Why go to space?

jace hobbs, maui Hawaii — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 01:11:31 GMT

the best estimate i have heard is that 25 million U.S. children do not get primary medical care because their parents cannot afford it. the Space agency is the cart before the horse. The future is our children,,,,duh. the future is an enviroment that is comfortable for those children to live in. The world cooperation that this article speaks about happens in a vacuum,,,literally. our expenditures in space are like the danceband on the titanic,,still playing in the midst of disaster.

Why go to space?

Jay B. McGuier — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 01:15:58 GMT

The moon is a rich source of Helium-3 that can be combined with Deuterium to create electricity cleanly. One maximum shuttle load, or approximately 25 tons of He-3 would be worth around $75 Billion and replace the nasty fuels we use today to generate enough electricity for the entire United States for a year. Changing our energy uses to more electrical modes would end our dependence on oil. We can sell additional He-3 to other countries, replace an oil driven world-wide energy economy and bring in over $300 Billion to pay off the national debt. President Bush has initiated the program (two years ago)... the goal is to begin mining the moon sometime around the year 2016, about ten years from now. I think this alone, justifies the space missions. Clean air... unlimited energy... nice!!

Why go to space?

Wes Maughan, Chadds Ford, PA — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 01:22:25 GMT

Human beings are at their best when we are engaged in a challenging undertaking ... pushing back boundaries. The healthiest and happiest societies are those societies that pursue new horizons. These undertakings inspire the rest of us, we take pride in our nation's/culture's accomplishments and we perfomr better individually and as a group.

The space program and other similar undertakings are the cultural equivalent of financial leverage.

Congratulations on returning to space safely.

Why go to space?

Mitchell Wark, Old Town, Maine — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 01:40:43 GMT

We live in a world where we are drowned with news of violence, pain, and suffering which we inflict upon ourselves. Despite how our civilization has advanced through recorded history we somehow seem to be marching in place as we kill each other for various reasons just like we did thousands of years ago--except with more technology we just get better at doing it. Spaceflight is a true look forward. Above the atmosphere is an environment unfit for anything earthly. Yet WE build craft and put humans there, if not for anything than to at least prove that we can. Personally, I get misty when I see things like the Discovery mission, or the Mars rovers mission succeed. It proves that we as a civilization can acheive great things, and our legacy need not be in warfare. There should never be a time where we should say we have devoted "enough" resources to manned spaceflight. Take even half of the money spent in Iraq and send humans to Mars or beyond. If such missions don't seem worth it for their scientific value alone, they will at least for a time allow the entire world to glance skyward, forget about our differences, and be intoxicated with the euphoria of one of the greatest achievements in our history. That is what manned spaceflight is all about.

Why go to space?

Sunil — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 01:49:17 GMT

Space prgrams are natural next step for mankind - On lines of Griffin's comments, I feel certain that only if mankind can survive, it is inevitable that they will travel in space as they travel across oceans/seas now! Innovation/progress cannot wait for everyone to reach a certain level (in education, healthcare, etc) - On the other hand, if U.S. policymakers are really getting it wrong and spending more on space program (and little on children), it is just question ot time when this country will lag behind and next better generation from some other country will do better..

Why go to space?

Eric Sieverling — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 01:50:39 GMT

Yes, we do have issues of poverty that need to be addressed, but what does that have to do with NASA? Our military budget and the cost of the disastrous Iraq war dwarf spending on the space program, not to mention Bush's tax cuts for the rich. And the space program spurs the development of new technologies that probably pay for its cost many times over....

Why go to space?

Warren Hansell Hunt III M.D. — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 01:51:10 GMT

We need to keep priorities straight, health care for children is enormously important, that said, in the field of basic science the Superconducting Supercollider should not have been cancelled, as it comes before a space orbiting station in scientific importance, altho this does not mean that space exploration is unimportant

Why go to space?

Lou Lingstuyl Queens, New York — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 01:58:37 GMT

space exploration is necessary for the human spirit in the same way we have explored this planet. We have accumulated much knowledge and have only scratched the surface.In the future we will also benefit by providing much needed jobs when non governmental company's are permitted to compete for contracts for work yet to be imagined.

Why go to space?

Dennis, Hemet,California — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 01:59:21 GMT

There are very few things that make an impact on innovation and advances in knowledge and products. One of them is war, the other is space. Of the two I would pick space exploration any day of the week. As was pointed out there is not a lot of things we do and use daily that cant be traced back to advances brought about by this crucial endeavor.Money and resources well spent that empacts all mankind for the better.

Why go to space?

Gil Violette — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 02:27:09 GMT

Why take the risks of staying on Earth?

Why go to space?

Rod Norris, Tyler, TX — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 02:37:59 GMT

While I would agree that the lack of medical care for the US population is an embarrassment for our society as a whole, I do not think that NASA's entire budget would do much to help the situation. Now the war budget on the other hand....

Why go to space?

Rob Hedges — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 02:52:09 GMT

Money spent on spaceflight is ALWAYS worth it-it helps push technology forward, as well as the outlook of human society.

The ISS is the beginning of something truly great-having humans live in space for short periods of time on a consistent basis.

Why go to space?

Chris Eldridge, Harrisburg PA — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 02:53:28 GMT

To know and to learn honors the eons it took for life on Earth to become conscious. To have gone through all of that evolutionary madness just to say “So what?” and ignore what there is to learn, is true ignorance.

Life is plain and simply too long not to want to learn something new. There are many things that take up our time, but I think it is comforting for people just to know that we have rovers on Mars and space telescopes in the sky. It gives us all a sense of purpose, a little hope that we might not normally have. Even as a high school dropout, it was my genuine interest is astronomy that eventually drove me to college.

When we really want to learn as much as we can, we must take an honest look at how much more we can learn through robotic exploration as opposed to human exploration. Why go putts around Mars ourselves when we could explore half the solar system for the same cost with probes? Robotic exploration pushes new technology just as much as human missions – if not more so. Sure, Lewis and Clark and Columbus had a spirit of adventure, but that doesn’t mean they would have turned down a chance to take a look ahead before setting out with a probe if they could have.

Why go to space?

WIlliam Washburn II Mooresville,NC — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 03:47:20 GMT

Space exploration has been very valuable to man kind with out it many advances in medical science and technical advances in some of our basic living would not of been discovered. Many advances we now use in every day life can from the space program and most of us don't even know it. Let it fly high.....

Why go to space?

Jane, Southern Mississippi — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 05:38:46 GMT

I remember growing up in the sixties and watching the rockets go up and then the space capsules splash into the ocean with the big ships picking up the astronauts. I remember the first man on the moon and how everyone watched him take that first giant leap for all of us. I'd just as soon let my money go to the space program as to research on worms. It's way more uplifting. And I'd much rather it go to space than Iraq.

Why go to space?

Patrick Bishop, Caldwell, NJ — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 06:05:40 GMT

Were we to cancel all space exploration and redirect the money saved toward fighting poverty, we'd find that any success would be very temporary. No amount of money, even spent on the most promising programs, can resolve the fundamental problem that gives rise to most human woes - our selfishness and indifference toward others. Poverty is going to be a recurring problem as long as people are the way we are.

