What are your thought on the international space station?

Question

I understand it is going to be used to conduct experipments.but is all the cost for the space program,worth it?

Answer 1

Looking at ISS from a cost-benefit perspective, it is probably the least effective space project in history, due to both it's high cost and questionable scientific value. The projected final cost of ISS is over $100 billion. It will eventually return some useful data on the long term effects of spaceflight on the human body, but it isn't a useful platform for scientific research in many other fields.

In comparison, the Mars rovers cost $1 billion, and have been exploring the surface of Mars for nearly 4 years, making major discoveries as to past water and vulcanism on Mars, and it's geology and meteorology.

So, strictly from the cost-benefit perspective -- ignoring the unquantifiable considerations of national pride and human desire to explore -- unmanned space exploration has always provided more scientific return for far less money.

Although there is almost surely a place for human spaceflight in a well thought out space program, the ISS definitely isn't it.

Answer 2

Your understanding is as wrong as it could be.

The precursor design of the ISS was first conceived as a reason why we need the shuttle. Then the shuttle became so expensive that we couldn't afford to build it for a long time. So we finally built the ISS. But then we couldn't afford to build a system that lets us keep more than three people up there without the shuttle docked, because in an emergency that is as many can de-orbit in a Soyuz capsule.

But two or three people are as many as needed just to keep this pig flying, so they can't do much science in the first place. Not to mention the fact that the ISS is so expensive that they had to cut the science budget for the experiments that were supposed to fly on the ISS.

In the end the ISS has fulfilled its main role, though: it is a porking vehicle for the aerospace industry. It transfers your tax dollars into the pockets of the shareholders of the companies who build the components.

If you don't believe me, please do your own research on the funding history of the shuttle program, the space station and please look up all the science papers that were generated from research done on the ISS. And then compare that with any current unmanned program like Cassini, Mars Rovers etc. which cost on the order of a few percent of the ISS.

Final verdict: its not worth it.

Answer 3

Why don't you ask the families of the thousands of people who die every year because of the medicines we DON'T have--and would already have if the space program were funded properly?

Look around you. Computers, cellphones, GPS tracking. Satellite communication Weather satellites. Solar power. Fuel cells. Medical diagnostics like the MRI's. New materials for stronger, safer aircraft.

None of that would exist except for the space program. And it is a drop in the bucket. Those medicines I mentioned, new biotechnology, electronics, materials that can revolutionize buildings and aircraft and everything else--all things that we can make in space. And that's jsut what we already know about. And don't have--because a lot of people don't realize that all these things--just like evry thing else you see around you--took decades of expensive research and development to create.

Other nations have learned that lesson from us--while we have forgotten it. America led the world in science, technology--and therefore in economic growth and liing standards in the 20th century. Now we are well on the way to becoming a second-rate nation--becausewe are not investing in the future.

China is--India is. Japan is. Russia is. ALL have programs not just for space travel, but for going to the moon and beyond.

NASA gets 10 cents out of every $100 of the federal budget. That's all we are investing in our future as a leader in science and technology. And--inevitably--in our future economic prosperity and growth.

Answer 4

the ISS started out as a great idea, but, like too many other things is plagued by cost overruns, various conflicts between participating nations, and reliance on only a single transport system to construct it....I believe it'll be worth it in the long run, but it is an exceptionally poor value for the money.

Answer 5

It remains to be seen if the space station has been worth the cost. It isn't even complete yet.

Answer 6

I think that it is a wonderful achievement so long as it is only used for its intended purpose, to explore the frontiers of space and only that, no hostilities, only to be used to advance the causes of space travel, etc.


Sincerely,
Calvaliear

Answer 7

As long as it's there, yes it's worth keeping it there. I would rather increase my taxes 1% for a base on Mars, though.

Answer 8

Something else for nations to eventually fight over.

Answer 9

anything to do with space is worth it we need to find another planet cuz this one is f***ed lol

Answer 10

i think it is a waste they should shut it down