3 ms·
The original space program paid for itself many times over with multiple technological and engineering advances which benefited the larger economy. One study I
by sailormoon 17y ago
The original space program paid for itself many times over with multiple technological and engineering advances which benefited the larger economy. One study I saw estimated the dividend as seven-fold, but that seems very low to me.
Money spent in technological and engineering development is rarely wasted. And frankly I reckon $8b is worth it in PR benefit alone.
Robots don't cut it. There's an irreplaceable excitement in seeing actual living breathing humans doing something incredible. At a time where inspiration and hope is sorely needed - and especially in the fields of science, technology and engineering - cutting the space program seems extraordinarily short-sighted.
You could make a valid point that NASA is not the agency for the job, but since the USG seems intent on pissing away every borrowed yuan it can find as fast as possible, I guess I just wish they'd piss it into something I can believe in once in a while.
- ShabbyDoo 17y ago"One study I saw estimated the dividend as seven-fold, but that seems very low to me." What is the dividend of leaving billions of dollars in American's pockets?
- sailormoon 17y agoVersus a seven-fold dividend from the space program, you mean? The answer is: minus six times the program cost.
- briansmith 17y agoI don't want government to turn a profit. And, government shouldn't be in the excitement/inspiration/hope business. When NASA started, private space exploration was unimaginable. Now, it seems very realistic. It's time to free the engineers at NASA from government bureaucracy by moving them to private industry. The profits/advances from space exploration can stand or fall on their own merit.
- sailormoon 17y agoI don't want government to turn a profit. If the purpose of government isn't to guide a nation to increased prosperity, what is it? Every activity the government undertakes should be with an eye to creating the conditions for future prosperity. Public schooling. Secure borders. Fair and equitable laws. And investment, on a grand scale, in technological progress, like the internet we're using right now. If anything I get wary when the government deviates from that goal. But never fear - if there's one thing the US Government is not doing right now, it's turning a profit.
- briansmith 17y agoI meant that I don't want the profits from space-related technology to get filtered through government.