However, given the fact that the human race has so miserably FAILED to end poverty, war, disease, illiteracy (you name it), I figure every dollar spent on an increasingly SPECTACULAR space program is very encouraging. If we can still achieve some great things, maybe civilization isn't on its last legs after all.

Why go to space?

Chris Muir, Modesto, California — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 06:08:11 GMT

NASA officials are all gung-ho about space travel, their jobs depend on it.
The astronauts are all gung-ho about manned space flights, their thrill rides depend on it.

But from a economic viewpoint, all of the really valuable economic return from the space program have come from satellites and basic scientific research. Manned space flights has far too little economic return for the high price paid, mostly in entertainment value (and Hollywood does it better and cheaper).

As for Helium 3 mining, get real! We haven't achieved energy breakeven on any fusion reactor design, and it has become obvious that to exceed breakeven and actually produce usable amounts of power, a fusion reactor will have to be so absurdly huge and expensive that it will be by far the most expensive way to produce power ever. Fusion power will make photovoltaic cells look downright cheap in comparison.

Why go to space?

Daisy Snail — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 07:12:50 GMT

My personal opinion on this matter (bearing in mind i have no serious experience on the topic) is that the US government should spend more time and money on space missions, and less time on the war in the middle east. If the government would spend the money which is currently going into destroying the lives of innocent civilians in the Middle East, more money would be left over to increase the standard of healthcare and education, as well as to supplement the ongoing space missions. The definition of a Human being is a creature with a curiosity and thirst for knowledge unparalleled by any creature on earth. It is therefore only natural that as earth slowly reveals its secrets, that people will move on to discover the truth about space. Space is also a very important issue for us humans, all 6 billion of us share this one planet; earth. A tiny planet that looks as if it will soon be unable to provide for the wants and needs of all its population. More resources need to be found and more space will soon become desperately needed. Also, we are all in a very vunerable situation, at any moment an asteroid could come heading straight for our earth, and all we'll be able to do is to hope and pray. With more scientific discoveries into space, our safety will become more assured.

Why go to space?

Adam, Brisbane, Queensland — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 07:38:20 GMT

Space exploration is best served by probes - they're more patient and more radiation resistant. Human space should be about actually living at the places probes have shown us - we need a return to the Moon and flights to Mars to create new frontiers for people, not merely data gather for scientists. Then the pay-off will be in starting whole new societies that avoid the mistrust and mistakes of old Earth.

Final note: fusion is still decades away and He3 is harder to fuse than deuterium-tritium. It's a solution much too late for present energy problems.

Why go to space?

Scott — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 07:50:07 GMT

I believe in the exploration of space, i support NASA and any organisation that pushes the boundaries of human acheivement, and looks boldly towards the future and new horizons. if anyone has any problems with NASA's budget then they should look at military budgets the world over, and realise that these budgets are over-inflated and could easily solve issues like poverty and hunger. Just image a colony on the moon, or a terraformed mars, how amazing it could be. and see the endless possibilities that await us in space, the final and undiscovered frontier!

Why go to space?

Quinn Jones, Edmonton, AB — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 10:25:00 GMT

Like any investment, it's worth tightening your belt if the investment pays a return. NASA has an obligation with the taxpayer's money - spend it wisely. If they spend the money on projects that will lead to progress (even if it's "just one more way NOT to build a light bulb"), then this progress will compound. Science is like an investment, and research pays compounding dividends.

Why go to space?

Mark Allen, Lewiston, ME — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 11:50:15 GMT

To explore the unknown is part of being a sentient being, to move beyond the comfortable and routine is how limits are tested and moved beyond. The sum of human knowledge has exploded in the last few centuries on an expontential curve, and should continue to. If we wish to remain animals, we can, of course, but I would hope that we continue to grow as a species, and move into space. There is a lot out there that we have no idea of, and can have no idea of, until we get there. I, for one, would go to Mars one-way in a second, to explore there. Give my genes to the cryogenic people, and let them use it as they will. The species need challenge, and a genetic out, off the little planet that we call home. Technology will come, and hopefully, so will species maturity. The future is in our hands, and part of that future is space. Arthur C Clarke said it well, the future is not only stranger than we can imagine, it is stranger than we can imagine. Let us go find the strangeness in the future.

Why go to space?

Max Caruso, Melbourne, Australia — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 12:32:02 GMT

I agree with the many positive and supportive comments made by people in support of space exploration.

As far as I am concerned, the space programme is a symbol of unity, human creativity, courage and ... hope.

Why go to space?

Zach Des Moines IA — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 13:07:55 GMT

Space exploration is about our children. Great leaps into space drive children’s curiosity and interest. At a time when science and math are seem to be lagging in our school system, our children need this to energize them more than ever.

Why go to space?

Dennis, Richmond Virginia — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 13:36:51 GMT

"...Ask ten different scientists about the environment, population control, genetics, and you'll get ten different answers, but there's one thing every scientist on the planet agrees on. Whether it happens in a hundred years or a thousand years or a million years, eventually our Sun will grow cold and go out. When that happens, it won't just take us. It'll take Marilyn Monroe, and Lao-Tzu, and Einstein, and Morobuto, and Buddy Holly, and Aristophanes... all of this... all of this... was for nothing. Unless we go to the stars." --My favorite Babylon 5 quote.

Why go to space?

Ray Barber, Albany, New York — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 13:54:13 GMT

With all due respect Jace Hobbs, it is not the Federal governments fault and certainly not the space programs fault that 25 million children don’t have primary health care. It is most certainly the parents fault for not educating themselves and not planning to raise a child. Secondly it is not the federal or States job to wipe the people’s butts for them, and to take care of their every need. People need to take responsibility for their own.
Also, please do not cry about the need for more education here. The Space program is at the heart of education. It is the inspiration for many to become educated and it is an advocate of education. If you want more money for schools then don’t cry about rising taxes or ask the state governments about where your lottery money is being spent…

I’m glad our people made it home safely. You inspire us all to better ourselves and our future!

Why go to space?

John, Murrieta,CA — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 14:04:55 GMT

The Program is important and may actually be what saves us humans. Every advance in technology helps with things like medical care, so that's a good thing. On the money, let's find out how much we spend on foreign aid and see if that can help our kids!

Why go to space?

Douglas Fingles, Warner Robins, GA — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 14:05:30 GMT

Why go to space? Because it's there. Because we are explorers of our surroundings, our world, and now of our solar system. Everytime we explore, we gain new knowledge and insights into ourselves and our planet. That knowledge and insight gained from exploration has immeasurably helped the human race progress from simple hunter/gatherers to our complex technological society of today. Yes, we still have problems to solve, but linear thinking prevents or eliminates many possible solutions that have and may yet come from other avenues, such as space exploration. There are very few people in the world who's lives have not been touched in a beneficial way from space exploration, from medical (kidney dialysis), diet (potassium for the heart), to communications (wireless headsets), weather (Solar and Earth storm warnings), energy (fuel and solar cells), etc. The list of benefits is long and distinguished, and without them many lives would be directly impacted. We must take what we've learned from space exploration, and use that knowledge to make all our lives better, and so far we have. To all involved in exploring and pushing back the final frontier, I say "Well Done!"

Why go to space?

