Time to End Human (as opposed to probe) Space Exploration?

[United States of The One Percent]

According to the Associated Press, here is a partial list of the latest experiments planned for the space station:

-- X-raying 20 mice
-- breeding fruit flies
-- plating metal on behalf of a golf club manufacturer
-- measuring surface winds, which may actually improve hurricane forecasting
-- experimenting with 3D printing so astronauts can make spare parts and/or build space colonies and/or play with Legos

IMO the first three are unnecessary, the fourth could be accomplished without direct human intervention, and if we didn't have humans in space we wouldn't have to manufacture spare parts, colonies or toys for them.

My contention is that the human space program is too expensive and too dangerous to want to continue. We can satisfy our curiosity with mechanical probes without risking the lives of our best and brightest, whose talents and funding would be better employed on Earth's problems. Space colonization is a pipe dream. There are no suitable planets anywhere nearby* for humans to spread their infectious violence and greed, thank whatever gods may be. Imagining human beings are so important to the cosmos that they would need to be preserved beyond their expiration date, whenever that is, is the acme of vanity.

So suck it up. There's no sci-fi pie in the sky, we're all going to die.

*And thank you but yes, I've seen the list on Wikipedia. Those are all too big, too hot, too cold or too far away.

[Arcov]

Every scientific paractice seems ridiculous taken out of context. Breeding fruit flies seems "stupid" in or out of space regardless, but it was extremely vital for the discovery of the importance of genetics. Seeing what kind of affects space and gravity have on genetics would have might be huge. Manipulation of this kind of trait could have impacts on research down here.

And that's just that. The original human exploration found such "unnecessary" discoveries like MRIs. Human exploration in space, even if it is as "vain" as you think it is accelerates scientific development.

[Allet Klar Chefs]

IMO the first three are unnecessary

Cool well why not apply to be the head of NASA with your no doubt peerless fuckin scientific credentials and get it stopped.

[United States of The One Percent]

Every scientific paractice seems ridiculous taken out of context. Breeding fruit flies seems "stupid" in or out of space regardless, but it was extremely vital for the discovery of the importance of genetics. Seeing what kind of affects space and gravity have on genetics would have might be huge. Manipulation of this kind of trait could have impacts on research down here.

And that's just that. The original human exploration found such "unnecessary" discoveries like MRIs. Human exploration in space, even if it is as "vain" as you think it is accelerates scientific development.

Before we shoot humans into the vacuum of space to see if it has any affect on genetics, shouldn't we have at least a theory that genetic transmission might be different under different conditions? It seems to be the same everywhere on Earth. And Tang*, pens that can write upside-down and Velcro* are not reasons enough to justify the sacrifice of human beings.

* Which weren't human space program spinoffs anyway. Neither was the MRI:

Did NASA invent Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)?

No, NASA did not invent MRI technology, but it has contributed to its advances over the years, and elements of NASA technology have been incorporated into MRI techniques. In the mid-1960s, as a prelude to NASA’s Apollo Lunar Landing Program, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory developed the technology known as digital image processing to allow computer enhancement of Moon pictures. Digital image processing has found a broad array of other applications, particularly in the field of medicine, where it is employed to create and enhance images of the organs in the human body for diagnostic purposes. Two of these advanced body imaging techniques are CT or CATScan and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

[Mad hatters in jeans]

"It's not something we're discussing publicly right now," said CEO Kemmer. Then, Jason Dunn, the chief technology officer, beckoned, dropping his voice as he grinned.

"We're going to build a Death Star," he joked softly, referring to the giant space station in the "Star Wars" movies that could blow up planets. "Then it's all going to be over."

Thank goodness he was referring to the space station in a movie and not the real death star.

[United States of The One Percent]

IMO the first three are unnecessary

Cool well why not apply to be the head of NASA with your no doubt peerless fuckin scientific credentials and get it stopped.

Because you're a poopy head. So there. If you have any actual arguments, please feel free to present them.

[Arcov]

Before we shoot humans into the vacuum of space to see if it has any affect on genetics, shouldn't we have at least a theory that genetic transmission might be different under different conditions? It seems to be the same everywhere on Earth. And Tang*, pens that can write upside-down and Velcro* are not reasons enough to justify the sacrifice of human beings.

The "sacrifice" of human beings that volunteered to do what is most likely there life-long dream. You honestly think astronauts just phone in their job? You have to pretty much dedicate your whole life and education to trying to become an astronaut. Not exactly easy.

In addition, those aren't the only things that NASA has discovered. http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/curio ... ntions.htm - Those are just small everyday things, not the big stuff.

