Economist Debates: Returning to the Moon

[ar81]

Hold on now. Economists (and/or lawyers for that matter) could be used to study radiation exposure on the lunar surface. The public might get angry if we used white rats.

Send cockroaches. General public will not be upset if they die...:lol:

 

[Apollo 11]

@insanity

Then why are you playing Orbiter? Or for that matter even on the forum? Humans can do things robots can't. In my opinion the human brain's ability to make disicions far outpowers any robot. We don't wan a Terminator to happen in real life. Besides, I'm pretty sure NASA's going the return to the moon. They've already invested alot into the program. Now, how many missions will actually go, that's another matter, but I'm pretty shure we're moonbound.

 

[dougkeenan]

Send cockroaches. General public will not be upset if they die...:lol:

True. But I was thinking we'd want radiation results on mammals. At least the cockroaches could clean up the gooey mess after the economist experiment concludes. And with luck they'd still be there when the colonists arrive, crawling around all nourishing and crunchy.

 

[dougkeenan]

We Have A Winner

One small step, billions of dollars. Should NASA return to the moon?

Live dates: August 4th-14th

Current round: Winner announcement

Dear Reader,

We have a winner. Sixty-one percent of participants have rejected the motion.

This house rejects the motion that "NASA should not send humans back to the moon." In other words, you think NASA should return to the moon.

Neither candidate can declare victory through the power of rhetoric or logic—the final score is a figure that has barely shifted throughout the course of the debate.

Both debaters want to extend human presence beyond Earth, but each has a different vision of how this will be achieved. Mike Gold argued for the motion, saying that NASA is not capable of doing the job. Nonetheless, most of you voted against the motion. This is even in the absence of any obvious agreement about what the basic reason for human spaceflight is.

Mr Maryniak argued that if we are to choose to explore space seriously, we need the moon and we need NASA. Private industry, and other governments, will follow NASA's lead in sending people to begin the real settlement and utilisation of space, but the world, he says, needs NASA to take the next step. You have agreed.

It will be fascinating to see how the new US administration manages to juggle aspirations with fiscal realities.

Although the debate is over, you still have the rest of today to have your say on the issues at stake.

And look out for details of our next debate. I am sure you will find it just as thought-provoking as this one.

Natasha Loder
Debate Moderator
Science and Technology Correspondent
The Economist

 

[ar81]

It will be fascinating to see how the new US administration manages to juggle aspirations with fiscal realities.

1.Make more allies than friends. It is cheaper than making more enemies than allies.
2.Use the money saved to fund space programmes.

Threats are imaginary, other planets are real.

 

[docabn]

The argument that I would make is that there is a lot we can use threw robot craft and probes. When maritime explorers in centuries past wanted to see something far off they would break out the old telescope and survey the water and terrain and use that information to plot out the best route to shore. Robot exploration craft are just really cool telescopes and should be thought of as a means to seek out safe harbor on distant shores.
The importance of human exploration is multifold. First never underestimate the ingenuity of a man who is about to die; Example Apollo 13.
Second never underestimate the ability of human beings to be opportunistic. Explorers came to the Americas seeking gold, silver. Despite the fact that they did not find much of either, they returned to grow the tobacco and sugar cane they discovered. To hunt new species of animal and simply to go where no one had been, and fill in the edges of the map. In the process they greatly advanced shipping technology and even medicine, as sailors and ships were exposed to greater lengths of time at sea. New nations were founded. New concepts learned.
What we will find in the course of the exploration of space will be no less. But remember Columbus had to beg for the money to fund his exploration and the results of his actions and many others were not truly measured till long after their deaths. It will be no less with space. Keep pushing forward, keep imagining, and keep filling in the edges of the map.
We should not through caution to the wind but and we should find safe harbor, and we should do so soon”… for the crew grows hungry and thirsty. They weary of these tiresome waves and d@^^ the natives, we will brave them too to feel this foreign soil beneath our feet.” Jonathan Stonebridge