John F. — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 14:19:00 GMT

It is time to put things into perspective for those who feel we should packup our ladders and stay out of the cosmos. The money spent to launch and develope new products into space would do very little to feed or cloth the poor. When you factor in mis-management, the space program is a better investment.
A few things to think of are listed below.
1. The resources on this planet are finite. That's a fact, we will eventually run out of stuff to do stuff with. What do we do after that? Where do we go after that, either into the history books or the ground....permanently.
2. The Moon and Mars offer new habitats for us and or children. They will require vast amounts of work, but they are there and should be utilizied. Our future depend on our past and understanding of the cosmic workings of our solar system.
3. If you like the computer you are reading this on, thank the space program. Now, extrapoalte this device into all of the products it affects and you see why the space program is important. The space program required technologies that did not exist and those technologies spread into other industries. (can you say miniturization)The PC was a direct decendant of those technologies. This is just one area, how about metalergy, fabrics, medical uses for the said items. I thanked the space progran the day that my father had a heart by-pass and the heart/lung machine was there for him. The metal/materials and computer technologies directly affect the making of that machine and the people it saves during surgery. No space program and dad would be dead. That means some of the the people who are reading this themselves might not be reading this were in not for those technologies.
4. Exploration. Humans were not meant to bury their collective heads in the sand. We are constantly moving forward. Aside from our oceans, we pretty much have been everywhere this planet has to offer.
5. As Piers Sellers stated, international cooperation. I get a belly laugh everytime someone says we have learned nothing from ISS and should splash it. Think back, the US and Russia used to do everything they can to upstage each other in space. When the Apollo/Soyuz test project flew, it only happened once, but the plan was set. We can no longer exist without each other, that just the way it is. No cooperation and China would become the number one space power, not a good thing to be sure.There is now a crew of a Russian, American and German zipping around our planet in a vehicle that is made out of US, Russian and Canadian built arts. We resupply it with Italian built modules and Russian supply ships. We will be adding labs from Europe and Japan and fly people from all over the world to that lab to work. It has already shown us how to make repairs to equipment in space, generated vast amounts of data on long-term space exposure to the body and taught us how the modules we build for long-term space flight react to the orbital/vacuum environment. That is something we have to know in order to go to and stay on the moon and Mars.
5. The Space Shuttle. We have repaired satellites, delivered components to the station, conducted long-term scientific research, started the cooperation with the Russians when we docked with MIR, launched and upgraded the most important space telescope ever built and basically started a whole new era in working in space and learning to exist there. Contrary to popular belief, the shuttle has NEVER failed, the infrastructure supporting it has failed. The shuttle is an has been an invaluable tool. I still believe at least one vehicle should be kept after the stand-down. It should be converted to be run by two people and used as a heavy lift supply vehicle where-ever needed. It still has a place, not as an everyday flyer, but as a heavy lift special supply/mission vehicle. It still has a place in the worlds line up of space vehicles.
People need to learn to forget costs in some cases. Space travel is expensive and dangerous. It will not always be that way, but it is now. Burt Rutan, Bigelow Aerospace, Virgin Galactic and other ventures are and will make access to space more doable and cost effective. No new technology ever came without growing pains and a price. No worthwhile endeavor was ever easy. JFK was right when he said we do this because it is hard, not because it is easy. Wake up people. Get the facts or languish mediocrity.

Why go to space?

Adam, wichita, ks — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 14:22:26 GMT

War is temporary, exploration is ongoing. Vikings looked to the sea and did not see land on the other side, but they went anyway, hoping to find something. They did.
Today, we are beyond that, we know what is out there, what is in our grasp. We have satellites and cameras, and telescopes that can view the contents of things millions of light years away. That is not why we go into space. That is not what space exploration is about, it is about finding what we do not know. To do that, we must first get there.

Why go to space?

Tony Rusi, Wichita, KS — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 15:00:49 GMT

I did a quick search on Jace Hobbs. He appears to be an environmental activist with the Surfrider foundation in Maui. All very noble work, I am sure. His concern for children is good. But I would say we need balance in life. More than medical care, these children would be better off with an education that included instruction on an optimum diet and a lifestyle that includes excercise so that "health care" was unneeded by them. A balance in life includes all the things required for self-actualization. Life should have meaning. For some, this includes exploration into many different areas. For all too few of us so far, this includes the exploration of space. I am not sure what he does for a living, it seems that he might be involved with the construction of composite sailing vessels. I did the search because I was trying to understand where he was coming from. At some time in the past his "little bit of paradise," Maui, was discovered by exploring polynesians in sea going vessels, probably from Tahiti. Over 400 years ago, one of the greatest civilizations on earth at the time, the Chinese, turned away from exploration of the seas of the earth. Sailing vessels were actually banned by law. Limited thinking set their culture back for centuries. Astronomers have already discovered hundreds of extra-solar planets. Someday soon one of them will discover a new Maui in the sky, probably several hundred light years away. Hopefully our children will gain the wisdom to do it all, to clean up our earth, to learn how to live with each other in peace, and to go to the stars.

Why go to space?

Ben, Alpharetta, GA — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 15:15:08 GMT

I see nowhere in the United States Constitution that says that the federal government should use taxpayer monies to fund a federal space program. I agree that space exploration is extremely important and vital; however, this is an endeavor that should be handled by private organizations and not funded by the federal government.

Why go to space?

Richard Speck, Denver, Colorado — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 15:20:06 GMT

Space access will eliminate the “Limits to Growth” and make it possible for all children to live well. Without it, we are promised a future of growing poverty, making do with less and less. Yes, mining the solar system is economically mind boggling, but consider trying to sell IBM leaders in 1956 on the idea of programmable calculators (equaling 1956 computers) sold in plastic packages hanging on a grocery store wall, or animated computer graphic “toys” for children!

Why go to space?

David Watford, Austin, TX — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 15:52:32 GMT

To those who would believe that spending money on the space program does not feed children and adults in this country, you should talk to the children of the thousands upon thousands of of the workers who directly or indirectly work in or support the space program (or any large endevor like this. These programs are worth our efforts and funds. The quest for knowledge is our greatest endevor and it provides great employment.

Why go to space?

Scott, Salt Lake City, UT — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 15:55:25 GMT

Another way to look at this whole dabate is to use an analogy. Look at a married couple considering having children. If all married couples waited until all their debts were paid off and the future assured for themselves and their potential progeny, the human race would die out for lack of children. Space flight/exploration is the same type of thing. Humans must see the good that comes from doing a hard and scary thing, knowing that the ulimate payoff requires a hefty price (to use a military analogy) in blood and treasure. Yes, it would be wonderful to solve poverty, lack of healthcare, and every other human suffering here on earth before we expend resouces to explore, but if we wait until that happens we will never look beyond our own navels. Humankind has always explored and the benefits we realize today from this urge are beyond imagination. Spaceflight and the benefits it can potentially bring are humankind's future children. And children have the potential to make our world a better place.

Why go to space?

a p garcia — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 16:09:52 GMT

As to why go into space with all the problems on Earth. Problems will always be here because humanity is different unless everybody is the same, same color same wealth, no individuality and same etc.

One of these days, a mountain sized asteroid will have Earth is its crosshairs, maybe it will be Apophis in 2036 or maybe it will be some other mountain in space. It has happened before and it will happen again. When it does happen I will want humanity to do something to prevent it and solving humanity's problems on Earth won't prevent a Humanity Extinction Event. I wouldn’t want humanity to be stuck with its head in the sand when it comes to space exploration.

