OT - space exploration

[Guest guest]

> Tragedies like these could be avoided and precious

> money be saved if we buried it.

 

> here's why i don't think it's so great: First, it seems the primary

> purpose of space voyages is a military one.

 

Yes but even though I'm not a big fan of the military either, out

of military ventures come things which can be good for everyone.

My preference would be that space exploration was a civilian thing

but most companies don't have the money and/or the desire to do

all the up front things that have to be done to get into space.

Some are trying now but I think they're basing it on previous

military technology. Also they're just doing it to lift payloads

not people.

 

I think the discovery and colonization of the United States was

probably a combination of military and civilian endeavors. Now

maybe the United States would be a nicer place if that hadn't

happened (I'm sure many native Americans would have liked it

that way) but it did and some good things did come out of it

(as did a lot of bad things but . . .)

 

> Second, rocket launches cause a tremendous amount of pollution-

> i think i read a rough analogy of the equivalent of the average

> annual exhaust of 100,000 cars.

 

Quite possibly true, unfortunately

 

> Third, if we started taking better care of our planet,

> there'd be no need to fantasize about colonizing mars.

 

Not everyone fantasizes about going to Mars because they

think there are environmental problems on Earth. For many

it is a matter of curiosity, a fascination to see what is out

there. Some people just want to get away from governments

and other people. Of course, if the space program still

has its military connections someone might not be able

to get that far away from the government.

 

> Fourth, the space program is just one more domain which

> nations feel the need to compete; if we ever want to live

> in a peaceful world, we have to stop competing with everyone;

 

If nations weren't competing we probably wouldn't be in space.

Fortunately or unfortunately, competition seems rather inherent

in human civilization. I don't think we need to stop competing.

I do think people have to think more about everyone else and

not be willing to sacrifice everyone else and ethics and morals

to win.

 

I'm sure there are technological advances that have come out

of the space program that are now in use by people. Are all

of them " good " ? That's another question. I'm sure there are

web pages out there listing the technological advances that

have come out of the space program but I don't have the time

to do that right now. Maybe later. . .

 

Gary