What is the purpose of space exploration?

[betsy]

So we got to the moon. And we now know more about the universe. But what's the purpose of going to Mars....spending time in the space station....etc.? I'm thinking of the billions of dollars being spent.

I really want to know.

[Bonam]

1. The basic human desire for knowledge and exploration.

2. The prospect of someday settling on other planets as a way to increase the long term survival chances of the species.

3. Spinoff technologies that arise from the space exploration program and the associated economic benefits.

4. An opportunity for peaceful international cooperation in large scale endeavors, allowing for more peaceful coexistence and understanding between nations.

5. The availability of resources on other planets and asteroids that are scarce on Earth.

6. The fact that "billions of dollars" is a tiny drop in the bucket compared to money utterly wasted in other ways, with much much less return than the space program.

I can go more into any of these if desired. But for now, here's a great letter by an associate director at NASA written in response to the very same question posed by a Zambian nun:

http://www.lettersofnote.com/2012/08/why-explore-space.html

[Guest Derek L]

Evolution of our species…………

[TimG]

So we got to the moon. And we now know more about the universe. But what's the purpose of going to Mars....spending time in the space station....etc.? I'm thinking of the billions of dollars being spent.

A prudent long term financial portfolio will include investments in speculative ventures that may or may not pay off. Investments in space exploration are like that. We don't need to know that it will pay off - just that it could...

[Moonlight Graham]

space exploration is cool, that is to say, awesomely interesting. That's why most people support it do so, including scientists.

[bush_cheney2004]

Here is a U.S Air Force answer....

HIGH FLIGHT

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of—wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,

I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air....

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue

I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace

Where never lark nor even eagle flew—

And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

John Gillespie Magee

John Gillespie Magee, Junior (June 9, 1922 – December 11, 1941) was an Anglo-American aviator and poet who died as a result of a mid-air collision over Lincolnshire during World War II. He was serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force, which he joined before the United States officially entered the war.

[Guest Manny]

To go where no man has gone before!

[The_Squid]

They're looking for God.... Apparently he's up there somewhere!

In all seriousness, here are nine good reasons:

http://martianchronicles.wordpress.com/2008/04/16/nine-good-reasons-for-space-exploration/

Edited January 29, 2013 by The_Squid

[bush_cheney2004]

...those are American reasons....and leaves out the military imperative that really drove mankind in space.

[The_Squid]

Are we supposed to list Iranian reasons for sending monkeys into space? The question was fairly general.... And so are the reasons given, despite being from American sources.

[Guest Manny]

Almost everything is developed for military purposes first. Other benefits to humanity come out of it later.

As I recall some unique medicines were first developed in space, on the space station.

Also Skylab did some fantastic research on the sun, being able to see more detail of information by having the laboratory above the atmosphere.

Whether or not humans need to go to Mars is debatable. Risky, expensive and perhaps just as easily accomplished with robots. As they are doing such wonderful research with right now.

In reference to the OP I think it relates back to the ancient human desire to understand our origins. How was the solar system, or the universe made. This is yet another part of the quest to understand creation.

[bush_cheney2004]

Are we supposed to list Iranian reasons for sending monkeys into space? The question was fairly general.... And so are the reasons given, despite being from American sources.

Yes...as the reasons for each nation can be very different in purpose and scope. The Americans went into space for very specific, not general reasons. The U.S. military and NRO have bigger space budgets than NASA.

The Iranians have very specific reasons too.

Edited January 29, 2013 by bush_cheney2004

[DogOnPorch]

The Iranians have very specific reasons too.

They do...this was a sub-orbital high speed heat shield test. The monkey was for show.

[DogOnPorch]

Apogee: 93 miles...distance 190 miles. Yes...if the monkey survives....so will your delicate warhead.

[BC_chick]

So we got to the moon. And we now know more about the universe. But what's the purpose of going to Mars....spending time in the space station....etc.? I'm thinking of the billions of dollars being spent.

I really want to know.

Back when religion knew everything and the earth was flat sea exploration was just a big waste of time and money too.

Oh, Betsy, you'll need to think about that one for a bit, won't you?

[betsy]

Here is a U.S Air Force answer....

HIGH FLIGHT

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of—wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,

I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air....

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue

I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace

Where never lark nor even eagle flew—

And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

John Gillespie Magee

John Gillespie Magee, Junior (June 9, 1922 – December 11, 1941) was an Anglo-American aviator and poet who died as a result of a mid-air collision over Lincolnshire during World War II. He was serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force, which he joined before the United States officially entered the war.

Where never lark nor even eagle flew—

And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

Cool. I like that.

Edited January 30, 2013 by betsy

[betsy]

Yes...as the reasons for each nation can be very different in purpose and scope. The Americans went into space for very specific, not general reasons. The U.S. military and NRO have bigger space budgets than NASA.

The Iranians have very specific reasons too.

Btw, I worked for the USAF in Clark Air Base.

[DogOnPorch]

As in Manilla? Cool.

[DogOnPorch]

M81, M82 and Holmberg IX...three galaxies locked in each other's gravity. Edge-on spiral M82's central core has erupted in a burst of activity as gas and dust...and perhaps even entire stars vanish into the galaxy's massive central black hole.

What was the question again?

[bush_cheney2004]

As in Manilla? Cool.

But not as much fun as Subic Bay (Olongapo City). With only $10 you could...ummmm...never mind.

[DogOnPorch]

But not as much fun as Subic Bay (Olongapo City). With only $10 you could...ummmm...never mind.

Does she...you know....go? Say-no-more!

[jbg]

So we got to the moon. And we now know more about the universe. But what's the purpose of going to Mars....spending time in the space station....etc.? I'm thinking of the billions of dollars being spent.

I really want to know.

1. To know what we don't know now; and
   
2. Control space so warlike enemies don't control it.
   

Those are the biggies to me.

[Guest Derek L]

But not as much fun as Subic Bay (Olongapo City). With only $10 you could...ummmm...never mind.

Only along the Perfume River….

....The whole Volcano wrecking the joint certainly added a Sodom & Gomorrah like touch……

[Sleipnir]

Btw, I worked for the USAF in Clark Air Base.

....really?

[betsy]

But not as much fun as Subic Bay (Olongapo City). With only $10 you could...ummmm...never mind.

Were you stationed there?