Why go to space?

Alan Sheets, Loveland, CO — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 17:20:23 GMT

All societies must do something bigger than it actually is -- otherwise, they inevitably fall. Egypt had the pyramids. Rome and Spain had exploration. Those empires fell when they stopped looking beyond the horizon.

America has space, and is at a historic juncture where the society will choose whether to turn inward or take a chance.

Why go to space?

Kristy, Gulfport, MS — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 17:37:38 GMT

I think that people who speak ill of space exploration and NASA as a whole do not understand NASA at all. NASA does not only go to space. There are many areas of NASA that contibute to "home issues". Space Operations is only one area of NASA. NASA is also made up of Aeronautics, Exploration Systems and Science-exploring the EARTH, moon, Mars and beyond.
The only tie that NASA has with social issues is that it (directly or indirectly) creates jobs.

Why go to space?

John Palacios, South Houston, Texas — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 17:48:33 GMT

Space is the solution. Out there somewhere is life. There is an infinite amount of possibilities that there exsist a planet/solar system that is similar to ours.

Why go to space?

Craig, Seattle, WA — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 17:53:51 GMT

While I don't for a minute buy the "We can't go there until we fix everything down here" line of reasoning, I find it funny (in a macabre way) that every one of them has a different answer. It really comes down to a bunch of people justifying stealing several billions of other people's money.

The only role in space for government is in the realm of defense. It's no mistake that the vast majority of our most effective rocket designs came out of 10 years of ICBM development in the 50s and 60s, or that military spy satellites produced the necessary launch and electronics know-how for communications satellites. Does anyone doubt that an air force space station would have been both more effective and cheaper than the current glasnost tinkertoy?

I'm all for expanding frontiers, but Ben from GA is right: this should be the realm of private business. I don't buy that its "too expensive." Rutan and Bigelow are showing space programs for under $100 million; and don't tell me that, as oil becomes scarcer and more expensive, Exxon-Mobil/BP/Chevron-Texaco's pockets will not be deep enough to scout the moon for He3 or build solar power satellites. One could even argue that ISS-style federal research behemoths are the reason we don't yet have fusion power. The government needs to leave the future to the people.

Why go to space?

Mike Moss, Alexandria, VA — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 17:58:48 GMT

It always saddens me when I read comments about how the money spent on the Space Program could be better spent elsewhere - healthcare, other science efforts (like the canceled Super Colider), wellfare, etc. I think that most people do not have a true grasp of what a pittence our government truly spends on the Space Program. We hear the talk of billions of dollars spent on it, an enormous amount, but a truly small fraction of the Federal budget. And the return in technological and scientific knowledge per dollar spent is astounding. Compared to the money we spend on healthcare, wellfare, and defense, NASA's budget is nothing and gives a far greater return. Even if the entire Space Program budget were divided up amoung the population of the USA does anyone really think the $25 each person recieved would make that much of a difference? I say spend more money on the Space Program. I have an extra $5 to chip in.

Why go to space?

Len Rowe, Castle Rock CO — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 17:59:31 GMT

First, to assess the validation of the Space program, the risk must be analyzed from a "big picture" or an overall perspective. I believe that there’s risk with every action we take with everyday life, with varying degrees of consequences and results. I think that the probable outcome of taking the risks in the space program should be proportional to the investment as possible, but what of the risk of NOT taking those risks as well in the long term? There's never any guarantees. Any large return on an investment will not come in the short term most of the time.
Statistics show that more people have died from spontaneous combustion than from NASA's space program, so risk is in the eye of the beholder. As it took over 1000 years to master shipping oil over international waters almost flawlessly, so it will take generations to master mining the moon for newer sources of energy. The only answer to these questions is what is America willing to do that enables our children to grow their intellect and save their bacon from our problem of the dwindling resources we currently use here on Earth. This is NASA's specialty and our only hope long-term!
Lastly, I didn't ask to be born and neither did my Grandparents. They committed themselves to layout a foundation for their children to grow so they could see a man walk on the Moon. From a "big picture" perspective, and as an American, I feel totally obligated and willing to advocate NASA's mission. For the survival of our species it is essential that future generations have the tools and knowledge to create technology and discover alternate fuel sources, built upon ours as a template, to make Earth thier home as long as possible.

Why go to space?

Greg Braken — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 19:30:29 GMT

The shuttle program has proven to be a huge waste of money. NASA should go back to using more efficient and reliable rockets until something better comes along. The shuttle has become a glorified garbage truck that hauls waste from the space station back to earth. No advances in science have come from the shuttle in a very long time. Chalk up another successful but worthless mission.

Why go to space?

maksim tsionskiy, hollywood , florida — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 20:07:31 GMT

we do need to explore as much as possible, but we need to do it wisely, I do agree that the moon has resources, but we don't own the moon. No country does. So we can't just grab and sell to other countries as another person put it. We need international cooperation between everybody to succeed in space research

Why go to space?

Greg, Princeton, WV — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 20:18:22 GMT

When Columbus asked for money from the Queen to finance his trip to find a new way to India, little did anyone predict that he would find a "New World". He had the passion and motive to go forward. Much was learned by his trip, beyond simply finding the new world. Those who criticize human space exploration are the same ones who told the queen to not give a dime to Columbus for his crazy trip to find a new way to India. They were wrong then, and the same thought is wrong now. The more we explore, the more we discover. The trip itself is worth it, but all we learn along the way makes it more than worth the money we spend.

Why go to space?

Christopher Dahl — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 20:20:30 GMT

Homo Sapiens Sapiens is the fruiting body of the Terran biocosm.

Why go to space?

James Buchanan, Laurel, Maryland — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 20:23:49 GMT

Spaceflight is a real and necessary part of our endeaours. Exploration has driven every great age of human history. From Africa, to Asia, to the New World. People starved in Europe when Columbis, Vespucci, and Balboa set sail, and guess what? Somehow civilization didn't come grinding to a halt because people starved, or weren't educated, or didn't see a doctor.

Success isn't a birthright, health isn't a birthright, education isn't a birthright. You earn it, or you go without. It will not be handed to you.

If you can't afford to feed, maintain and educate children, stop having them. Dropping a kid into the world isn't a license to beg for government handouts.

As a part of the separation of powers, education is a matter for state governments, not the federal government. If you want a better education for your kids, stop whining when local politicians tax your worthless butts to pay for educating your brats.

Federal tax money is about pursuing national endeavours. They give money to those who best put it to effective use, be it drug research, materials science, or space exploration. They also use it to provide for a modicum of defense.

If you think the 16-17 billion we spend on NASA every year is a bit much, I remind you that we're spending multiple times that much per quarter in Iraq right now.

Why is it you bleeding hearts are picking on the little guys?

Why go to space?

Adam Wozniak — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 20:43:53 GMT

I wish to throw out the airlock every shortsighted crybaby who moans about starving children and world peace as more deserving than space development. no mater how much money you chuck at these problems, they always, always, always return. space development (and nasa is not doing a good enough job at it) is the best investment in our future, and the future of those poor starving darlings. if done right, it will give us access to unlimited solar energy, rare industrial metals and other materials in amounts that will make projects on continental scale routine. it will save our planet from polution and overpopulation. it will solve those global problems that all the bleeding heart technophobic moaners have never and will never be able to solve. so SHUT UP!

