"Michael Johnson, PE" > wrote in
:

> Joe wrote:
>> "Michael Johnson, PE" > wrote in
>> :
>>
>>
>>>SVTKate wrote:
>>>
>>>>"Michael Johnson, PE" > wrote
>>>>
>>>>: I don't see it as being wasted, necessarily. Much of what is
>>>>: learned developing the ISS will be applicable to sending a
>>>>: mission to Mars, which seems the next logical step in space
>>>>: exploration with the possible exception of a permanent moon
>>>>: base.
>>>>: Developing the technology to reach Mars, and return, will take
>>>>: time... a long time IMO. I think it will take another 25-30
>>>>: years before it is remotely considered feasible.
>>>>
>>>>I am still having trouble understanding WHY we need to go to Mars.
>>>>
>>>>Seems like a huge waste of money to me.
>>>>HUGE waste of money.
>>>>
>>>>Like this last little $300 million foofah... lets shoot a rocket
>>>>at an asteroid.
>>>>$300 freaking MILLION dollars, good thing this country isn't in
>>>>debt, or that might be considered a waste of money.
>>>>
>>>>I grew up knowing that if you can't pay your bills, you can't buy
>>>>new toys either.
>>>>Why our government cannot understand that is beyond me.
>>
>>
>> Dubya's the one who doesn't get it.
>>
>>
>>>IMO, there is a real good reason for doing it and it really has
>>>nothing to do with reaching Mars or any other planet. Sooner or
>>>later, an asteroid is going to be heading toward our planet. If it
>>>is big enough it would destroy life as we know it and likely
>>>exterminate mankind. Even a smaller impact could kill billions of
>>>people. All this space exploration will enable us to better detect
>>>and, if necessary, maybe deflect any body that is on a collision
>>>course with earth. Granted the odds are slim for a collision but
>>>it has happened in the past and it will happen in the future. It
>>>is not a matter of if but when. Plus, there are usually some very
>>>good spin-off technologies coming from space programs that seem to
>>>be very useful in everyday life. Just look at the things we take
>>>for granted today that were derived from the 1960's space programs.
>>
>>
>> I think it's more like we can learn the origins of where we came
>> from by studying other planets and the universe. This, in turn,
>> can help us develop better things in our time, i.e., cures for
>> diseases etc.
>>
>>
>>>Plus if the government didn't spend it on space programs they would
>>>probably spend on something even more useless.
>>
>>
>> They're already doing that. Look at the money (and lives) being
>> spent in Iraq.
>
> IMO, it will take 20-30 years before we really know if the lives and
> money were wasted.

Can you say 'Viet Nam'? Sure you can.