Space program vs. taking care of mother earth

[Proteus_MST]

The Space Program is important to me.

It could be also important for the environment, cos aside from Probes to other Planet it gives us also Satellites which observe the Earth and are used to predict weather and gain insights into such things as meteorological Phenomenons or the ocean circulation.
Too much important data which wouldn´t get collected if we hadn´t a space program. Even the exploration of other planets could result in knowledge of our own Planet.

[Az]

Also, if we move a whole bunch of us to another planet, we will be able to ease up the pressure on earth. I think that the economics of the moon could potentially sustain a population the size of Germany.

Mars is could also be great. It has much potential that must be developed, slowly, but surely.

Things we must develope to do this include investment of propulsion, and the harnessing of a multitude of thermonuclear reactions.

If we get that energy, the rest will go smoothly as silk.

[Neutrino]

I think that while environmental issues are of more direct relevance to human existence, space programs are a very close 2nd. Not only can it supplement environmental data, but it will perhaps give us a chance to colonize and terraform other worlds in case of a global disaster on Earth (which is probably unlikely but possible). Also, scientific data acquired in no/microgravity environments may lead to new discoveries.

[DAVOUT]

Those who sincerely want to protect mother earth should volonteer for the first trip to the most convenient asteroid where the risk to harm the nature is significantly reduced. :

[Az]

Also, our experience in terraforming may have great insights into enviromental engineering on earth.

[Atahualpa]

Ideally we could do both, but the money is just not there.

definately not!!

[Sava]

They aren't mutually exclusive Dissident. We can develop more environmentally friendly practices WHILE funding the space program.

[shade]

Re: Space program vs. taking care of mother earth

Originally posted by Dissident
The space program is kind of cool and all, but I really don't support it in any big fashion.

I believe it is just a pipe dream to go to any planet other than mars, and faster than light travel is not possible.

Face it, we are stuck here on earth, and should concentrate on improving it.

Yes I am an environmentalist. Our best bet is not destroying our planet.

Ideally we could do both, but the money is just not there. Shouldn't social programs take priority over the space program?

Doesn't it seem strange we are spending billions on this when people are starving to death all over the world?

There might be a beter solution==> cut military funding all over the world in half and use the other half for scientific research(both to get us in space and of this rock, and make life here beter)

to give an idea about the amount of money we are talking:
Current budget of NASA ~15 Miljard dollar (went up by 5 Miljard IIRC to make shuttles safer)
Current Budget VS military somewhere around 600 Miljard (IIRC)
--> this would mean 300 Miljard extra funding for enviromentalist ideals and space exploration

(personally I would even go for the entire military world budged ... )

Shade

[Paul Hanson]

What's a milijard?

[chequita guevara]

It's not an either or proposition.

Anyway, if you really want to spend more money on fixing the Earth, spend less on trying to destroy it.

[shade]

Originally posted by Paul Hanson
What's a milijard?

this could be of use

a Billion here is a million million ...

Shade

[DanS]

VS military somewhere around 600 Miljard (IIRC)

You don't "IIRC" very well. More like 400 Miljard.

FYI, about $15 billion of that $400 is for military/intelligence space programs. Then consider that the $15 billion that NASA spends is much, much more than any other country (or group of countries) spends on civil space programs. The US spends something like 4x the Europeans.

Anyway, I also reject the false choice in the headline question, but only weighted the space program as moderately important.

[shade]

Originally posted by DanS
VS military somewhere around 600 Miljard (IIRC)

You don't "IIRC" very well. More like 400 Miljard.

It's the same order of size

(about the rest--> same goes for military budged )

Shade

[Q Classic]

both are important.

[Dis]

cut military spending?

realy world folks. Try to stay with us. There are millions of people that want americans dead.

We should protect ourselves.

Damn liberal hippies

And this thread is based on the fact that I feel faster than light travel is impossible- thus making it impossilbe to reach other solar systems with earth like planets. And the fact that long trips in space are not healthy for humans- psychologically. Unless we can somehow find ways to prevent humans from going insane and stir crazy.