Why go to space?

O. Heckler, Seattle, WA — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 20:56:39 GMT

The second comment, made by Mr. McGuier, is a bit optimistic. The concentration of He-3 in Lunar soil is around .01ppm. In order to obtain 25 Tons of pure He-3 from lunar soil,,,lets not do the math. Read the Wiki for a quick place to start.
If only .01 ppm of each cargo load is He-3, just how many shuttle trips would it take to obtain 50,000 lbs. of pure He-3??? I'm suddenly reminded of a child playing with a plastic bucket on the beach. Now ask that child to relocate said beach to a location 3 days away by walking. One bucket at a time. In the dark.

Why go to space?

Jake Molko, Gering, Nebraska — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 22:40:55 GMT

I agree that finding ways to produce energy is a worthwhile expenditure. However, with mining on the moon, more than just the energy crisis comes into effect. We, as americans, can't just "claim" the moon. It's the same moon that everyone else sees. If I were another country interested in finding alternative energy, I would be pretty pissed off if America offered resources from the moon to me. It's not our moon, and just going up there to mine the moon because we can seems like it would stir up more controversy than the oil crisis is bring about right now.

Why go to space?

Adam, Brisbane, Queensland — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 22:56:17 GMT

One point often neglected is that space dollars are spent right here on Earth. They vitalise high-tech industries and usuallly its money that doesn't go off-shore.

However we need to get out of the trap of vote-buying and corporate welfare that NASA has been stuck in for 30 years, thanks to lobbying from aerospace industries and the like which enjoy the state-of-play. Thus the move to buy private space services from new aerospace companies is a step in the right direction.

Aeronautics achieved so much in such a short time by diversity. Cutting down our options to a big few companies run for share-holder benefit by an elitist managerial class with no aerospace background rather than engineers and enthusiasts with a vision of space exploration is not going to crack the problem of cheap access to space.

Space should be for everyone. That should be NASA's goal.

Why go to space?

Frank Glover, Rochester, NY — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 01:23:49 GMT

The entire NASA budget is less than one percent of federal spending (although there's signifigant space-related spending in the Department of Defense).

When people start asking the other agencies to give up their budgets to whatever one's preferred priority is, then I may be impressed. (And many of those bigger-budget agenecies, like the Dept. of Health and Human Services, are there for many of those social needs. Will they do better by recieving the the equivalent of one or two more weeks operation out of a year?)

It's in the nature of much of what NASA does, that it's a high-profile agency, doing spectacular things and (often) getting spectacular results, along with (sometimes) spectacular failures.

Other agencies addressing many of these 'more important' needs, can't help but do so in a slow, quiet way that gets few headlines, even when successful. (Most of us know the date of the first Lunar landing...will there be any single day that we can point to and say that 'cancer was cured,' or 'world hunger ended,' even when we do acheive those goals?)

Compared to what other agencies do, NASA is percieved as being more expensive than it is. (ask the average person what they *think* the percentage of the federal budget is spent there...answers are typically far greater than the truth)

Believing that the same amount of money would get equally spactacular results in other areas, ignores this mis-perception.

One answer to the question: "If we can put a man on the Moon (which has not happened *lately* BTW), why can't we...?" is that some things, believe it or not, are indeed *harder* than going to the Moon.

For Ben, Alpharetta, the US Constitution does not reuire *any* Feferal spending on *any* basic science, or technological research and development. What other government agencies that do those things, would you close? Department of Energy? NOAA? Any federal money granted to colleges or the private sector for any medical, agricultural, climatological, etc. research? (Federa; funding for embyronic stem-cell research is opposed by some, not as a question of money spent, but for the moral/ethical issues that many have with it.) Go down that road if you wish, but it doesn't stop at NASA.

Now, one can question how *well* NASA spends its budget to get the desired results (and in certain ways I'd readily say 'not well'), but that can (and should) be asked of *any* government agency.

Why go to space?

Yaan, Australia — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 07:40:43 GMT

I think we need to go just so that if we fail down here, maybe something at some time will know we were here and we tried.

Why go to space?

Jane, Tylertown, MS — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 10:38:13 GMT

On the subject of finding possible new energy sources, I seem to remember in the '70s a man in South Mississippi who had invented a perpetual motion machine that created MORE energy than it used. Experts from MIT and other places came to see and scoff at his invention, but they left saying that it did indeed work. It was on national news and he was Johny Carson. There were reports in the nation's newspapers. what ever became of that? I think the traditional energy players did everything they could to discredit him. But it worked. Maybe something like that could be used.

Why go to space?

Ted Clayton, Virginia Beach, Va — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 13:05:23 GMT

Let it fly, let it fly, let it fly

Why go to space?

Jim Shafer, Mason, OH — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 15:36:33 GMT

"Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" says nothing of demanding free services from the medical profession! What's next...Free housing from the Nation's builders or groceries from the Nation's supermarkets? Redistribution of wealth (which doesn't work by the way) is a poor excuse for eliminating the expansion of man's knowledge of who we are and where we are going. NASA's contribution to exploration is the most admirable thing that mankind has ever accomplished. The budget should be doubled at any expense, because the proveable, tangible improvement to everyday life for ALL of mankind is returned 100 fold. And any of you out there that think these small private industry forays can substitute for the federal program are entirely too ignorant.

Why go to space?

Paul Dietz — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 16:32:15 GMT

))) One point often neglected is that space dollars are spent right here on Earth.

It's neglected because it's irrelevant. Money is a placeholder for real wealth (labor, raw materials, capital). The real wealth most certainly is consumed.

Anyway, are you claiming that the space program is free because we're not employing space aliens or shooting currency into orbit? If so, give me some of that money. I promise I won't spend any of it on any planet other than Earth.

Why go to space?

Kristy, Gulfport, MS — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 18:04:26 GMT

The issue here has moved from the focus of the article. NASA is a federal agency that provides the US with a service that would not be possible in the private sector. NASA brings these private entities inline with the agency to produce that service. If space exploration were moved completely to the private sector, business would get in the way of production, just like it does in every other industry. Why is no one trying to shut down the Nuclear Regulatory Commission...they are providing a service that the private industry can handle. There is a reason why the NRC is here. The government can monitor nuclear activity...just as it monitors space exploration with NASA.

Why go to space?

Jeff, Marietta, GA — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 04:37:02 GMT

Successful exploration always leads to added value. We already have more than enough energy delivered to planet Earth from the Sun every day - so we don't need more energy. (The games being played with hydrogen, ethanol, etc., etc. are simply job protection / creation efforts by large companies and their government backers.)

What we won't have enough of, as the population continues to grow, is land. And, our solar system offers a solution that will require intelligence, resources and effort to achieve creation of additional land.

We need to mine the Kuiper Belt for materials and build a larger Mars. The old real-estate saying, "they aren't making any more of it", needs to be proven wrong.

Many folks responding on this subject look at space expenditures as taking away from other "expected" freebies such as health care/insurance or food. So on a percentage basis lets look at some numbers. Suppose the numbers are as follows:

20% - Defense
39% - Social Security, Medicare, etc.
8% - Interest
14% - Other mandatory
19% - Non-defense Discretionary

Now, remove one percent from the non-defense Discretionary and spend it on whatever socialistic activities you desire. And, reorient a couple more percent to serve as space-exploration insurance funding. Something like the FDIC insurance except on a far larger scale.

