Many Americans think NASA returning to the moon is a waste of time and it should prioritize asteroid hunting instead, a poll shows
businessinsider.com
Many Americans think NASA returning to the moon is a waste of time and it should prioritize asteroid hunting instead, a poll shows::Americans like NASA, but don't support their funding going towards moon missions, according to new polls.
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The only reason it would make sense to return to the moon is to establish a base for exploration of Mars. I go really back and forth on space exploration. On one hand it is a giant money pit. On another, the research that has come out of space exploration has been beneficial to life here on earth.
The technologies we invent along the way are worth the investment, in my opinion. Look at everything that came out of the original space race.
Nah. If we go back to the Moon, we are going to need more than "new technologies", but an actual purpose.
Right now, Helium-3, rare earth metals, and a slingshot to the rest of the solar system are good reasons to colonize the Moon if we can figure out how to do it cheaply.
like ICBMs and freeze dried ice cream sandwiches!
The technological breakthroughs aside, the first company that returns with mined goods from space is gonna be worth trillions.
But space is 100% innocent.
It was just a huge pile of money spent on research and development.
Yeah and we only spend massive piles of cash on war and space exploration. Both have resulted in technology advantages but I prefer space exploration.
I feel the 'pale blue dot' was/is philosophically important for humanity. To realize all our wars and arguments, struggles and victories, take place on this small and fragile rock, floating in an endless void of nothingness. I think this experience was both humbling and inspiring for millions, and this package only comes with (wo)manned space missions.
Long term, I also dream of space habitats and space industry, to reduce the strain on Earth's ecosystems. Or the other way around; space habitats dedicated to preservation.
Very long term, there just is no way around it. Humans will keep exploring and push the boundary. Also it's wise to have an off-site backup.