Toribash
Original Post
Space exploration budget, etc
This topic could go to RT or GD, either way. I'll see how it develops.

Here is a good presentation which shows how much we really spend on things like space exploration. Perhaps it can facilitate some discussion:



Originally Posted by BlakNWyte View Post
Something else to add is that I know at least Obama has talked of the importance of science and space exploration specifically, many times already.

Yeah, too bad he shafted NASA's "return to the moon" program which, if executed correctly, could bring about a never-ending source of clean energy.


The speaker talked about the percentage of budget that science gets but he only implied that it wasn't an adequate amount... hmm.

Well, what's adequate is largely a matter of opinion. I think it wouldn't hurt to take some money from US enormous defense budget (which vastly exceeds those of other countries anyway) and shift it to space exploration programs.
I mean no irresponsibility or offense by ignoring videos and only paying heed to articles, but i actually have a physical limitation blocking me from the ease of convenience of technology.

And what is the name of your disorder, if you don't mind me asking?
Because it seems to me you simply refuse to listen to evidence which goes contrary to your convictions.

On topic: is there any benefit to anyone or anything but human societies in our exertion of self proclaimed dominance over the universe?

Yes, there is benefit to all life - not just humans.
If we migrate to other places, there will be less hogging of Earth's resources. More animals can sustain themselves. Less have to die to make room for urban areas.


Should we focus on expansion first, and homeless and starvation only after we've used the resources that could be used to address these problems for expansion?

Should we perhaps wait until Earth's resources are depleted, nations are plunged into war, and mankind is extinct until we start working toward cosmic expansion?

Is expanding the human race, it's numbers, and understanding of how the universe works more important than life itself, to live, to be, to grow, to learn all our relations with our environment and then to die?

Understanding our relations to environment? Don't we already?

What is the objective, whose objective is it, and why is it more important than the homeless, the impoverished, and the sick and starving?

Penicillin helped millions of sick people. Silicon transistors allow you to have this conversation with me now. They also revolutionized every single industry in the world, and allow more people to live. They (among other things) have been discovered thanks to astronomers.

The CLAIM is that it is improving human life. The truth is that is only an opinion.

No, it's a fact.
Of course, you probably believe the pinnacle of human condition is living on trees in blissful ignorance, hunting with spears, smoking the herb, and waiting for some global catastrophe to wipe out your primitive little tribe.
Last edited by Odlov; Jun 7, 2010 at 01:20 AM.
Originally Posted by m0o View Post
er how?

I was under the impression it was another attempt to "win the hearts of the masses"

There was a good doco on the project, which i forgot the name of.
Perhaps it was this one: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0457359/

Long story short: some areas on lunar poles are exposed to sunlight pretty much all the time, like Malapert Mountain. The plan was to build small settlements there, along with solar panels and a device which would beam energy down to Earth as microwaves. You'd have to see the doco for more details :|