The banks would then be encouraged to make loans to Kuiper Belt miners and eventually to real-estate developers on Mars. Those folks would hire lots of our more intelligent children. That would encourage more of our children to seek higher degrees. And, so on and so on. Lots more families can afford health insurance when the upper classes are expanding.

That should do it. In fact you can probably return the socialistic percent back to what it was or even (likely) lower it.

It's all about wealth creation and wealth accummulation.

Why go to space?

Chris Eldridge, Harrisburg PA — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 07:50:41 GMT

Possible goals for future space activities:

Learning the organic and geographic history of our solar system to the same extent we know and understand the organic and geographic history of Earth.

A full inventory of planets and commentary bodies beyond the orbit of Neptune.

A full inventory of exoplanets around other stars as well as free-floating planets, say, out to 1,000 light years.

Understand and track asteroid and commentary threats to earth and be able to respond to sudden threats.

The establishment of massive L2 space telescopes: both radio and optical. This would require an ability to manufacture such instruments in low earth orbit (LEO) and the ability to maintain them at a distance eight times that of the moon. Such telescopes could fly in-sink: beaming the light they gather to a central focal point. Such "interferometry" would easily be able to detect the cloud tops and mountain ranges of other Earth-like planets around other stars – and therefore the signatures of life. Discovering life beyond our own solar system may be what this is ultimately all about!

Instead of zero G space stations, lets focus on much more massive wheel-shaped space stations that can generate their own gravity. Such stations should be expandable over time into a cylindrical shape with protected assembly areas in the center. Once constructed, we should move such stations to a higher geo-stationary orbit where they could support a massive infrastructure of weather, communications, and GPS platforms as well as missions out to our L2 stations and sensors.

With such an infrastructure we will be able to build mini inter-solar-system star ships that can be sent out to fully explore the outer planets. This might be much more cost effective than 100s of Cassini-sized missions that would be needed to accomplish the first goal on the list. Such ships would refuel once around the moons of Jupiter so that they can either continue on or return.

Ultimately, off-world colonization with a self-contained / self-supporting ability independent of Earth. Space station based colonies are not as vulnerable to asteroid impacts as imobile surface colonies: Mars, Moon, etc.

To accomplish the goals we’d need massive heavy-lift rockets able to place between 300 to 500 tons into LEO. This would likely require massive reusable, flyback boosters – perhaps something like the Boeing/Grumman H-33 once planned for the shuttle program. Nano-composite and single-crystal metal parts would need to be fully utilized to achieve such weight savings and cost effectiveness.

Why go to space?

Roger Mathews, Geneva, FL — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 11:53:28 GMT

For those who say we should not spend money on space because of all the suffering here on Earth, I would point out that NASA spent a little over $16 billion last year (0.7% of the budget) with about $6 billion going to human space flight. The federal government spent more than $1400 billion on social programs last year (60% of the budget). The state of Florida alone is planning to spend $21 billion on education next year while NASA will spend less than $17 billion. For all the people who need help in this country, it is not that we are not spending enough but that what is being spent is being wasted to a large degree through fraud and abuse. So support the space program and work in your community to improve the impact of the money currently spent at home. This country is rich enough to do both

Why go to space?

Cryogaijin, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 12:13:38 GMT

I think many of the people in favor of cutting space-related spending are vastly uninformed as to what we are spending on space. They see the huge numbers of the cost of an individual shuttle launch and think this is a waste of taxpayer money.

Educate yourselves. Go to www.google.com and pull up a federal budget website. (my favorite is http://www.kowaldesign.com/budget/ because it lets you play with it to make your own budget) Note that things like nasa take a tiny % of the actual near 3 trillion budget. Hell k-12 schooling is only about 24 billion, special programs discounted.

Instead of saying "Get rid of nasa!" or "take the money out of space" why don't you simply audit the mega-agencies of the government, remove the graft and inefficiency? Trust me, you'll get more money by removing governmental bloat than by cutting Nasa's funding.

That said, I am of the opinion that Nasa should be thinking more like a buisness in some ways. In the last couple months we've had several Near Earth Asteroid passes. Drop a small solar powered ion drive on it, and set it up for a rendezvous several years in the future. (Yes, in space a tiny ion drive can move a city sized asteroid if is constantly thrusting. Just takes a long time.) One of the asteroids was supposed to be composed of a very high % of germanium and related elements. . . including platinum. Start orbital mining. This sort of thing would help the earth more than just adding materials. . . if we move mining and other dirty industry off earth it can no longer harm the environment here.

Why go to space?

Monte Davis — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 19:38:08 GMT

Griffin's "just learning" is crucial. We all (NASA included) overdosed on Columbus and Wright brothers analogies at the beginning of the space age, and took the pace of Apollo 1961-1969 as the norm... when in fact this is a much bigger "new ocean" than any before, and our capability/cost ratio is still poor compared even to the Vikings'. All the advances and payoffs offered in the comments are Out There -- but on the far side of what remains a steep and expensive learning curve.

Those who argue for space activity as the inevitable next step in evolution may well be right -- IF they're prepared to accept something more like an evolutionary time scale.

Why go to space?

Jory Brown, Puyallup, Washington — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 18:44:33 GMT

I agree that space flight and exploration are great. And mining asteroids will be more evironmental. Why not add a space elevator than launching space shuttles and wasting resources to feul the shuttles. I mean, we pretty much have the technology, many orginizations believe construction would take place between 2010-2020. It will be far more beinefitial than shuttle launches.

Plus, the International Space Station proves we are capable of moving outward into space, we just need motivation. A simple beleif would push us into the sky. I may be young, but I beleive that space IS the future. That is- if we don't kill each other before that happens.

Why go to space?

Jim, Mountain Mesa, CA — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 18:59:23 GMT

Ben from Alpharetta, GA states: "I see nowhere in the United States Constitution that says that the federal government should use taxpayer monies to fund a federal space program."

Apparently, your copy of the Constitution must be missing Article I, Section 8:

"The Congress shall have the power to lay and collect taxes ... and provide for the common defence AND GENERAL WELFARE of the United States...To make ALL LAWS WHICH SHALL BE NECESSARY AND PROPER for carrying into execution the forgoing powers..."

Sorry, Ben -- but you can't execute very many powers or provide for the general welfare without having to spend some money.

Why go to space?

Wayne Baller — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 23:53:15 GMT

Just think of all the things we could do in the space program if we had spent the billions of dollars that we have put into the war-

Why go to space?

Christopher Eldridge, Harrisburg PA — Sat, 22 Jul 2006 01:29:09 GMT

Jeff from GA,
Now that's got to be the most dramatic form of terraforming I've ever heard - Dropping Kuiper Belt objects onto Mars to increase its mass, water content, etc. Though a bit too difficult - for now at least - that's certainly thinking out of the box!! One problem would be that any “mass bombardment” would melt the surface of Mars and, thus, would likely take millions of years to re-solidify...

I really don’t think there is any shortage of land on Earth. It certainly seems that way with how poorly things are planned and with how much sprawl exists but one person on the net actually pointed out that you could COMFORTABLY hold the entire population of Britain (and its industries) within a mere 100 mile diameter area with proper planning. In his calculations everyone had their own standard home on a nicely sized lot with garden and all. It was interesting. Latter I had to wonder about all the traffic and smog such a densely packed super city would have but with the right infrastructure that too is no biggy.

