You mean the other agencies in other countries are just waiting for NASA to explore first and then follow them? Get real. NASA might be the only agency that has the funds to take space exploration very seriously.

I believe that space exploration is very important, as some one stated already "for our curiosity". Yes that is a good reason but I don't think that is the only one, the value of discoveries, the information gained, new resources and that is to just name but a few.

Just think about all the information that could be attained about the universe, it could be virtually limitless and isn't that reason enough to explore. Another is discovery, that is what has fueled exploration in the past and see where that has gotten us, the exploration of space could yield fascinating discoveries that could revolutionize that way we think about certian aspects of thinks forever.

And finally it will eventually bring about the discovery of new resources that could replenish our own dwindeling supplies, (I know they aren't dwindeling that much, but some day). It could quit possibly bring about the advent of new and better forms of energy that are far more reliable then what we are using at the moment.

All in all I really think the pros outweigh the cons of space exploration, after all it is simply another step civilization will take sooner or later.

Going off topic here - so we have an IITian amongst us Terrific man. Welcome aboard Hope you can lure some of your superbrainy IT classmates into joining our ship That'd be an awesome help.

Regards,
m^e

Anyone read this book from Dan Brown? Deception Point.

Since I was small, I love the solar system so much. From Mars exploration until the 10th planet of our galaxy. I can't deny NASA had put so much effort in space exploration. After reading Deception Point, I realise how much NASA had spent to accomplish their objectives. The contents of the book are true.

NASA had taken funds, funds from tax payers. NASA spent billions every year, why don't we use the money to save the earth. Earth is threatened now, global warming, pollution. Even my country - Malaysia is suffering from haze. Why don't the government funds technology to save our planet. Even if space exploration is successful, and the earth dies, what is the point?

I agree, very well said. Also, welcome to Astahost! What a great first post.

As mentioned earlier, we'll need to get off this planet before the sun expands and, as Rose from Doctor Who put it, "we've only got five billion years 'till the shops shut". But 5 million years is a very long time. A breakthough in space technology could be made waaaay in the future without so much research happening now.

Humans are hardly doing amazingly on earth, so how will we be able to cope on another planet? People kill each other for money, we pollute and destroy our planet which is vital to our survival, some ludicus amount of people die in LEDCs from easily stoppable reasons, we fight and destroy ourselves. Space travel must pollute, adding to the current problem of global warming. Shouldn't we try and sort things out on earth before we go elsewhere?

In my point of view, NASA should reduce their cost. The US government either should spent more on other, such as educations, earth-saving-technologies, or securities. On the other hand, US government can also privatize NASA, funded by investors. In the meanwhile, the states can save alot of money.

Rely on my knowledge, there are still many private space agency around the globe, they can't get business. NASA offered cheap prices for satelite launches and making other space agency losing the contract. By offering cheap prices, NASA had to "burn" their own country's money. It is like buying an ice-cream which cost $100 and sell it to someone else $10.

Why NASA does that? It is because NASA wanted to conquer the space exploration.

I think that NASA is great for the good of most everything.
I mean, there are so many benefits, like smoke alarms... And microwaves. Breast cancer biopsy machines.. The MRI, among many other things.

And we need to learn whats out there.

Also NASA gives many jobs to people who otherwise might not have one.
NASA is a huge plus to everything.

NASA needs to develop some sort of electromagnetic field to eliminate the possibility of a solar flare nuking our space pilots...

additionally, i think we're still stuck on the fact that at any moment a ship could be pierced by incredibly fast although small particles that are whizzing around, ungoverned by air resistance...


other than that, besides the obvious downsides to the beaurocratic operations of NASA, I see inherent good in searching for other places to plant our life... but as for mars, and the moon... both of which lacking in a solid electromagnetic field, and therefore unable to support a decent atmosphere, it may be next to impossible to get a civilisation there in a reasonable amount of time before we end ourselves on this planet...


with that said, i still think many ambitions of NASA=good... although we still need to take better care of our home here, as we can't use space exploration as a cop-out...


in any case... i'm glad computers have come to their current level today, as otherwise, I don't know what I'd make my "craft" ;; )


added here:

in addition, I think we should promote the development of competing organisations, as this competition seems to drive change and optimisation in most programs... just as the US vs USSR competition drove us so far earlier in the program... internal competition could drive us to new and unanticipated levels...

in any case, I don't think any one organisation needs to hold a monopoly over space travel and exploration in general...

just some thoughts

This post has been edited by polarysekt: Jan 3 2008, 09:02 PM

Well whenever the sun does it's thing, isn't the only concern.

"There is more than one way to skin cat" as they say, so there are many other things and factors that can frankly screw us, long before the sun gives in.

Exploring fair enough, but I have no interest in space what so ever, the internet is more than possible without space (we do still have land lines and dial-up/cable you know........).

Sure it'd be more of a pain, but very possible, that and we would just find a way around that issue soon enough.

But it's got to have it's uses, considering what goes into it, so just leave it alone.

Well, I can say that NASA and space exploration is really wasting a lot of funds, some people say for nothing, why waste so much money? why not spend it for people? that everyone wouldn't be hungry and everyone would have normal water and wouldn't die from getting cold and etc. But I can say that, even though it might seem useless exploring the space, but I think people always were curious, they discovered America by going nowhere and I think they are still curious about Space Exploration and knowing as much as possible about it, so I am not against it, I myself am curious, but of course not to much, that I would use all my time for that topic.