Comments on: why does nasa spend billons of dollars exploring space?

By: Innocent Victim

Innocent Victim — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:14:26 +0000

NASA’s budget amounts to about six-tenths of one percent of the total federal budget. All of the money they spend is spent right here on Earth, employing tens of thousands of people, who would otherwise be idle. For every dollar we spend on space research, we realize about SEVEN dollars worth of economic benefit. Show me a better investment.
If you want to talk about waste, we’ll have to discuss the military budget. NASA has never wasted a dime.

By: Sky Q

Sky Q — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:38:29 +0000

Because we have become disappointed with trying to find intelligent life on planet earth.

And one day, who knows, we may have to mine the other planets for resources.

By: Kyle G

Kyle G — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:34:49 +0000

Pretty much every major discovery we have made so far was helped in some part by NASA.
Do you like using a personal computer? Thank NASA.
Like Velcro? Thank NASA.
Kidney dialysis to help those with kidney failure? Thank NASA.
CAT scan and MRIs? Thank NASA.
Cordless power tools? Thank NASA.
Not only has NASA’s spending a lot of money helped your life become easier, it has saved countless lives.

By: kandinskys

kandinskys — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:57:19 +0000

Instead of asking why NASA spends so much money on space exploration…ask this. Why do we spend so much more on developing and making weapons that we hope we’ll never have to use?

How have India managed to successfully send a satellite to orbit the moon for a fraction of the costs that NASA would need? Is it by cooperation and sharing resources? I

By: Blake

Blake — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:09:27 +0000

Several reasons, but most obvious: we don’t know what’s in space, and because it’s so different than earth, knowing might be necessary to understanding nature. Case in point: it was astronomical observations - specifically, of the orbits of planets - that led Newton to developing his laws of physics, laws which form the cornerstone of modern engineering.

Unless you have a compelling case against *all* publicly-funded research (fun fact: computers and the Internet both came out of publicly-funded work), space research well-deserves the funding it receives.

By: Jim W

Jim W — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:38:46 +0000

The answer is simple. If NASA did not spend the money
the stupid government would waste it by bailing out
private corporations. Then the corporations, after using
our tax money can charge us 30 or even 50 grand for a
new car. That way the UAW workers on the assembly
line can still make their six figure salaries.

By: The Professor

The Professor — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:18:15 +0000

Its mainly to figure out a lot of new scientific discoveries. Some disease have been found to not grow in space. If we can figure out why then we can help cure many diseases.

That is one of the many reasons to fund NASA.

By: John M

John M — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:39:59 +0000

The vast majority of major inventions and forward moves in medical sciences have been helped in one way or another by the space program. To push science to a limit where you can travel to another planet or leave the solar system, involves huge leaps in technology, and you benefit from those every day

By: Morningfoxnorth

Morningfoxnorth — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:54:30 +0000

NASA spends the money basically because it would be illegal not to spend it. Congress passes the budget, ask them why they do the things they do.

By: J M

J M — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:49:29 +0000

If you need to ask that question then wouldn’t understand the answer.