Even more recently, I’ve seen shows on the Science channel about plans in Japan for huge 3000-foot-high cities that would hold over 100,000 people and all the services needed to support them such as hospitals. The one was called SKY CITY 1000 and the other was a GINORMOUS pyramid with 30 to 40 eighty-story buildings suspended inside of its supports along with countless parks, zoos, universities and so on…. Wow! It was said that people could spend their entire lives there without ever having to leave if they didn’t want to – all in the space of a dozen city blocks.

I’m not necessarily a supporter of such colossal buildings as I think there’d be a huge danger to terrorists but it just shows how much we can accomplish when we want to. You can apply similar ideas on a much smaller scale – say a 10-story building - that has rooftop basketball courts, auditoriums, and which lowers land use by 95%!!! Take a peak at my web site if you want!

Why go to space?

Chris Mann, Sydney — Sat, 22 Jul 2006 15:34:34 GMT

<i>Why not add a space elevator than launching space shuttles and wasting resources to feul the shuttles. </i>

There is one very good reason. Current materials are insufficient to build a space elevator.

Why go to space?

Bruce, Seattle WA — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 23:41:07 GMT

Commercial Space: Good!

Government Space: Less good.

Speaking slightly more broadly: Space access is our future. To deny it is to deny humanity of its future.

Why go to space?

Suzanne Gould, Chapel Hill, NC — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:53:25 GMT

I noticed in reading the comments, many of the respondents were men. I saw only a few were women. I think I have heard my husband say when he was little he wanted to be an astronaut. So possibly many of these men harbored similar fantasies as children. I am speaking from the perspective of a female with 24 years of teaching experience. In spite of the fact that I did notice quite a bit of trouble with spelling, history (Do you remember the O-rings that caused the death of the astronauts? Surely that constitutes a failure) and simple math in your comments, I also noticed an almost palpable idealism. The space program cannot save our planet. We must do that ourselves by making good decisions and thinking about others. I do not know if you enjoy watching the majesty of the moon, but I was completely baffled recently by the article in Popular Science which suggested mining the moon by bombing it might be a good starting point. UGH! How have we gotten to this point. I fear testosterone poisoning may be to blame. The war in Iraq, and other crazy events of our world today lie simply with the fact that we have not selected leaders who will make good choices. These funds being discussed about NASA are being used to make discoveries. Usually, when planning a budget, luxuries come after basics. Sorry, boys, but food for children, medicine for the elderly and an educated populace are not luxuries. Yes, there are many excesses in government welfare programs, as well as inefficiencies of spending and outright graft. But the facts remain. War is always a loss at a huge cost. If you think Iraq is a huge mess, try stealing the moon from the rest of the world. That is a no-brainer. As far as catching asteroids moving through space, get real. We cannot move them along and/or mine them. Not now, and probably not ever. The main real advantage of the Space Program is international cooperation. If Peace is ever to exist on Earth, some models for all to see must be created. The Space program has made a significant contribution to this endeavor.

Why go to space?

Ted Mitchell, Jackson MI — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 19:08:51 GMT

Space exploration is not the ends, but a justifiable means to solving most/if not all of the aformentioned issues.

The orginal question "why go to space?" has been lost somewhere in this debate of this before that, and then instead of now.

I choose space because it is there. I don't exactly know what is out there, but it's getting pretty crummy here. space (on Earth) and resources ARE FINITE, and being consumed at an alarming pace. We must be prepared to counteract what the last two centuries of industry and advancement has done to the earth. Our planet has paid a dear price, just as we shall soon if alternatives are not found. to find alternatives, we must explore. We have explored most if not all of the land available here, so now we must venture either outward toward space, or into the ocean (we know more about space than our own oceans), and we can't comfortably live in the ocean. So, I choose the alternative; searching out an additional home/resource depot.

A couple issues with a couple statements:

Suzanne, why can't we catch asteroids for mining?
We have proven that we can hit a comet which is moving a far greater speeds than asteroids with a high tech rocket, and we can land probes, capsules, and all types of gadgety things on all types of objects moons, planets, ect.. (which are all moving at great speeds by the way) why not land on a smaller object, anchor down, and go to work. Suzanne, your self defeating attitude is appaling. I am in no way saying that it would be a walk in the park, but it seems a sound and harmless concept offering great reward.

Issue #2 The moon: if we Americans spend money plannning, getting there, mining, and transporting the loot, how could anyone blame us for that?
countries today were formed by exploring and claiming new territories. Now, I'm not saying we go up there throw a flag down and claim the moon as ours, just because we got there first, but that seems to be how the territories on earth got sorted out. If other nations are upset that we are getting resources from the moon they would have the same right as any nation to get a space program up and running, and 'go get thiers'. Even America was sorted out this way. With 'new world' exporers finding unclaimed land and claiming it as their own. Once again, I'm not saying we should own the moon, but we have just as much right as anyone else on the planet for the resources of an unclaimed territory.

Why go to space?

John Smith, Jamestown, VA — Sat, 12 Aug 2006 11:48:15 GMT

Can I remind anyone about Vasco Balboa's claim, of all the lands that touched the Pacific? Why doesn't America claim all the heavenly bodies outside our space station (namely the moon). Then we can prove our dominance once again. Also, for those who say its not fair that we get all the land, my little brother could remind you of finders keepers- losers weepers. Was it fair that Spain got so much of South America, while Portugal just got Brazil? It's all about who gets their first, and last time I checked, we did.

Why go to space?

Eric L Haschert Bristol Pa — Sat, 12 Aug 2006 23:36:33 GMT

Why go to Space? Because it's there. Why Else?

Why go to space?

Barry, Grand Canyon, AZ — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 00:02:09 GMT

As a tax payer, I consider myself an investor in the U.S. Space Program. I believe someone owes me (and all the other investors) some dividends, for all the discoveries and inventions, which are of a direct result of our investments. There is no reason, I can think of, why the program cannot be operated as a corporation owned by the American people. Somewhere however, there may be someone (already rich no doubt) who would stand to lose, if the benefits reaped from space research and exploration were to be shared among U.S. citizens footing the bill. There in lies the conspiracy. Personal gain aside, I am proud to contribute to the advancement of mankind and our children’s future.

Why go to space?

Daniel Long Beach Ca — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 23:11:59 GMT

When we are babies in our mothers arms we dream of crawling. When we have learned to crawl we dream of walking. After learning to walk we dream of running. We learn to run and we dream of flying. We learn to fly and now we dream of space. Dreams keep us going. Dreams keep us young. Without dreams we wither and die.

Why go to space?

