Space, HUH! What is it good for?

[barry_abs]

sorry for the thread flood, but this has been bugging me lately..

i want to know what USA have to show for their terra-billions spent on space exploration.. what is the end product? when are we going to get hoverboards and iTeleportation devices at argos?

the british spent a fraction of the money developing steam power.. the end product was an industrial revolution with mining, manufacturing, rail transport etc. technologies being adopted globally.. the world a more happy, busy place..

it seems ages ago that man landed on the moon.. what have we gained of real leveragable value? it has cost a packet!

[wendigo100]

It has added to the sum of human knowledge. For example, we now know that there are aliens hiding on the moon.

[2uk]

sorry for the thread flood, but this has been bugging me lately..

i want to know what USA have to show for their terra-billions spent on space exploration.. what is the end product? when are we going to get hoverboards and iTeleportation devices at argos?

the british spent a fraction of the money developing steam power.. the end product was an industrial revolution with mining, manufacturing, rail transport etc. technologies being adopted globally.. the world a more happy, busy place..

it seems ages ago that man landed on the moon.. what have we gained of real leveragable value? it has cost a packet!

Because soon the USA will put nuclear missiles there. The war in IRAQ was the first start wars war with all misslies being navigated using GPS.

[barry_abs]

i suppose space technology has given us GPS and satellite TV.. that's a couple of useful returns at least..

i don't want to think about space as a war device, too depressing.. death stars and all that.. even if it is the only real motive to spend all those trillions.

[threaded]

the british spent a fraction of the money developing steam power.. the end product was an industrial revolution with mining, manufacturing, rail transport etc. technologies being adopted globally.. the world a more happy, busy place..

Oh dear! How did you cost the immense amounts of human suffering caused?

[BrilloPad]

It has added to the sum of human knowledge. For example, we now know that there are aliens hiding on the moon.

Are they hidden inside that double decker bus? Someone tried to tell me it wasn't true - but I saw the picture in the Sunday Sport so I know it is.

[DS23]

Oh dear! How did you cost the immense amounts of human suffering caused?

with the wave of a hand.

[NotAllThere]

Space is immensely useful in the long term. Sooner or later there will be a global disaster. ( Dinosaur killer, super volcano, nearby supernova etc. etc. ). There's a distinct possibility that if we're still only living on the earth then the human race will be wiped out.

There's also a lot of useful stuff up there. The asteroids contain huge amounts of minerals, there's almot unlimited energy available from the sun. And being so big and empty (between the useful stuff) you don't have to worry about pollution.

The space programme itself has developed many technologies of value here on earth. Here's a list.

The most accurate topographical map of the Earth. This data is used to develop safer navigation techniques and better communication systems.
Ultraviolet protection suits for people with rare intolerance to UV light, known xeroderma pigmentosum.
Heart pump based on technology of space shuttle's fuel pumps. It's two inches long, one inch in diameter, and weighs less than four ounces.
Efficient autos and planes benefiting from NASA wind tunnel and aerodynamic expertise.
New metal alloys based on research for the space station program.
Thermal protection blankets used in everything from fire fighters suits to survival gear for cold environments.
Robots and robotic software with wide-ranging uses that include auto-assembly plants, hazardous material handling, monitoring in dangerous environments, distribution and packaging facilities, etc.
Lightweight composite materials that benefit cars, airplanes, camping gear, etc.
Perfect protein crystals grown in zero gravity; used for more pure pharmaceutical drugs, foods and an assortment of other crystalline-based products including insulin for diabetes patients.
Better understanding of the Earth and its environmental response to natural and human-induced variations such as air quality, climate, land use, food production as well as monitoring quality of our oceans and fresh water.
Commercial space communication systems for personal phones, computers, video transmissions, global positioning satellite systems, etc.
Improvements in energy use efficiency.
More responsible use of air and water in private and commercial buildings.
Automated maintenance functions for buildings and new lower-cost building construction techniques.
Smoke detectors for homes and commercial buildings.
Air purification systems used to by hospitals to provide pure oxygen for patients.
High-bandwidth and optical communications systems.
Technology for cordless tools such as drills, shrub trimmers and rechargeable flashlights.
Growth of zeolite crystals that have the potential to reduce the cost of petroleum and to store new types of fuels like hydrogen, which is abundant and pollution-free. This technology could be used in hydrogen-powered cars.
Fire-fighting systems that battle blazes with a fine mist, rather than environmentally harmful chemicals.
Sunglasses that block certain types of light - blue, violet, and ultraviolet - that could hurt the eyes. These sunglasses block the hazardous light, while allowing light that is good for vision to pass through the lens.
Solar power collection.
Air filtration systems that can kill all types of harmful bacteria - even anthrax -- and remove allergens from the air with better than 90 percent efficiency.
Ultralight solar concentrators that gather power from the Sun and efficiently convert it into electrical power. Applications for this technology on Earth are limitless.
Water purification methods using ions (an atom or group of atoms carrying a positive or negative electrical charge). Used in water filtering systems to remove lead, chlorine, bad taste and odor. Newer purification systems also remove contaminants such as perchlorate and nitrate.
"Power Pads" to cushion a horse's hooves, protecting against injuries and helping ease discomfort associated with brittle hooves or arthritis.
Disposable diapers.
Devices for collection and real-time analysis of blood, and other bodily fluids, without the need for centrifugation. Huge potential for hospitals and for remote units to monitor individuals with health problems.
Lighter artificial limbs that are virtually indestructible; based on foam insulation used to protect the Shuttle's external fuel tank.
Computer-aided tomography (CATScan) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for imaging the body and its organs.
Light-emitting diodes used in photodynamic therapy. These diodes are used in a form of chemotherapy that kills cancerous tumors.
Infrared sensors used in hand-held optical sensor thermometers. These devices can measure temperature in the ear canal in two seconds or less.
...

[Pondlife]

but apart from that. What have the romans done for us.

[SallyAnne]

is noone going to say: -

Absolutely Nothing!!

Say it again!!