Why do we spend billions of dollars on space exploration ?

Question

Why does the U.S. keep spending billions of dollars sending the space shuttle into orbit for no apparent reason? Humans will never be able to go to places like Mars or Jupiter to live so why not spend the money on things like starvation to feed the needy right here on earth?

Answer 1

Put this in perspective, the national budget is 2.8 trillion dollars, of which 1.6 trillion dollars already goes to social programs, and only 16 billion goes to space exploration.

This is like a family with an operating budget of $28,000 a year, that spends $16,000 a year on food and clothing ... wondering if it is worth spending $160 for expenses for their computer ... including their Internet bill and a small memory upgrade ... or whether it's worth having a computer around at all.

Answer: $160 a year to keep the computer running? It's a *bargain*! It may not directly put food on the table ... but with all the stuff you learn from it, the tiny fraction of the food budget that it costs you to keep it going is *WELL* worth it.

In other words, it's a drop in the bucket!

Answer 2

Please see the last chapter of Arthur C. Clarke's The Exploration of Space for a detailled refutation of all your points. I am very confident that you will basically change your opinion if you do. But here are some minor points: 1. the space program has had many trickle down technologies that have benefited humanity in many diverse ways, from medicine to botany to weather prediction. 2. Long distance space travel is not unrealistic, nor even something of the "distant" future. 3. You are correct about only a minority of scientists "getting exciting" about minor astronomical discoveries, but that's why we call those people astronomers. Their field is quite distinct from astronautics. The opposite of your argument could be made to show how not spending money on the space program could be fatal in the long run (no back up planet for when this one's resources are gone or for when the terrorists finally have their day). Additionally, spending money on space programs produces results (going to the moon, etc) whereas spending huge amounts of money on feeding non-sustainable cultures means that you're just going to have to do the same thing tomorrow (no results). I'm not against philantropy and aide, I'm just saying that we shouldn't eliminate the space program so that we can give the money away. Besides, in all likeliness the money will go to some african thug who claims to be the president of a starving people and uses it to buy mansions and cars. Even in the case where it does go to good, feeding the people, we should still have limits on it.

Answer 3

The truth is that they don't. The actual spending is very little, so where does the money go? As far back as JFK's time government has been explaining away budget deficits by linking spending with space programs. We get the spin from media to make heroes out of pilots and the government gets a hidden budget. Eat, drink, have sex and be happy, you're all just cattle.

Answer 4

"Humans will never be able to go to places like Mars or Jupiter to live"

If we do as you say, then you are right, such things would never be possible, but this spending makes such things not impossible in the future. And there is more to space spending then trying to do such things like that. The satellites that make our everyday lives easier were also/are being developed better as we continue to make strides in space research.

Answer 5

Because its human nature to explore! Who says we wont ever get to mars and live there? A few hundred years ago people were saying the same thing about exploring the world, they said there were no more places to find and that the atlantic was uncrossable.. then whoa they found America!

Answer 6

well, i do think i agree with you on we should be spending money to feed hungry people.. but its interesting to see whats out there. think about it.. we could be one of 10 different galaxies where some type of life forms live.. and its all just waiting to be discovered. but the amount of money spent on it is outrageous. spend the money on something that will stop world hunger and keep world peace.. THEN explore the universe.

Answer 7

Because billions sounds better than millions. Eventually when we get enough money, we'll start wasting trillions on space exploration. It's really quite simple.

Answer 8

yeah it is kinda stupid in a way but u never know someday way in the future we might be able to live on mars or somthing. they need to get rid of the idvidual countries space programs and just make one global program

Answer 9

you're right. we will NEVER GO TO MARS, even less to Jupiter.