Lucas LaPlante, Beppu, Oita, Japan — Thu, 17 Aug 2006 00:52:20 GMT

All the high-minded ideas being discussed about asteroid mining, terraforming Mars, creating massive hub-type space stations or space elevators are right on track. Having big ideas and big aspirations are what push us forward as a species. Just because we don't have the means right now is no reason not to start, because in embracing the goal, we devote ourselves to finding solutions, and we always do, sooner or later. Only by expanding beyond our planet and eventually our solar system can we guarantee our survival as a species, and we owe it to future generations to do that, considering how badly the last few generations have screwed up this planet. Given the fact that technology is increasing exponentially, and that population is getting set to pass the seven billion mark soon, we have everything we need here to make it all happen, except for proper education. Once we maximize the intellectual potental of our population by pumping more money into education (diverted from, say, needless war efforts) we will be set to accomplish any goal. Further, with greater education, and encouraging people to manage their own lives better, other social ills can be stamped out, as mentioned before. Then, once we take our first big leaps into space, we will be able to acquire all the resources within our solar system to fuel our extra-solar endeavours. It seems impossible from where we stand now perhaps, but the bulk of it can be accomplished in 100 years, I have no doubt, with the world working towards a common goal. The shuttle program and NASA give people such goals, and provide a uniting force that we so desperately need. I think they deserve far more than they get when one considers the long-term beneits that have resulted from what they do, and what can yet be accomplished.

Why go to space?

Michelle P., Portland, OR — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 19:01:20 GMT

Thinking about being an astronaut is what kept me driven to be good at math and enjoy astronomy. I may never go into space, but I will be a math/physics teacher. I hope to pass that dream along to my students, and I try to pass it along to any child I tutor or help homeschool. I know it's hard to see the rationale for a space program when we are pouring money into a war and things seem unfair, but nothing will ever bring peace to this planet like working together on space endeavors.

I do appreciate NASA and would like to see more private companies given the go-ahead to help the future along.

Why go to space?

Scott, Atlanta, GA — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 03:05:51 GMT

Being an astronaut is not a childhood fantasy as Suzanne suggested. If you study and work hard you can be whatever you want to be according to most of my past teachers. I pity the students that were not told that during the last 24 years. They are truly at a disadvantage.

We, the people, make up the space program. We built it from the ground up and will continue to build the space program. Teachers during the next 24 years need to prepare their students for amazing progress in genetics, space and many other areas of amazing growth.

It is truly a shame that all teachers can not inspire their students to spell correctly, understand their history lessons and perform mathematical calculations with precision as Suzanne desires. Perhaps the small number of teachers that prefer a negative view of the world are tainting our young minds. Fortunately the majority of teachers I know prefer a positive view of the human population.

Sorry, girl, but without past SPACE activities we would have less "food for children, medicine for the elderly and an educated populace". And, I certainly hope in those 24 years that you were not a science teacher since blowing things up is how many things are accomplished. You need to blow things up to provide transportation, food, medicine, mining and many other every day needs. Without blowing things up you might be riding a horse instead of driving your Hummer or Yaris. Today, feeding our world population is no longer a matter of food or even food distribution - all too often it is because idealism about a better life has given way to a greed for power among small segments of the world population. Whether that is in small African countries or small neighborhoods in this country - it is not about food.

I hate to think about the choices you might have made to keep this nation safe from additional attacks after 9/11. All I had to do was write "9/11" and everyone in the United States knows the event. I certainly hope you agree that Democracy is the best system of government devised. If not, there is no need to say more - you would be beyond hope.

At the least I hope you understand that there are people out there that want to kill all Americans. They want to kill all Americans because they know that we would fight to our last breath to protect the freedom of our children, our parents and ourselves. If you do not agree then there is no need to say more.

Somehow you seem to be linking "luxuries" and "discoveries". The scientific research that leads to those discoveries has made many things, a "car" for example, a common item. A "car" used to be one of those "luxuries" you seem to hold in contempt.

You said, "If you think Iraq is a huge mess" - no it is not a "hugh mess", WAR is hell on Earth and no one should put a cute name like "huge mess" on such a serious subject.

No one mentioned "stealing the moon" as far as I recall.

As far as catching up to asteroids and mining them, you must have missed that story. It's already been done. You must have missed the "butterfly effect" and the success with ion engines as well. With well-trained teachers, students of the future in the arts and sciences will be able to make such mining a profitable endeavor. It is just a matter of time.

Why go to space?

Jim Blevins — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 03:34:37 GMT

The kings of history hyped the peons into building pyramids as a big tribute to the king. I can imagine that they were told how it would benefit future generations, perhaps a gateway to heaven... If the peon had a choice of donating or not, we may not have the pyramids now, but thousands of people wouldn't have had to waste their lives on the kings folley. A simple box one could check on their tax return offering to donate to the current "gateway to heaven" would mean that dreamers could contribute and bottom line practical people wouldn't have to waste their money. Maybe such a simple concept could demonstrate that representative democracy is near the end of its practical existance and now is the time for direct democracy.

Why go to space?

a p garcia — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 16:22:21 GMT

There will always be hunger, wars and pestilance. To think humans will prevent it is a longshot, since they are the cause of it, execpt for pestilance. There is a good posibility that the end of Earth will come from the space and human salvation is space.

Why go to space?

ERICA, COVINGTON, KENTUCKY — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 17:09:15 GMT

if you know so much i think you can help me i'm 12 years old and need an A today i'm workin on neptune here is my question. WHAT IS THE SURFACE FEATURES OF NEPTUNE?

Why go to space?

Michael Friedman, Dallas, Texas — Wed, 30 May 2007 14:22:23 GMT

I'd like to belatedly weigh in... and point out usually the question is posed incorrectly to the public. The question about whether the space shuttle (or space program) is worth it or not is not a useful question to get opinions about because you end up only with divided answers. You will have a set of people who are advocates and they are enthusiastic. You'll have the nay-sayers and they are unenthusiastic. There's a mix of people in between too. But all this does is show the differences in the opinion and gets away from better questioning. Better questioning would be, "where do you want to allocate the funds you already spend on the space program via taxes?" -- since the space program exists and you are paying for it (the average American spends about $60 a year on the space program via taxes) then direct your energy toward telling NASA where you want the money spent. Manned space flight? Unmanned? Social science? Name it. Tell them. NASA is likely to be one of the few agencies to listen. What other government agency lets you see so much of their success and failure? They tell us about what they're doing, what they are going to do and why they are going to do it. Not many other government offices do this. NASA gives us the opportunity to stop being opinionated spectators without any facts to being conscious directors of our space program. Don't waste the opportunity and your tax dollars.

Why go to space?

maritza, cape town, africa — Thu, 08 May 2008 20:41:14 GMT

i honestly did not have the time to read all the comments but i soon will and then maybe my own comment will seem irrelevant. my greatest concern is simple: so little is done to improve life on earth - the planet - the HOME - that has been sustaining us for centuries and more. we neglect ravage rape and violate this sanctuary of ours in the name of greed and when all is gone we seek solace elsewhere: in space. seems we have forgotten out priorities. say in a few years we do manage to make a home on a different planet when all is lost down here, who will be able to benefit from this discovery? the filthy rich? do we in fact have enough fuel to take even a small country up god knows where? i think [...] we should concentrate on the s*** we have created in this sewer we call earth and forget about the idealistic haven on the moon. does no one have children who will have children who might want to breathe atmospheric air without the help of a universal studio space suit?

Why go to space?

Matt Sakurada, Roy, Utah — Tue, 19 May 2009 23:28:41 GMT

Hello. this is Matt Sakurada, and i would like to talk to you guys about this fuel cell we have set. i build these fuel cells, and i need some people to test them. we will cut the price off of them if you could come down to test them. just set a time and email it to me. and i will email you the place to meet.that would be great.