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Cheap Space Exploration is like planes or ships were for various generations in the past. It is hard for a man in the old stone age to think of the value of the

Cheap Space Exploration is like planes or ships were for various generations in the past. It is hard for a man in the old stone age to think of the value of the ships or planes. They look like pointless "advanced technology" to go to places that do not matter. But then time passes and we figure out things like carts,trains,ships,planes and space elevators or solar sails or ion engines are just an obvious part of our economies.

genwin 14y ago
I get your point, and it's a good one. I just don't think it'll work that way with space exploration. I don't believe that spending $trillions we don't have (we'd have to borrow it) will pay off enough to make that money, and the ten times more in interest we'd have to pay, worth it to the general public. As it is my kid will likely have to work until he drops dead at work (no retirement for future average Americans). We've been off course for a long time, and space exploration is part of that veering.
- jlgreco 14y ago
  Space flight is an absolutely infinitesimaly small portion of the national budget. You are wasting your brain-cycles worrying about it.
  - genwin 14y ago
    It's 1.4% of discretionary spending today. That's only the principal; another 10X+ is interest payments. Exploring beyond what we have explored so far (e.g. humans on Mars) would take it far higher.
    - jlgreco 14y ago
      Exactly, it is piss in an ocean. Regardless, people like you are actually the reason I am thankful that SpaceX exists. It really doesn't matter to them what people like you think, thank FSM...
      - genwin 14y ago
        I support private space exploration, if they recompense the public for any damage they do (unlike, say, mining companies).
    - SudarshanP 14y ago
      Do you really believe that spending trillions fighting for oil is somehow money better spent?? Do you have any clue how much the US blows away on airconditioning in Afghanistan? Study: Patent Trolls Cost Companies $29 Billion Last Year It sad that people still believe Space Colonization is so pointless.
      - genwin 14y ago
        > Do you really believe that spending trillions fighting for oil is somehow money better spent?? No, and I didn't imply that either.

genwin 14y ago

I get your point, and it's a good one. I just don't think it'll work that way with space exploration. I don't believe that spending $trillions we don't have (we'd have to borrow it) will pay off enough to make that money, and the ten times more in interest we'd have to pay, worth it to the general public. As it is my kid will likely have to work until he drops dead at work (no retirement for future average Americans). We've been off course for a long time, and space exploration is part of that veering.

jlgreco 14y ago
Space flight is an absolutely infinitesimaly small portion of the national budget. You are wasting your brain-cycles worrying about it.
- genwin 14y ago
  It's 1.4% of discretionary spending today. That's only the principal; another 10X+ is interest payments. Exploring beyond what we have explored so far (e.g. humans on Mars) would take it far higher.
  - jlgreco 14y ago
    Exactly, it is piss in an ocean. Regardless, people like you are actually the reason I am thankful that SpaceX exists. It really doesn't matter to them what people like you think, thank FSM...
    - genwin 14y ago
      I support private space exploration, if they recompense the public for any damage they do (unlike, say, mining companies).
  - SudarshanP 14y ago
    Do you really believe that spending trillions fighting for oil is somehow money better spent?? Do you have any clue how much the US blows away on airconditioning in Afghanistan? Study: Patent Trolls Cost Companies $29 Billion Last Year It sad that people still believe Space Colonization is so pointless.
    - genwin 14y ago
      > Do you really believe that spending trillions fighting for oil is somehow money better spent?? No, and I didn't imply that either.