Is the exploration of space necessary,

[Urwumpe]

Just like Al Gore also loves to mention, the debate is over.

Well, in some aspects you have to say: Yes, it is. It does not get better by debating again and again the same questions, only because some people do not like the answer.

And if you read the self-description of the IPCC, it is also not their job to repeat these questions at all. Their task is to concentrate scientific results under the assumption of a climate change. Which, as we can tell does happen. Further more, their task is to concentrate on what can be influenced by mankind, as the IPCC's task is to aid in political decision making.

If you keep on asking "Is man-made global warming (I hate the scientific word for man-made, as it makes it sound like a serious illness) really existing" you are not asking a question that was already answered multiple times. In fact, the arguments against AGW get even less (like the measurement that the solar irradiation on Earth dropped over the last 50 years instead of increasing). But this can be done in another thread.

But what does that have to do with spaceflight? Again: All spaceflight agencies have a political and scientific nature, and get their tasks assigned from politics. They are not bound by science alone but mostly by politics. Yet, their scientific contribution is not disputed at all.

 

[Thunder Chicken]

What is it about space exploration that makes it so worthwhile.

This depends on your measure of 'worth'. People spend thousands of dollars to travel to exotic destinations simply for vacation - what do they gain by it? By a cold financial analysis a vacation is a waste of money, people should just put the money in a money market and spend more time at work making more money. I think most people understand that there is something intangible about a vacation that is very valuable that cannot be measured in dollars.

Similarly, space exploration is an extreme waste of money - large expenditures with little material reward (Velcro notwithstanding). However, I think the increases in knowledge and understanding of our universe, and the thrill of exploration all contribute to the advancement of the human spirit. Yes, we could take that money and pay bills with it, and do nothing else. But I feel that if we decide space exploration is not worth it, then we have stopped dreaming, and I shudder to think of mankind without dreams.