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Permanently expanding the human race into space is "an obvious waste of money"? I think you need to justify that.

by maaku 13y ago

TallGuyShort 13y ago
I think his point is that the burden of proof is more on the people wanting send humans into space. I agree with him, actually. I'm one of those people who still retains their child-like wonder at the thought of space exploration, but I can't stand it when manned spaceflight has been justified primarily by political purposes. I think manned spaceflight has a place, but I think in many instances the robots are just as interesting and useful - and we should be careful to not spend tons of money in the wrong way.
- maaku 13y ago
  Permanently sending humans into space is about making life itself a cosmic phenomenon - transforming the dead matter of the universe into self-aware consciousness, instead of merely passing from one oblivion to the next. It is about making a future for uncountable trillions of (post-)human beings, instead of the few measly billion our single planet can support. It is about blossoming new cultures in far off places, instead of stagnation and unity. It is about expanding the human economy to include effectively limitless new land and resources instead of fighting the same zero sum game. It is about providing a cosmic lifeboat such that one single catastrophe doesn't wipe out the human race or all life on Earth. Sorry, I think the burden of proof is on those who say the above is meaningless.
  - TallGuyShort 13y ago
    Well being that you're the only one in this thread that seems to be referring to permanent colonization, no. Manned spaceflight to date has been more about displaying national superiority. How noble.
    - maaku 13y ago
      That was manned spaceflight 23+ years ago. It's debatable how much that was true after Apollo, and it certainly not was the case from 1991 onwards. NASA's manned space flight purpose today is to learn how to live and work in space, aka develop the skills and experience required for permanent settlement. For confirmation just look to NASA's vision, mission, and strategic goal statements, and the report of every blue ribbon commission to have looked at NASA over the past three decades.

Permanently expanding the human race into space is "an obvious waste of money"? I think you need to justify that.

by maaku 13y ago

Permanently expanding the human race into space is "an obvious waste of money"? I think you need to justify that.

I think his point is that the burden of proof is more on the people wanting send humans into space. I agree with him, actually. I'm one of those people who still retains their child-like wonder at the thought of space exploration, but I can't stand it when manned spaceflight has been justified primarily by political purposes. I think manned spaceflight has a place, but I think in many instances the robots are just as interesting and useful - and we should be careful to not spend tons of money in the wrong way.

maaku 13y ago
Permanently sending humans into space is about making life itself a cosmic phenomenon - transforming the dead matter of the universe into self-aware consciousness, instead of merely passing from one oblivion to the next. It is about making a future for uncountable trillions of (post-)human beings, instead of the few measly billion our single planet can support. It is about blossoming new cultures in far off places, instead of stagnation and unity. It is about expanding the human economy to include effectively limitless new land and resources instead of fighting the same zero sum game. It is about providing a cosmic lifeboat such that one single catastrophe doesn't wipe out the human race or all life on Earth. Sorry, I think the burden of proof is on those who say the above is meaningless.
- TallGuyShort 13y ago
  Well being that you're the only one in this thread that seems to be referring to permanent colonization, no. Manned spaceflight to date has been more about displaying national superiority. How noble.
  - maaku 13y ago
    That was manned spaceflight 23+ years ago. It's debatable how much that was true after Apollo, and it certainly not was the case from 1991 onwards. NASA's manned space flight purpose today is to learn how to live and work in space, aka develop the skills and experience required for permanent settlement. For confirmation just look to NASA's vision, mission, and strategic goal statements, and the report of every blue ribbon commission to have looked at NASA over the past three decades.