So, with the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing this week...

Do you think that we as a nation (or as combined national forces) should pursue manned spaceflight to the Moon or to Mars or beyond? Given our budgetary constrictions, is it a good use of our money when we have so many other things out there that are pressing?

I'm curious to see what people think.

Re: So, with the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing this week...

I went to the celebratory concert at the Kennedy Center and saw Buzz Aldrin!

Yes, I do think we should. Both DH (who is a former astronomer who now works for NASA) and I believe in science for the sake of knowledge in addition to science for the sake of treatment/usefulness. And I personally find it sick that so many entertainers and athletes get paid so much, when so many labs and researchers are unable to conduct their research due to limited funds.

Re: So, with the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing this week...

In my opinion- absolutely not!

When we have so many people out of work and people who don't have home or know where their next meal is coming from (as many of the students I teach and their families)
we cannot spend millions of dollars toward lofty goals and also on frivolous spending.

I'm not saying we should never pursue this an dother exploration but come on AMERICA... let's take care of our people in need first, lessen the deficit( hell a surplus would be nice again) ((Thanks GW!)) and THEN spend money on higher level needs

Re: So, with the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing this week...

Posted by glinda-goodwitch

And I personally find it sick that so many entertainers and athletes get paid so much, when so many labs and researchers are unable to conduct their research due to limited funds.

Re: So, with the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing this week...

I watched clips of the moon landing yesterday, and I have to say, even 40 years later, I was close to tears. It really is a tremendous moment in our history, and reflecting on the risks the astronauts took to achieve this goal makes it all the greater.

While I would like to see us with an active space program again, I do think now is not the time. There are too many U.S. citizens wiith no health insurance, too many living in poverty, and saving our own environment seems like a much more important priority at the moment.

So no, sadly, no.

Re: So, with the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing this week...

Okay, I agree that right at this moment it may not be appropriate for manned missions. But I feel VERY uncomfortable with the idea of cutting any kind of research due to funds. We have become a society where research is only regarded as important if it treats a disease or is somehow useful to us. To me, there is still some importance in knowing how the world works just for our own education. With the direction that research is going lately, I think we are too quick to want to cut it, when I'm sure we could cut back on spending in other areas. I'm seeing this right now in my own lab. Unfortunately, we will probably have to be shut down soon if we can't get more funding.