Space program worth price?

A recent Star article (3/25, A-2, “One Mars rover heads for hibernation”) stirred some thoughts I have had since the space shuttle Columbia exploded over Texas on its return to Earth in 2003.

The article stated the rovers were being put to sleep and having their activities reduced to cut $4 million from NASA’s budget. The budget for these rovers has been $20 million a year.

The rovers did send back evidence that water may have once run on the surface of Mars. So? I really don’t see how that information has helped the average citizen.

I acknowledge that we have gained some valuable data from past space explorations, but where are we going with this? I am not interested in living in a pod in outer space, nor interested in taking trips to look at Earth from above.

Are we getting any real benefit for the great amount of money this program is costing us? Maybe it is time we took a new look at what is really important to the future of mankind on Earth and where we focus our energies and tax dollars.

Roger C. Turner
Bonner Springs

Comments

[solomon]

Anyone with a list of who'd we like to leave here when we move to the third rock from Alpha Centura?

[mike d]

Well we better be figuring on how to get off this rock, because according to Algore, we are about to get booted off!

[solomon]

Good morning,

All credible arguments and I bow to the logic.

[gwennie]

The list of tangible technical benefits from the space program is too long to list here but like mentioned before, the money isn't sitting out there on Mars or the Moon. It is spent providing American jobs. It goes to janitors, machinists, mechanics, secretaries, cooks, engineers, lab technicians, and scientists right here who turn around and buy groceries, pay rent, buy cars, put their kids through school and pay taxes.

[Engineer]

solomon
The pursuit of knowledge is always worthwhile. What we learn of the development of Mars may help us understand the development of our planet, and of the solar system. By delving into mysteries we may open unanticipated doors.

[solomon]

T Hanson,

Your crops of apples and oranges are here.

[T. Hanson]

Two people talking in Spain around the 1489:

"Why do we spend money on those three ships over there? They are just going to fall off the face of the earth. I say we just keep going east to the Orient, like we always have."

[solomon]

Good morning jack(louie),

You make a very good point that many things we use are crossovers from the space program. Tell me though, why do we care one bit if there was once water on Mars? Or more importantly, how much of our taxmoney is meaningless enough to pay for that answer?

[Rogue]

You are absolutely correct jack, and you forgot teflon.

[jack]

Has the space program benefited the "average citizen"? Let's see now, velcro, microwave ovens, desktop computers, micr-radios (your cell phone), modern freeze drying techniques, warmer blankets, solar panels, "instant" worldwide communications, cable TV, improved air filtration systems....the list goes on and on.

What do these things have in common? They came directly from the space program. Think the space program has been a big waste of money? Turn of your cable/satellite TV. Matter of fact, disconnect your TV all together. After all, the initial work on high def was in the space program.

Same old ignorant arguement. Like the writer believes they are shooting $100 bills out inhto space. Surprise guy! All that money is spent right here on earth. And what is developped for the space program many times directly impacts your little life! Surprise, surprise, surprise!

[solomon]

Roger,

Its called "ego". That is the justification for the space program.

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

This is one of those programs they are not going to share their agenda and data with the "average" citizen. One can only imagine what they know and what they have planned.