* Which weren't human space program spinoffs anyway. Neither was the MRI:

Did NASA invent Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)?

No, NASA did not invent MRI technology, but it has contributed to its advances over the years, and elements of NASA technology have been incorporated into MRI techniques. In the mid-1960s, as a prelude to NASA’s Apollo Lunar Landing Program, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory developed the technology known as digital image processing to allow computer enhancement of Moon pictures. Digital image processing has found a broad array of other applications, particularly in the field of medicine, where it is employed to create and enhance images of the organs in the human body for diagnostic purposes. Two of these advanced body imaging techniques are CT or CATScan and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

Other than the first sentence your whole quote works against you.

NASA is one of the last things that need to be cut. There is far, far more wasteful spending.

[WestRedMaple]

Space colonization is a pipe dream. There are no suitable planets anywhere nearby* for humans to spread their infectious violence and greed, thank whatever gods may be.

What makes only the Solar System close enough?

Imagining human beings are so important to the cosmos that they would need to be preserved beyond their expiration date, whenever that is, is the acme of vanity.

Irrelevant....human beings are important to humans, and human beings are those creating space programs

Most humans DO think they should be preserved beyond the date they would die without technology. Sure, there are a few people who refuse vaccines, medicine, blood transfusions, x-rays, ambulance rides, etc......but that doesn't seem very prevalent at all

[The Orson Empire]

Ending Human space exploration is a very bad idea. If Humans are to avoid going extinct, then we need to colonize other planets. It is never a good idea to have all of our eggs in one basket, as their are numerous catastrophes that can happen to Earth, such as an asteroid impact.

Also OP, about you saying that space colonization is a "pipe dream", people in the past said the same thing about cars, airplanes, and computes, yet they were all wrong. If you wish to stay on this rock and die, feel free, but don't try to stop the rest of us from making progress.

[Tubbsalot]

I voted "it's pointless and expensive," because human exploration of space is, indeed, idiotic. Then the OP talks about something which is not space exploration. The people on the ISS aren't exploring shit, and it would be very difficult to automate what they're doing.

[The Orson Empire]

I voted "it's pointless and expensive," because human exploration of space is, indeed, idiotic. Then the OP talks about something which is not space exploration. The people on the ISS aren't exploring shit, and it would be very difficult to automate what they're doing.

What an ignorant statement.

[Napkiraly]

Ending Human space exploration is a very bad idea. If Humans are to avoid going extinct, then we need to colonize other planets. It is never a good idea to have all of our eggs in one basket, as their are numerous catastrophes that can happen to Earth, such as an asteroid impact.

Also OP, about you saying that space colonization is a "pipe dream", people in the past said the same thing about cars, airplanes, and computes, yet they were all wrong. If you wish to stay on this rock and die, feel free, but don't try to stop the rest of us from making progress.

^Nail on the head right thar.

[Tubbsalot]

Ending Human space exploration is a very bad idea. If Humans are to avoid going extinct, then we need to colonize other planets. It is never a good idea to have all of our eggs in one basket

We will always have our eggs in one basket, which is the universe. We will die out eventually. I don't see any pressing need to ensure self-replicating blobs exist for 20% longer than they otherwise might.

[Tubbsalot]

I voted "it's pointless and expensive," because human exploration of space is, indeed, idiotic. Then the OP talks about something which is not space exploration. The people on the ISS aren't exploring shit, and it would be very difficult to automate what they're doing.

What an ignorant statement.

You say that, but apparently you're incapable of coming up with any kind of actual response, which doesn't say much for your own brillance.

[Arcov]

Ending Human space exploration is a very bad idea. If Humans are to avoid going extinct, then we need to colonize other planets. It is never a good idea to have all of our eggs in one basket

We will always have our eggs in one basket, which is the universe. We will die out eventually. I don't see any pressing need to ensure self-replicating blobs exist for 20% longer than they otherwise might.

Then there isn't much of a point in doing anything is there?

[The Orson Empire]

Ending Human space exploration is a very bad idea. If Humans are to avoid going extinct, then we need to colonize other planets. It is never a good idea to have all of our eggs in one basket

We will always have our eggs in one basket, which is the universe. We will die out eventually. I don't see any pressing need to ensure self-replicating blobs exist for 20% longer than they otherwise might.

People with your opinion are the reason why progress is stifled. Like I said to the OP, if you want to stay on this planet and die, then by all means go ahead. However, do not try to stop the rest of us who actually want to make progress from doing so.

[Tubbsalot]

Then there isn't much of a point in doing anything is there?

Sure there is. I like eating delicious food, for example, so I'm going to try to ensure that I can eat delicious food whenever I like.

