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Maybe. But what does that get us? We'll never be a spacefaring species, the universe is way too big (we can't even explore our solar system in any meaningful wa

Maybe. But what does that get us? We'll never be a spacefaring species, the universe is way too big (we can't even explore our solar system in any meaningful way) and energy requirements for faster travel are simply too high. Not to think of all the issues with spacetime at fast speeds. There are tons of serious problems to solve here on earth, no need for another huge waste of money.

echelon 6y ago
Not everyone agrees with you, which is why humans are capable of a wide range of behaviors and investments. If we didn't have interest in space, there would be no SpaceX, Starlink, Mars rover, planetary missions, etc. I personally think we're about to reach the terminal generation in 100-200 years with advancements in ML, and we won't be worried about sending human bodies anywhere. Just engines, sensors, and computers.
- doublerabbit 6y ago
  Personally, I dislike all this interest in space. What has it done for the actual planet we live on? Day by Day we destroy this planet wasting resources that are finite and yet we dream to live on another planet. Why? Just so we can do the same? How much toxic waste is in the world today? How much obsolete technological waste is there in this planet and why are we not investing the same amount of money on cleaning this planet? I'm sure I'm going to be down-voted for being pessimistic but its the truth. Outer space is for the rich who've outgrown expensive yachts and will be that way if not forever. If we can't handle society on this planet how are we suppose to handle it on a new planet? You really think once technology is supportable they're going to let us use it? --- Called it, first downvote. If your going to down vote, at least post and justify why rather then hiding behind a click of a button because you can't face the truth. Second downvote. Only proving my point. To those who downvote your the problem in this world. Are you afraid to accept that we are destroying the planet we all live on? Third downvote, Why are you living in denial? Stop being a coward and justify why. What has the rich ever done for us? Forth downvote. Yep. Seriously, no one's going to rebuttable? Fifth downvote, And people ask me why I am cynical. Does no one on HN actually care for this planet? I do, I spent all evening picking up litter in my own time. It's raining and cold, but I'm still out there tidying the mess that folk make of the planet. Why the flag? -- There's nothing offensive, nor crude in this. It's my personal opinion that I can't seem to shift for the reasons in my reply. I thought HN was a less-bias platform then others. I thought HN allowed you to post your views to encourage discussion in a balanced fashion.
  - twodai 6y ago
    Nasa has a rich history of extreamly useful spin off technologies which came about as side effects for space travel: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA_spinoff_technologies#:~:text=Well-known%20products%20that%20NASA,swimsuits%2C%20and%20CMOS%20image%20sensors https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA_spinoff_technologies#:~.... A more useful one is the extensive of the satellite network which powers our ability to share and collaborate like we are doing now, along with the GPS network allowing us to travel more easily. I hear you about the enviormental concerns and it's terrible how we are not aware or thoughtful about how all the externalities/problems which are created by new technologies. But to say we should not invest in space tech is a real step in the wrong direction if you care deeply about the environment. Some of the best energy capture technologies will come from our ability to master space travel, as well as the need to understand Terra forming other plants which will help us tackle climate problems here on earth.
    - bumby 6y ago
      Replying to you because their post got flagged (sorry) I didn’t downvote but felt like this was worthy of a response. Your whole perspective is a mechanical pragmatic one but the goal of a space program goes beyond that. It’s intended to be aspirational because we are species that wants to be inspired. It’s why NASA dedicates part of its mission to outreach. It’s also why a lot of countries have a space program when they have even larger problems to solve; it’s serves as both inspiration and national pride. If we only care about pragmatism, we might as well get rid of literature, music, art... you know the things that help make life worth living. Personally, I think doing hard, pioneering things to help inspire a populace is worth 0.45% of the national budget* And from the extreme negativity in your post, a little inspiration might be of use to you, too. * I also say this as someone who left the space industry to focus on an industry geared towards more immediate problems
