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It's great to see so much interest in space exploration. However, we should put more effort into exploring our own planet. We've literally only scratched the su

It's great to see so much interest in space exploration. However, we should put more effort into exploring our own planet. We've literally only scratched the surface. I bet that if we spent even half as much money as we spend on space programs, trying to get to Earth's core, we would advance science and technology a lot faster. Also, we would have a way better idea of how the magnetic field works and how to harness it - maybe we'd even figure out how to have global wireless communication and gps just with underground technology (no satellites needed). It's as if we are traveling across the universe on this amazing organic spaceship (Earth), but we are on the outside. We should figure out what's inside and how to get there.

whatshisface 7y ago
Space is pragmatic and cost-effective compared to traveling to the Earth's core.
- ta1234567890 7y ago
  Maybe now, but it wasn't when people first decided to do it. Also, it might not be now. If we are able to reliably extract energy from lava/volcanoes, we would have enough energy to power the whole world cleanly, which could help immensely with our current climate crisis. Space is a huge expense of energy, which also contributes to the climate crisis. Free/super-cheap global energy sounds like a huge return on investment.
  - mikeash 7y ago
    Space is a negligible amount of energy. Absolutely tiny. I’d wager that GPS alone has made space a net energy positive by saving energy with better routing.
greglindahl 7y ago
People can do more than one thing at once. We spend a lot of money studying the Earth, from space and the surface. Studying other planets helps understand things about the Earth that would be difficult to figure out by only studying the Earth. Studying other stars helps us understand the Sun. In another comment you say: > If we are able to reliably extract energy from lava/volcanoes, That's already being done at scale, especially in Iceland.

whatshisface 7y ago

Space is pragmatic and cost-effective compared to traveling to the Earth's core.

ta1234567890 7y ago
Maybe now, but it wasn't when people first decided to do it. Also, it might not be now. If we are able to reliably extract energy from lava/volcanoes, we would have enough energy to power the whole world cleanly, which could help immensely with our current climate crisis. Space is a huge expense of energy, which also contributes to the climate crisis. Free/super-cheap global energy sounds like a huge return on investment.
- mikeash 7y ago
  Space is a negligible amount of energy. Absolutely tiny. I’d wager that GPS alone has made space a net energy positive by saving energy with better routing.

greglindahl 7y ago

People can do more than one thing at once. We spend a lot of money studying the Earth, from space and the surface. Studying other planets helps understand things about the Earth that would be difficult to figure out by only studying the Earth. Studying other stars helps us understand the Sun. In another comment you say: > If we are able to reliably extract energy from lava/volcanoes, That's already being done at scale, especially in Iceland.