However, there's no real value in extending the existence of humanity by however many years. I don't care about the concept of the species. I care about actual humans.

People with your opinion are the reason why progress is stifled. Like I said to the OP, if you want to stay on this planet and die, then by all means go ahead. However, do not try to stop the rest of us who actually want to make progress from doing so.

If "shooting humans onto a barren shithole of a planet" is your idea of progress, good for you. Personally I'd rather spend our limited resources on things which are actually useful, like actual research. I'd also note that you are pretty much guaranteed to stay on this planet your entire life and die here, and in the off-chance that this isn't true, you'd have an awful quality of life on some other planet and then die there anyway.

The risk of world-destroying asteroid impacts and whatever is enormously overstated.

[Arcov]

Sure there is. I like eating delicious food, for example, so I'm going to try to ensure that I can eat delicious food whenever I like.

However, there's no real value in extending the existence of humanity by however many years. I don't care about the concept of the species. I care about actual humans.

So then why do anything designed to create a sustaining society? Why research anything if you won't directly benefit from it?

[Olivaero]

I'm willing to let the scientists tell me what they need to do their science, if that's humans going up into space and doing space-science I would suggest listening to them. Because, and it feels somewhat ridiculous that I have to point this out, they are the experts.

[Blazedtown]

According to the Associated Press, here is a partial list of the latest experiments planned for the space station:

-- X-raying 20 mice
-- breeding fruit flies
-- plating metal on behalf of a golf club manufacturer
-- measuring surface winds, which may actually improve hurricane forecasting
-- experimenting with 3D printing so astronauts can make spare parts and/or build space colonies and/or play with Legos

IMO the first three are unnecessary, the fourth could be accomplished without direct human intervention, and if we didn't have humans in space we wouldn't have to manufacture spare parts, colonies or toys for them.

My contention is that the human space program is too expensive and too dangerous to want to continue. We can satisfy our curiosity with mechanical probes without risking the lives of our best and brightest, whose talents and funding would be better employed on Earth's problems. Space colonization is a pipe dream. There are no suitable planets anywhere nearby* for humans to spread their infectious violence and greed, thank whatever gods may be. Imagining human beings are so important to the cosmos that they would need to be preserved beyond their expiration date, whenever that is, is the acme of vanity.

So suck it up. There's no sci-fi pie in the sky, we're all going to die.

*And thank you but yes, I've seen the list on Wikipedia. Those are all too big, too hot, too cold or too far away.

Absolutely not. Space is the future of mankind.

[Seno Zhou Varada]

Absolutely not! Even though I probably won't live to FTL travel I want to know at least if humans colonized the colonizable areas of the solar system.

[WestRedMaple]

Ending Human space exploration is a very bad idea. If Humans are to avoid going extinct, then we need to colonize other planets. It is never a good idea to have all of our eggs in one basket

We will always have our eggs in one basket, which is the universe. We will die out eventually. I don't see any pressing need to ensure self-replicating blobs exist for 20% longer than they otherwise might.

So you would refuse a blood transfusion, huh? No CPR for you?

[The Liberated Territories]

ATM human space exploration is giving us a pretty shitty return rate. The only reasons that humans should really be sent to space now is to repair all the junk we have up there. That being said, I am not opposed to private space exploration, I just don't see any reason to invest in it at the moment when we are busy dealing with more terrestrial problems.

[WestRedMaple]

Then there isn't much of a point in doing anything is there?

Sure there is. I like eating delicious food, for example, so I'm going to try to ensure that I can eat delicious food whenever I like.

However, there's no real value in extending the existence of humanity by however many years. I don't care about the concept of the species. I care about actual humans.

People with your opinion are the reason why progress is stifled. Like I said to the OP, if you want to stay on this planet and die, then by all means go ahead. However, do not try to stop the rest of us who actually want to make progress from doing so.

If "shooting humans onto a barren shithole of a planet" is your idea of progress, good for you. Personally I'd rather spend our limited resources on things which are actually useful, like actual research. I'd also note that you are pretty much guaranteed to stay on this planet your entire life and die here, and in the off-chance that this isn't true, you'd have an awful quality of life on some other planet and then die there anyway.

The risk of world-destroying asteroid impacts and whatever is enormously overstated.

Care about humans, yet uninterested in preventing numerous deaths due to asteroid impact, bio mechanical plague, evolution of the Sun, etc?

The risk of Earth eventually being incapable of supporting life on it's own is 100%

[Wisconsin9]

Ending manned spaceflight literally guarantees eventual human extinction. Now, granted, extinction is probably guaranteed anyways, but every second we're still working on the problem is a second we might find some way to survive the end of the universe.