      - doublerabbit 6y ago
        The little inspiration it brings is always overthrown by the negatives of the now outside of the whole space venture. There is no national pride to have when say one government decides to screw the country one lives causing restrictions in freedom. Space will be a great thing, but when those in control of it, also control the damage of the current planet kind of makes moot of the whole two elements. You could say the whole space venture is for the future, our kids, kids but how is there to be a future if we destroy the now? I hate being stuck in the rut I am in, 31 and highly cynical. But from what I've experienced and seeing the decaying future gives less hope every day. I try hard to keep an optimistic type of view but it's bare threaded. Knowing that I've picked up four bin-bags daily of trash gives me hope that someday we can all be doing the same and that I've saved the planet a tiny bit. I too also hope I can create awareness that turn a few heads with a few ideas but then with that you still run the extreme risk of being taken down for trying to promote a good deed.
- doublerabbit 6y ago
  Re-posting because I don't feel the flag is fair. --- Personally, I dislike all this interest in space. What has it done for the actual planet we live on? Day by Day we destroy this planet wasting resources that are finite and yet we dream to live on another planet. Why? Just so we can do the same? How much toxic waste is in the world today? How much obsolete technological waste is there in this planet and why are we not investing the same amount of money on cleaning this planet? I'm sure I'm going to be down-voted for being pessimistic but its the truth. Outer space is for the rich who've outgrown expensive yachts and will be that way if not forever. If we can't handle society on this planet how are we suppose to handle it on a new planet? You really think once technology is supportable they're going to let us use it?
  - Teever 6y ago
    It sounds like your issue isn't with space exploration but with the human race. As such you could make these kinds of dismissive posts about every single human endeavour, why just complain about space research? If you have these kinds of serious issues about humanity as a whole what are you doing to solve these problems that you perceive? It sounds to me like you're caught in a negativity loop and it isn't a good place to be in. If that's the case try and find something that you enjoy or take interest in and speculate about how you could make it better.
    - doublerabbit 6y ago
      > If you have these kinds of serious issues about humanity as a whole what are you doing to solve these problems that you perceive? I have an on-going list with idea's I'd like to attempt. But I don't have the funding to carry them out. So I have to work, invest my own money with a limited target in attempt to help out. I've started taking night classes in environmental studies, I daily go out and pick up trash. I don't eat meat, I recycle. I do all I can do. Every day I try to discover new methods on how I can do my part. If I didn't have to work, I could be focusing on research and working to a better environment but that's not possible. I'm doing all I can with the resources I have available with me but those itself are limited. > If that's the case try and find something that you enjoy or take interest in and speculate about how you could make it better. As much as I would like to, I can't. It's not like I can self-invest my time when I have to work eight hours a day to just allow myself to live. As much as I would love to start inventing to come up with new strategies, it's not possible. The interests I do have are underfunded, inaccessible without some sort of scientific degree and a life style where you have time for education.
ameister14 6y ago
I know - you would think that with sixty-five whole years since the first satellite launch we'd be able to meaningfully explore our solar system already. It only took a few thousand years to fully map and explore the Earth's surface and you'd think exploring multiple planets and billions of miles of space would be 100x faster than that. That money could be much better spent, like on tanks we will never use.
- simonh 6y ago
  We have explored our solar system, we’ve sent multiple probes to most planets, done a flyby of Pluto, landed on Mars, Venus and several asteroids, driven multiple rovers on Mars. Put rovers and boots on the ground on the Moon. We’ve extensively mapped almost all the solar system.
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
mopsi 6y ago
> We'll never be a spacefaring species, the universe is way too big (we can't even explore our solar system in any meaningful way) and energy requirements for faster travel are simply too high. I can state flatly that heavier than air flying machines are impossible. — Lord Kelvin, 1895 https://www.xaprb.com/blog/flight-is-impossible/ https://www.xaprb.com/blog/flight-is-impossible/

