[Wrao]

On a general, humanity, scale, I don't disagree with the desire to head out into space and um... well, do something. But, on a more personal level, I have a hard time buying into the arguments for it that I hear. So, perhaps I'm just not hearing the right arguments, for those Novans that are interested in Space travel, exploration, colonization and eventual Imperialism/laser conflicts, what are your personal reasons for the interest? what is it you'd like to do in space? and what is it you'd like to see/find? and... why?

[turbulentfurball]

I have lived with a fragile faith built on vague memories from an experience that I could neither prove nor explain. When I was 12, my sister was taken from me, taken from our home by a force that I came to believe was extraterrestrial. This belief sustained me, fueling a quest for truths that were as elusive as the memory itself. To believe as passionately as I did was not without sacrifice, but I always accepted the risks - to my career, my reputation, my relationships, to life itself.

[Xaqtly]

I want to go into space simply to experience the vastness of it. Right now all I can really comprehend is that the Earth is tiny compared to everything else that's out there, but that's like book smart vs. experience smart. I want to viscerally experience just how small we are, and how much bigger our corner of space is.

I want to get into a space suit and step outside the shuttle and take a look around. I want to see the Earth below me and the moon above and really, truly understand how small I am in the scheme of things. I like to think that understanding the vastness of our solar system on that scale will give me a broader appreciation for Earth and everything on it.

[Moogs]

Nothing. I will be dead before it's possible and I have no children who might benefit. My interest in space travel is for the benefit for other people's childrens (or more like unborn Grandchildrens)...

[Wrao]

Originally Posted by Moogs Nothing. I will be dead before it's possible and I have no children who might benefit. My interest in space travel is for the benefit for other people's childrens (or more like unborn Grandchildrens)...

Okay, then what are the perceived benefits for their children?

[Wrao]

Originally Posted by Xaqtly I want to go into space simply to experience the vastness of it. Right now all I can really comprehend is that the Earth is tiny compared to everything else that's out there, but that's like book smart vs. experience smart. I want to viscerally experience just how small we are, and how much bigger our corner of space is. I want to get into a space suit and step outside the shuttle and take a look around. I want to see the Earth below me and the moon above and really, truly understand how small I am in the scheme of things. I like to think that understanding the vastness of our solar system on that scale will give me a broader appreciation for Earth and everything on it.

If you want a sense of small, go skydiving, or fly to Thailand. In the 18 hours it takes you to get there, you will have ample time to realize just how tiny you are compared to the Earth.

[Dutch Pear]

The dizzying opportunity to meet actual Ewoks.

Duh!

[Banana]

I recall reading that one quite good reason for having a space station was to enable science research where doing similar experiment on land would be infeasible, expensive or both. So investing in space technology is actually more like investing in a expensive lab that may eventually make discoveries helpful in further developing technology.

Not really much of an argument for actual "travel" part, I'm afraid.

[curiousuburb]

Orion. Slave. Girls.

[Brad]

Originally Posted by Wrao Okay, then what are the perceived benefits for their children?

In short I believe it's for the same reason we spend billions upon billions of dollars on science projects like going to the moon or smashing atomic particles. There may be little immediate benefit short of a few ego trips, but there's a huge potential for future scientific and social advancement, direct and indirect.

The direct benefits for people who aren't interested strictly in the intellectual pursuits will of course be new forms of entertainment, toys, comforts, medicines, etc. -- all new gluttonous stuff to enjoy.

[Moogs]

Originally Posted by Wrao Okay, then what are the perceived benefits for their children?

Truthfully? Expanding the knowledge of the human race and potentially, finding an alternate home because the idea that we might make this planet uninhabitable for one reason or another is not far-fetched to me. And IF we are to find a new home in the centuries ahead, we need to start now. If Mars needs to be terraformed by releasing greenhouse gases into its atmosphere, in order to create eventually a breathable air, rain, etc... estimates are it will take 100 years or more to do it once we start building. Having an alternative to living here within the next 200 years? A good idea... just in case.

And of course, it's not just about the ability to terraform another planet (which is DAMN difficult under the best conditions), but getting (in the most grim scenario) at least several thousand people off this planet from all races and corners of the globe and onto another one in a doable time-frame. That means we need big advancements in transport technology, propulsion, etc too. Not just sending astronauts somewhere. If we can't move people off this planet a hundred at a time and multiple times a year, and we *have* to leave, we're screwed.

[ronmexico]

Originally Posted by Brad In short I believe it's for the same reason we spend billions upon billions of dollars on science projects like going to the moon or smashing atomic particles. There may be little immediate benefit short of a few ego trips, but there's a huge potential for future scientific and social advancement, direct and indirect.

agreed

[Swox]

It's obviously for sex in space. We've all dreamt of that since Space Camp (at least once we found out that anti-gravity chambers didn't really exist).

Seriously though, I think putting people in space is a complete waste of money, unless it can be done economically and make traveling around the world significantly faster and more efficient. Even then, all the money wasted thus far probably wouldn't be made up for (correct me if I'm wrong).

To me, it's like the finding life on Mars thing - who cares (except for some nerds)?

You can probably tell I'm in Humanities (no appreciation for science for the sake of science) .

[Wrao]

Well, there is money to be had in Space. It's just the cost of entry, building infrastructure, inevitable loss of life in early expeditions, and very very long time before any returns on the investment. Make it pretty difficult to earnestly want to pursue when there are plenty of problems down here on Earth. But yet, if we *could* tap into space for our energy needs(24/7/365 space solar power plants for instance) or for production of materials(i.e. building space ships on the moon or mars) Then that would be a very significant thing that would probably do a lot of 'good' for the Earth, in terms of unifying disparate governments and ideologies to get behind something. But... meh.

[Moogs]

Money should be the last reason to go. The very last.

[Kraetos]

Energy. There's a lot of energy in space.

There is the already mentioned solar panels, but there's an even greater source of energy in space: Helium-3. He3 is the ideal fuel for nuclear fusion, and will probably be the second generation of fuel for fusion reactors once we get them working on a large scale.

He3 is rare on Earth but abundant on the Moon and even more abundant in the gas giants. At the point where space travel is economical enough to harvest this and use it to power our race, we would have abundant, clean, and cheap energy for all. That's why I'll sign on for space travel.

[Wrao]

Originally Posted by Moogs Money should be the last reason to go. The very last.

Why is that? it is ridiculously expensive to get there, is it so wrong to pursue payback?

[thegeriatric]

It may well save our lives in the future. And what brad said.