Space exploration

[Alcott]

Space exploration is a favorite subject of mine, and I have spent hours lately watching the old news coverage of Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and the shuttle on youtube.com. This reminds me of being in the first grade when televisions were first put in the classrooms and we watched the Gemini 6 launch, then in second grade when the fire on Apollo 1 (so named later) killed the 3 astronauts on the pad. It further reminds me of my grandmother, who opposed the "moon race," saying "We're just trying it because Russia did," and "If God meant for there to be people up there [the moon], he'd have put them up there!" I don't recall being enough on top of it all to ask her in turn, "Did God mean for people to b in America, since he didn't put any here?-- unless HE's doing so the same way HE's putting a few on the moon-- by our capabilities."

What is your opinion about our accomplishments in space and our future objectives? Consider knowledge and achievement, cost and the value of human life.

 

[Squire Robertsson]

I look at the various technological developments which have their roots in the space program and I think it's been worthwhile.

 

[Salty]

inventions inspired by space travel

 

[Use of Time]

I think a shift towards privatized exploratory space ventures is inevitable. I'm all for state sanctioned missions that enhance security or maintain an edge over potential adversaries but space exploration is beyond expensive and it sounds like we are about to grow the military and fight some more wars soon so we better start saving for that I guess.

 

[MsGuidedAngel]

I think the USA Needs to stay ahead like we used too be in Space exploration!! After all GOD Created the Heaven ( Universe ) and the Earth from Heaven Above!!

 

[Smyth]

The OP has too many choices. It produces confusing results.

I know I'm in a minority here, where others spend their time advocating more government spending in various threads and topics. And, so, overwhelmingly, the people in this forum advocate the costly status quo and especially more aggressive spending on space. But, NASA has little practical or constitutional purpose.

We've gotten to the point where private companies can handle practical aspects of space research, such as designing and launching satellites.

Sending humans into space is worthless. Such vanity projects should be left to private zillionairs and as ego projects for corrupt heads of state in other countries.

Robots (or unmanned craft) can accomplish practically anything human space explorers can accomplish, and Robots can do it for a tiny fraction of the cost. So, if we're going to have NASA for space fanatics, keep the humans on the ground.

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"Hey Bob, wouldn't it be nice if someone would invent a cordless screwdriver?" "Yeah, Steve. Let's give billions and billions of dollars to NASA so that they'll invent a cordless screwdriver." Meanwhile, on a parallel Earth that never had an interest in space exploration, they drive electric cars, use cordless electric toothbrushes, use cordless electric sanders and saws, but turning a screw still requires a lot of wrist action.

 

[FriendofSpurgeon]

Has anyone seen the SpaceX Falcon rockets land -- www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPGUQySBikQ? Now that is really cool -- plus saves lots of $$ as the rockets can be re-used.