echelon 6y ago

Not everyone agrees with you, which is why humans are capable of a wide range of behaviors and investments. If we didn't have interest in space, there would be no SpaceX, Starlink, Mars rover, planetary missions, etc. I personally think we're about to reach the terminal generation in 100-200 years with advancements in ML, and we won't be worried about sending human bodies anywhere. Just engines, sensors, and computers.

doublerabbit 6y ago
Personally, I dislike all this interest in space. What has it done for the actual planet we live on? Day by Day we destroy this planet wasting resources that are finite and yet we dream to live on another planet. Why? Just so we can do the same? How much toxic waste is in the world today? How much obsolete technological waste is there in this planet and why are we not investing the same amount of money on cleaning this planet? I'm sure I'm going to be down-voted for being pessimistic but its the truth. Outer space is for the rich who've outgrown expensive yachts and will be that way if not forever. If we can't handle society on this planet how are we suppose to handle it on a new planet? You really think once technology is supportable they're going to let us use it? --- Called it, first downvote. If your going to down vote, at least post and justify why rather then hiding behind a click of a button because you can't face the truth. Second downvote. Only proving my point. To those who downvote your the problem in this world. Are you afraid to accept that we are destroying the planet we all live on? Third downvote, Why are you living in denial? Stop being a coward and justify why. What has the rich ever done for us? Forth downvote. Yep. Seriously, no one's going to rebuttable? Fifth downvote, And people ask me why I am cynical. Does no one on HN actually care for this planet? I do, I spent all evening picking up litter in my own time. It's raining and cold, but I'm still out there tidying the mess that folk make of the planet. Why the flag? -- There's nothing offensive, nor crude in this. It's my personal opinion that I can't seem to shift for the reasons in my reply. I thought HN was a less-bias platform then others. I thought HN allowed you to post your views to encourage discussion in a balanced fashion.
- twodai 6y ago
  Nasa has a rich history of extreamly useful spin off technologies which came about as side effects for space travel: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA_spinoff_technologies#:~:text=Well-known%20products%20that%20NASA,swimsuits%2C%20and%20CMOS%20image%20sensors https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA_spinoff_technologies#:~.... A more useful one is the extensive of the satellite network which powers our ability to share and collaborate like we are doing now, along with the GPS network allowing us to travel more easily. I hear you about the enviormental concerns and it's terrible how we are not aware or thoughtful about how all the externalities/problems which are created by new technologies. But to say we should not invest in space tech is a real step in the wrong direction if you care deeply about the environment. Some of the best energy capture technologies will come from our ability to master space travel, as well as the need to understand Terra forming other plants which will help us tackle climate problems here on earth.
  - bumby 6y ago
    Replying to you because their post got flagged (sorry) I didn’t downvote but felt like this was worthy of a response. Your whole perspective is a mechanical pragmatic one but the goal of a space program goes beyond that. It’s intended to be aspirational because we are species that wants to be inspired. It’s why NASA dedicates part of its mission to outreach. It’s also why a lot of countries have a space program when they have even larger problems to solve; it’s serves as both inspiration and national pride. If we only care about pragmatism, we might as well get rid of literature, music, art... you know the things that help make life worth living. Personally, I think doing hard, pioneering things to help inspire a populace is worth 0.45% of the national budget* And from the extreme negativity in your post, a little inspiration might be of use to you, too. * I also say this as someone who left the space industry to focus on an industry geared towards more immediate problems
    - doublerabbit 6y ago
      The little inspiration it brings is always overthrown by the negatives of the now outside of the whole space venture. There is no national pride to have when say one government decides to screw the country one lives causing restrictions in freedom. Space will be a great thing, but when those in control of it, also control the damage of the current planet kind of makes moot of the whole two elements. You could say the whole space venture is for the future, our kids, kids but how is there to be a future if we destroy the now? I hate being stuck in the rut I am in, 31 and highly cynical. But from what I've experienced and seeing the decaying future gives less hope every day. I try hard to keep an optimistic type of view but it's bare threaded. Knowing that I've picked up four bin-bags daily of trash gives me hope that someday we can all be doing the same and that I've saved the planet a tiny bit. I too also hope I can create awareness that turn a few heads with a few ideas but then with that you still run the extreme risk of being taken down for trying to promote a good deed.
doublerabbit 6y ago
Re-posting because I don't feel the flag is fair. --- Personally, I dislike all this interest in space. What has it done for the actual planet we live on? Day by Day we destroy this planet wasting resources that are finite and yet we dream to live on another planet. Why? Just so we can do the same? How much toxic waste is in the world today? How much obsolete technological waste is there in this planet and why are we not investing the same amount of money on cleaning this planet? I'm sure I'm going to be down-voted for being pessimistic but its the truth. Outer space is for the rich who've outgrown expensive yachts and will be that way if not forever. If we can't handle society on this planet how are we suppose to handle it on a new planet? You really think once technology is supportable they're going to let us use it?
- Teever 6y ago
  It sounds like your issue isn't with space exploration but with the human race. As such you could make these kinds of dismissive posts about every single human endeavour, why just complain about space research? If you have these kinds of serious issues about humanity as a whole what are you doing to solve these problems that you perceive? It sounds to me like you're caught in a negativity loop and it isn't a good place to be in. If that's the case try and find something that you enjoy or take interest in and speculate about how you could make it better.
  - doublerabbit 6y ago
    > If you have these kinds of serious issues about humanity as a whole what are you doing to solve these problems that you perceive? I have an on-going list with idea's I'd like to attempt. But I don't have the funding to carry them out. So I have to work, invest my own money with a limited target in attempt to help out. I've started taking night classes in environmental studies, I daily go out and pick up trash. I don't eat meat, I recycle. I do all I can do. Every day I try to discover new methods on how I can do my part. If I didn't have to work, I could be focusing on research and working to a better environment but that's not possible. I'm doing all I can with the resources I have available with me but those itself are limited. > If that's the case try and find something that you enjoy or take interest in and speculate about how you could make it better. As much as I would like to, I can't. It's not like I can self-invest my time when I have to work eight hours a day to just allow myself to live. As much as I would love to start inventing to come up with new strategies, it's not possible. The interests I do have are underfunded, inaccessible without some sort of scientific degree and a life style where you have time for education.

ameister14 6y ago

I know - you would think that with sixty-five whole years since the first satellite launch we'd be able to meaningfully explore our solar system already. It only took a few thousand years to fully map and explore the Earth's surface and you'd think exploring multiple planets and billions of miles of space would be 100x faster than that. That money could be much better spent, like on tanks we will never use.

simonh 6y ago
We have explored our solar system, we’ve sent multiple probes to most planets, done a flyby of Pluto, landed on Mars, Venus and several asteroids, driven multiple rovers on Mars. Put rovers and boots on the ground on the Moon. We’ve extensively mapped almost all the solar system.

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

mopsi 6y ago

> We'll never be a spacefaring species, the universe is way too big (we can't even explore our solar system in any meaningful way) and energy requirements for faster travel are simply too high. I can state flatly that heavier than air flying machines are impossible. — Lord Kelvin, 1895 https://www.xaprb.com/blog/flight-is-impossible/ https://www.xaprb.com/blog/flight-is-impossible/