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> I have a hard time finding interest and value in human space flight in 2021 It's impossible to predict what tech can come out of such efforts that will be of
by oxplot 5y ago
> I have a hard time finding interest and value in human space flight in 2021
It's impossible to predict what tech can come out of such efforts that will be of use here on Earth in the future. The amount of money going to space exploration is peanuts so I think it's well justified if it has even a trace of potential to improve future of humanity and that has been true historically - e.g. satellites (GPS, weather, etc), medicine (MRI), and whole bunch of NASA spinoffs and more.
- polishdude20 5y agoWe hear that argument a lot with space but why can't we apply that same principle to healthcare? Or renewables? Why is it that pouring billions of dollars into space is considered as potentially improving humanity but other things don't get the same treatment?
- oxplot 5y agoBillions is peanuts. I think SpaceX to date has received less than 10 billion (say 20 to be safe) in total for everything! That's 20 years of research, development, coming up with never done before re-usable rockets, etc. People spent nearly half a trillion dollars (not billion) on cosmetic products in a single year! You want to point fingers, point at something you can actually locate. Money spent on space is negligible to the point that it doesn't even warrant justifying spending it.
- polishdude20 5y agoI'm not saying the money is not well spent. I just think the argument of "but think of all the research and new tech that may possibly come out of this" is something that's always applied to space.
- ProAm 5y agoI never said space flight, I said human space flight. I see great value in space flight itself.