Is space exploration worth it?
I think this is a good question. A lot depends on how you define space exploration. With optical and radio instruments, you can explore space from your back door, minimum expense! But you’re talking about the actual going into space, and here I have strong opinions about the manned versus robotic issue. From a romantic, high adventure angle, I can see the appeal of sending up astronauts, but in terms of expense and effort, I think it’s a terrible waste – most of the technology goes into keeping the humans alive, instead of doing science and exploring. But to answer the general question, I’d say a very loud yes! I often here the arguments about money being better spent on hospitals and food relief, but unfortunately it’s not an either or situtation. Money not spent on space would not, by default, go to worthy causes intstead. When project Apollo was scrapped early, the American government ‘saved’ multiple millions – the result was not a wave of hospital building or overseas aid, the mon
