It should be the lowest priority. Sending humans to the Moon was already political posing, rather than scientific interest (confirmed even in JFK speeches). For now space exploration is cheaper and safer with as little human piloting as possible. Meanwhile we have real issues here down on Earth, which we can resolve. I suggest we clean the house before going for a walk. ;] We will enjoy the walk more, if we do that.
It should be the lowest priority. Sending humans to the Moon was already political posing, rather than scientific interest (confirmed even in JFK speeches). For now space exploration is cheaper and safer with as little human piloting as possible. Meanwhile we have real issues here down on Earth, which we can resolve. I suggest we clean the house before going for a walk. ;] We will enjoy the walk more, if we do that.
There is always going to be housework. All work and no play makes life hardly worth living.
I'll bet if they scrap Mars missions, the diverted money will not be put to any better use -realistically.
I think Mars missions should be pushed "full steam ahead".
Politicians can get political milage out of it.
Scientists can get scientific knowledge out of it.
Philosophers can study it.
Children can dream about it and aspire to it.
The rest of us can enjoy hearing about it and discussing it.
Isnt' it better to have space missions captivating the world's attention, than fights over resources?
It should be the lowest priority. Sending humans to the Moon was already political posing, rather than scientific interest (confirmed even in JFK speeches). For now space exploration is cheaper and safer with as little human piloting as possible. Meanwhile we have real issues here down on Earth, which we can resolve. I suggest we clean the house before going for a walk. ;] We will enjoy the walk more, if we do that.
It's impossible for me to say without knowing the significance of this project. No doubt space research is important, but is the benefit worth the cost in this case? I'd have to know more.
I guess you could make good politicians or writers. Going on other planets is not inspiring, per se, but the old nationalistic propaganda still echoes. Sending people to the Moon was already quite unscientific, and many people in the science community protested at the time. Yes, it's possible, duh, so what, big [strike]dick[/strike] deal. Useless narcissism in the end. You can get all the data you need without people actually being there. When we get to terraforming, then it would be more sensible to move on. And not just a couple of astronauts - whoever wants! Your kids, my kids, and the lamest Alzheimer granny with her cats.
Meanwhile, we have tons of unexplored areas here on Earth, if it's about exploration. We have many hard places to learn to inhabit, or provide water for. Heck, nobody even knows for sure how the inner core of our own planet operates exactly: here's a really important challenge, if you seek one.
And btw the problem is not money; money is nothing. The problem is priorities, I guess, and false sense of what has been taught to be greatness.