<p>Funding cuts and all, it seems that the age of space exploration is coming to a sad end.
Hopefully private companies can compensate for this.
But should we let space exploration into private hands or would it be better in the hands of the government?</p>
<p>I think space exploration should be in the hands of the government. Instead of spending our money on fixing our economy, education system, fossil fuel dependency, and the myriad of problems we currently face, our government should spend its resources on finding E.T. Besides, spending a ton of money on going into space is the most logical thing to do in a recession and with a massive deficit. I can’t see why you wouldn’t want to go into space in our current economic situation.</p>
<p>The whole reason for the space age was because of the Cole War. America isn’t as rich as it was then, and the USSR is gone. Even if we do cut it, America still will be spending more than any other country. I think more money needs to be put into education, then we can think about more space exploration. We also need a smaller government, too many programs and systems is putting some debt. The government is far too large.</p>
<p>I think it could go into private hands as long a legitimate governmental regulations are enacted but which ggovernment?space and the orbit of earth isn’t bound like the boundaries ofnations</p>
<p>Solution to every possible problem, lets make BillyMC the world leader.</p>
<p>^^It should not go to private companies. I rather have it be government controlled with funds by private companies.</p>
<p>^ i actually agree with that^ i actually agree with that whole heartedly, but when private funds are being spent, thencorruption is bound to follow, “we’ll supply blank million for a spot on such and such board or this certain plan to go through” be way easier to have it regulated by government then funded by private whole heartedly, but when private funds are being spent, thencorruption is bound to follow, "we’ll supply blank million for a spot o</p>
<p>t^ i actually agree with that whole heartedly, but when private funds are being spent, thencorruption is bound to follow, “we’ll supply blank million for a spot on such and such board or this certain plan to go through” be way easier to have it r</p>
<p>If we want the human race to survive longer, we must work together for the exploration and colonization of space. I am glad, at least, that while the United States may have slowed its efforts, other countries and groups are continuing or increasing theirs.</p>
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Is an economic situation a means or an end? I hold that it is a means to the end of human prosperity; to ensure that, we must ensure the survival of the human race. When a wayward rock can obliterate all of humanity, we are not safe.</p>
<p>And why is the economy unstable? Economic deregulation, tax cuts for the wealthy, trillion dollar efforts to kill our fellow man. Regulate the economy, raise taxes on the rich (think Eisenhower tax rates), end the wars, and start a two pronged effort to save the human race. Fund both space exploration and space colonization. The former is important in the long run, so we might outlive the Sun. The latter is important now, so we might outlive our fragile environment. Colonize the Moon, Mars, and turn our eyes to the stars.</p>
<p>And guess what? The spending, employment, and technology benefits the economy. Economists estimate for every $1 we spend on the space program, the US economy receives $8 of benefit. Further, it encourages the development of the scientific fields, contributing to the advancement of mankind. If our civilization becomes stagnant, our fall is imminent. If we want to encourage human unity, the realm of space is the great international peace (see Russian/American space program).</p>
<p>^Oh yeah, 90% Eisenhower tax rates. Really helpful for the economy.
I’m totally with ifax here. Why the hell should we focus on space right now? While the above poster makes good points, it’s simply not plausible in this time of uncertainty.</p>
<p>I honestly believe that the U.S should continue its mission of Space Exploration. Even if the Economic status of the country is at a stand still, I feel that space exploration should be highly considered. In the near future the planet may experience a natural disturbance that we may not be able to avoid. I mean, isn’t there some huge asteroid with a head on course to Earth that could potential wipe out the planet by 2026ish. I know that seems far off but if we don’t gather the research and observation needed the human race will be screwed.</p>
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It would be, for all but the wealthy, who would take a significant hit. But does the government have an obligation to the wealthy, who will still be fine, or to all the people?</p>
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The economy is always uncertain to some degree; that’s what happens in a market economy. If we die with this planet, will it matter how we justified it to ourselves?</p>
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It will closely miss us in 2029; however, depending upon where exactly it passes and the precise effect the Earth’s gravity has upon it, it could collide with the Earth on its next pass in 2032.</p>
<p>Please tell me how it would be helpful. Tax evasion would dramatically increase, less spending from the rich (who inject the most money into the economy), and a general flight overseas. Plus, the brackets are structured differently now than in the Eisenhower days.</p>
<p>To simply answer the question. </p>
<p>No, the space age is not over.</p>
<p>people still die from cancer, AIDS, and other types of incurable diseases daily, we’re in a s<em>**load of debt, our education systems pretty crappy, and our government spends billions of dollars on a now pointless “war”, what the f</em>*k is the point of spending all of this money on space exploration and dinosaur fossils when we cant even fix the problems we have on earth.</p>
<p>I believe we should built Rapture (the EPIC underwater city)! :P</p>
<p>there is certainly a lot of potential for space exploration. There are a lot of interesting places to visit (reasons to explore) and the technology is developing. Compared to what is possible, one could easily say the space age hasn’t even begun really. The question is if that potential will be realized though, and this is an open question. It may be that the space age is over already, that (for unforeseeable reasons) it will never advance any further. It is hard to predict the future.</p>