Space Exploration

[iceman (Mike)]

Shamelessly stolen from a CN poll.. thought it was a good idea to post it here too and generate some discussion..

Feel free to add you comments about why you chose that option, if you wish..

[iceman (Mike)]

I chose un-manned missions.. why?
While i'd love to see more exploration of Mars and the moon etc by astronauts, where some real science can be done, it's going to be limited.. i just can't see them sending astronauts any further because a) there's nowhere for them to land and b) the radiation would be a killer.

So it means pretty much the moon and mars.. I'm sure there's still heaps to learn about those planets and satellites, and that of course will help us understand how Earth came about, but I think more can be learned by the robotic missions to other places, such as venus, mercury, jupiters moons, titan again, etc.

Add to that, the manned missions are more of a logistics nightmare, because so much more care has to be taken because you're talking about losing human life if something goes wrong, as opposed to just losing a robot or spacecraft. Just look at the Discovery shuttle, how many times it's been delayed to do upgrades for safety etc.

On the flip side, manned missions to the moon to start setting up a lunar base, mining for water/air etc, setting up a telescope on the moon would be way cool and could easily swing my vote the other way..

[slice of heaven]

Yep. Unmanned for me too.
Until they develop a worthwhile drive system.

[Starkler (Geoff)]

A telescope on the dark side of the moon.
Now thats a dark sky site !

Now if only that pesky earth would go away

[ving (David)]

a umm.... telescope on the darkside of the moon maned by me!

[Chrissyo (Chris)]

I'm uncertain. Both groups have certain advantages and disadvantages in relation to science missions.

I'm gonna go with humans, simply because space exploration isn't simply about science.

[cahullian]

manned here simply because its what we need to do. robots and rovers are ok but its when humans do these things we all remember who it was and what we were doing at that time. my first memory was sitting up watching armstrong walk on the moon for the first time. cant remember when a machine first landed on mars though : )

[acropolite (Phil)]

Manned for me, but I think we need to tidy our act up on good old earth first....

[ving (David)]

nah phil. trash earth and flee the sinking ship!

[Jonathan]

I went with manned missions because it creates more public interest which makes it easier for governments to justify bigger spending on any future missions.

[ving (David)]

thats so right jonathan... and yet so wrong. its a shame they'll only fund these things if they think it gets them votes....

oh well.

[mojo (Terry)]

you know. i don't care as long as they save Hubble. or build a really really really really big orbiting scope.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

I reacon Terry they need to leave hubble up there as a finder scope for your really really really really big scope.

Definately manned mission. Bah Robots don't have a "Eureka" response. Nor make hunches from insufficient information. Or take creative approaches so solve unexpected problems/ unforseen situations. Trundle on.

Plus it'd be fun. I want to go. and say hellow to the microbes

[Rodstar (Rod)]

I voted for manned missions.

As others have hinted in their answers, the general public's interest in the universe is really only sparked in big way when humans are involved in space exploration.

The Challenger disaster has become a huge loss of confidence for us in our belief in our ability to get out there into the heavens. I reckon, like getting back onto that horse, we should get on back out there.

[gaa_ian (Ian)]

Unmanned is the go for me ...for now !
Learn more about the moons of Jupiter, Saturn & unveil the secrets of Mars.
Then send the people later (To Mars & Moon)

[Nortilus (Josh)]

hey starkler, if the scope was on the dark side of the moon, then you wouldn;t see the earth, because it would always be facing away from earth. (I think. )

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Definately Manned.

If NASA or ESA announce that they are sending a manned craft to Mars (fictitiously), you can bet the Russians or Chinese will beat them to it! Then NASA or ESA don't have to pay a cent and man still gets to land on another planet.

[astroron (Ron)]

I voted for unmanned because they can get more science for the buck doing unmanned missions and nobodey gets killed in the process even though I hope to be alive when they do eventually land on Mars astroron