Mars rover

[katescountryfarm]

Space exploration is science.. how is it not? They aren't looking for aliens they are looking for signs to see if life ever existed there. I know you aren't really a details guy and you'd rather bury your head in the sand and hide instead of facing science... but recognize you are in the minority. Heck, you are so paranoid about science you even have a forum signature about it. It's too bad you think you have to pick sides between religion and science, chickened.

 

[TallChickMagnet]

Okay... is that it? It's not exploring for valuable (and much needed) mineral resources? No searching for possible energy sources?

Well. That sounds like two and a half billion dollars down a freaking hole. Might as well load up that much in paper and send it hurtling into the Sun. Perhaps I'm being a bit cynical, but how, precisely, is searching for dead germs on a dead planet going to help us here on Earth?

We are out growing this planet, and using up all of its resources. We are looking for another planet to do the same thing to.

 

[Q9]

I can tell you are not a Star Trek Fan !! Some things are bigger than the everyday mundane AND if you look at all the technology that NASA has brought to the common man, you might be surprised.

A few billion $ will not solve all our problems here in the US. I'd love to see that money spent on schools. Or roads. But what a cool thing to share with my kids to inspire greatness and creativity! ANd hope. How did it get there -- solar panels? High tech designs that we might be able to use here and gather solar energy and thereby decrease our demand on oil and that in turn casues the oil prices to drop and food prices to drop? You never know where a trip to the moon or to Mars will lead us.

A billion is a drop in the bucket of our economy--far less in the world economy.

Look, the fact is, if it's not doing anything useful, it's not worth it. Sending a two-and-a-half billion dollar rover to Mars for the sake of sending it there is just stupid. If it were seeing if there were potential for obtaining resources from Mars, then it would make sense. We're running a little low on resources Earthside, so I think it might be a better idea to prioritize searching for said resources over looking for long-dead germs.

I have nothing against going to the Moon or Mars. Both may have valuable resources. However, launching expensive probes for less than practical reasons and paying for it with tax money is something I don't agree with. If some private company goes and throws two billion dollars away on a pointless rover, more power to them - they didn't force others to pay for it. What I want to see is a dedicated resource-exploration rover, not one that goes and takes pretty pictures.

 

[chickened]

Space exploration is science.. how is it not? They aren't looking for aliens they are looking for signs to see if life ever existed there. I know you aren't really a details guy and you'd rather bury your head in the sand and hide instead of facing science... but recognize you are in the minority. Heck, you are so paranoid about science you even have a forum signature about it. It's too bad you think you have to pick sides between religion and science, chickened.

Ever hear of the "Space Race"? Most scientific research is done while orbiting in anti gravity environments. Why do you suppose NASA was gutted? Apparently the folks that pay for this stuff are in the minority also.

Suppose they do find life then what? just spend another trillion on that venture and all for what? knowing?

I know it is neat and all to look at the pictures but I can probably create just as good of ones in Hollywood with a computer and make folks like yourself happy knowing you finally have a glimmer of hope to fit your beliefs.

 

[Q9]

We are out growing this planet, and using up all of its resources. We are looking for another planet to do the same thing to.

That's my point. It's sitting there looking for long-dead germs that won't give us anything useful, instead of searching for possible mining opportunities.

 

[chickened]

We are out growing this planet, and using up all of its resources. We are looking for another planet to do the same thing to.

Are you reproducing? seems by your logic that volunteering to not reproduce would solve this problem, are you willing to be a volunteer? I think this earth has a pretty good shelf life and will last long enough.

 

[Arielle]

Never understood why so many people feared science.

When science has been reduced to test tubes and fine measuring and complex calculations, the fun is lost and people loose interest very fast.

I teach my kids to bake-- I teach science at the same time.
We raise chickens--I teach biology and genetics.

For those that so not like science , I"m sorry you did not have a good teacher.

 

[cupman]

It's a twisted world when you are more than happy to wage war on the other side of the world but want to demonize NASA. I don't believe in a bloated defense budget, oil subsidies or multiple foreign wars... but I have to pay for it anyways. You can handle the Mars rover. With the rate we are developing new technology I believe it's a worthy investment to be number one in space exploration. I don't see how chasing 16 year olds with AK47s around the mountains of Afghanistan is doing anything to help us. Just philosophical differences I guess.

 

[chickened]

It's a twisted world when you are more than happy to wage war on the other side of the world but want to demonize NASA. I don't believe in a bloated defense budget, oil subsidies or multiple foreign wars... but I have to pay for it anyways. You can handle the Mars rover. With the rate we are developing new technology I believe it's a worthy investment to be number one in space exploration. I don't see how chasing 16 year olds with AK47s around the mountains of Afghanistan is doing anything to help us. Just philosophical differences I guess.

Just another form of population control is how I see it, if they can kill off each other we really do not need to be there and on that I think we agree but for a different motive. Space exploration for resources would seem needless then correct?

 

[Matthew3590]

When it comes to exploration of space the government has the "main" mission and they always have the un-televised side mission. Why looking for potential life it could come across something better.