I just started thinking about it. Why is space exploration even that necessary? They’re spending so much money on it when we have so much problems in our own planet…
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We had problems on earth before space exploration, and we’ll have problems on earth after space exploration. And if we colonize other planets we’ll have problems there.
Because every time humans solve a problem they create more, bigger, harder to solve problems.
Space exploration doesn’t affect this.
Setting aside all the intangible benefits such as answering why we are here and providing inspiration to generations there are tons of short and long term benefits.
In the short/medium term, research is so much about solving problems and your solutions having unexpected applications in other areas. A lot of our minituarization in tech happened because we needed things smaller and lighter to lift into space, think things like your smart phone camera or laptops. Also things like cordless tools and even memory foam were originally developed for their application in space travel.
In the long term, let’s take a look back, what if we had the same stance when we looked at the ocean, and thought why its even necessary to figure out how to navigate the waters. For our species to propagate or even survive, we need to expand. Right now we are one decently sized asteroid from extinction, but if one day we figured out how to expand to multiple worlds, then we become a heck of a lot of more resilient.
Of course not, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do it. We go to space because it’s cool and we can, and that’s a beautifully human thing to do. As for the money, it’s a baseline fact of this world that enormous sums will be spent on things that don’t fix our problems, and space is as good a use as any for that wasted cash. If it were space or solving hunger, solving hunger is the obvious priority, but practically speaking it’s “don’t solve hunger and go to space” or “don’t solve hunger.”
Space exploration is weight lifting for science.
Literally and figuratively
There have been over 1800 “spin-off” technologies that came from the world’s various space agencies. Some of those inventions are life saving and there’s people alive today thanks to the pioneering spirit of man and the funding of countries. I don’t see the benefit of stopping now.
It is a virtual certainty that at some point a meteor large enough to wipe out all multicellular life on the planet will strike the Earth. It is an absolute certainty that the Sun will eventually burn out leaving the planet uninhabitable. Something else might wipe out our species long before either of these things happen, but it’s not a bad idea to have another inhabited planet or two as a backups.
“Necessary”, no. We’re all fine here on Earth, where we evolved, and all that. We’ve gotten along just fine without leaving the planet.
Desirable? Yes. But, I think we should do it with robots, because humans are too expensive due to being so fragile. Also, what should we do with what we find? Exploiting the resources of the Moon and Mars should not be allowed. Setting up human colonies there seems extravagant at this time.
Strictly, no. The human spirit yearns for it though, and I think it shoukd be given a treat from time to time.
There are just so many things that should be trimmed first. Like the oligarchy, who hoard money and use it to make the world worse. Space travel is science. Science’s value is intrinsic.
Yes, we need to do things like space exploration because these are the endeavours that advance humanity. Even in practical terms, plenty of discoveries that are useful here come from technologies developed for space exploration. If you’re really worried about unproductive use of resouces, maybe worry about how we deal with the pedo elites that rule over us and hoard resources on unimaginable scale.
But we need pedo billionaires as test pilots for stress testing experimental rocket designs :((
Only if music is.
I think so.
How high the priority should be is a debate worth having, but space has many ways to wipe out a planet. Having two planets, having a permanent space station, could go a long way to increasing survivability.
Not only that, building in a vacuum, building in zero G, even building things under great pressure, all can allow us to build new materials with brand new properties.
Also, being able to sustain a small group of people somewhere completely contained an inhospitable can be utilized on earth to feed people at home, or recycle water at home.
Yes. Space exploration pushes science and technology forward, which benefits humanity as a whole.
Do you rather propose we stop producing movies, adult content and series and use that $$$ to space exploration?
