29:52 · answer #2 · answered by Mark G 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We MUST continue space exploraiton & development of associated technologies.
Earth currently houses 6 billion people and it's pretty much full. Just look at our environmental impact. When we have 15-20 billion people on this planet, it will be far worse.
To continue the development of our species, we need somewhere else to live. If we can create orbital habitats, moon bases and terraform Mars, that will provide useful overflows. But we need to find multiple true Earth-like planets to inhabit.
We are NOW ready to plan a Mars trip. We have developed to the point where commercial flights into orbit are coming soon. Hotels in orbit will be here later.
Space exploration is just a continuation of our exploration in he past (e.g. exploration of the Americas by Europeans).
2007-10-17 04:04:06 · answer #3 · answered by dryheatdave 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only argument I can think of against space exploration is that the money might be better spent on earthly problems such as overpopulation, hunger and the depleting petroleum supply and on any number of diseases.
2007-10-17 03:58:08 · answer #4 · answered by jack of all trades 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i didn't know that space exploration is a bad thing. so if i am right, tell your respective teacher or the institution conducting the debate to change the topic.
2007-10-17 03:56:54 · answer #5 · answered by SIMONE 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Technology-wise, I suppose that you could argue that technology that gives you faster/better access to space also gives you a means for sending weapons to other parts of the world faster/better.
2007-10-17 04:00:18 · answer #6 · answered by BNP 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
space exploration is bad coz it diverts our attention. instead of searching for planets why dont we just make the most out of our planet?
2007-10-17 03:56:38 · answer #7 · answered by sono 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