Small gains at an incredible cost

[judecorp]

I realize that the timing is terrible and likely disrespectful, but I'm reminded today of my disgust for the space program. What a money sink. What a waste.

And I'm sorry for the people who lost their lives, and I'm sorry that there was another "first" someone in there (but I wonder, why the first teacher waaaay before the first Israeli?), and I'm sorry that there is likely poisoned debris all over the place, and I'm sorry that people are sad, and I'm sorry that a piece of history was lost. (Or, rather, that several pieces of history were lost - especially seven poignantly vital pieces of history.)

But I can't stand the space program. And that probably makes me a shitty American or something. Oh wait - I already am. It just seems so frivolous and wasteful to toss all kinds of money into these enormous machines and space stations and stuff when the money could be used for Earth - for /our/ people and for /our/ environment and for /our/ livelihoods. It just seems like one gigantic dicksizing competition.

(This is in no way a disrespect to khaosworks, or anyone else who is really into the space program.)

Comments

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I'll give you the communications. But is it a trade for all of the fuel used to send those things up, or all of the money spent, or all of the military uses?

Bleh. To me, it all seems like more for the upper class. I mean, if we end up "colonizing" space or whatever, who is it going to benefit? Certainly not anyone without a substantial income. I mean, really - they'd either use the place for a rich person's refuge when this planet goes to crap, or they'll use it as a storehouse for undesirables. Whee!

[dietbubba.livejournal.com]

But is it a trade for all of the fuel used to send those things up

It burns hydrogen and oxygen as its main form of propellant and the solid boosters use powdered aluminum and ammonium perchlorate (yes, I had to look that part up). I don't think we are going to run out of those anytime soon.

Re:

[chaptal.livejournal.com]

All this exploration is a spinoff of the pioneer spirit that's been around forever. Once the poles were arrived at, the big mountains climbed, the forests logged, and indigenous peoples enslaved or exterminated, there was nowhere to go but up. And right in the midst of the cold war, Sputnik went up, and America was pissed and scared.

Nowhere to go up, and out.