Do you consider NASA and it's flights into outer space & the moon as part of Science?

Question

Years ago it was considered Science Fiction. Maybe years from now paranormal will be considered a true part of Science too.

Answer 1

I sure hope so.  Something is going on, it would be nice to get an explanation some day!

Answer 2

Denie,

You are reaching a bit with this comparison.  Although it's true that before space flight was possible there were fictionalized accounts of what life in space could be like.  Those stories varied a great deal though, ranging from the possible to the incredibly improbable.  Whatever they were based on, the ability to travel from one place to another (i.e. Earth to space) was at least based on laws of the physical universe.  In other words, they were stories about things that could happen, but in a place other than Earth.  Paranormal phenomena, for the most part, haven't even been shown to be *real* much less explained.

It *is* science fiction to have contact with space aliens a la War of the Worlds, but the story still follows the known laws of the universe (or at least events that could plausibly happen).  Paranormal phenomena, on the other hand, are generally outside of the laws of the universe as we know them.

I am not one to claim that which is and isn't *possible*, but I will contest that the probability of the existence of many paranormal phenomena is pretty thin, with the evidence at hand and the way we currently understand the universe.

Answer 3

Yes its a part of science. We are looking for answers and truth out there. As far as it being Sci-Fi, well it used to be, and much of it still is.

The paranormal could become a science in the future if studies/ research were ever able to be replicated.

Answer 4

Science isn't a thing.  It's a method of finding out what is true and what works.  We use science to discover things about propulsion, metals, etc etc etc that we can use to get our astronauts into outer space.  We use science to know that so far, every claim of the paranormal has been false.

Answer 5

Yes it is science. And it takes science to accomplish feats like traveling into space. It's an old saying, yesterday's science fiction is today's science. NASA may or may not be good science, depending on the subject. But that's the best part about science, the debate. Science learns through competition and debate.

Paranormal will never likely be science. Some may elect to label  it as such, but it's not. First you have to prove, scientifically, that such a thing exists. Rockets, space, weather, thermodynamics, etc, these all exist. There is no evidence to indicate there is any such thing as paranormal phenomenom.

Answer 6

I consider NASA for the most part a scientific organization. NASA's flight into space and the moon landings were certainly accomplished by applications of science (rocket science in particular). These laws of nature were unknown before Newton suggested them and experimental evidence confirmed the predictions. Before this rockets and space travel was not possible according to any laws of physics because they were unknown.

You are correct. I recently had the pleasure of touring the New Mexico Museum of Space History where on display was a comic named "From Earth to the Moon" by no less of an authority than H.G. Wells.

Some paranormal events are already part of science (by the way there is no true part of science or true science the process is very political and biased). A recent AP-IPSOS poll showed that 48% of Americans believe in Extra Sensory Perception (ESP) and one of the NASA astrounauts (Edgar Mitchell) conducted ESP experiments on his Apollo space flight. He later founded the Institute of Noetic Sciences. Like most people interested in parapsychology he is a highly educated scientist.

J.B. Rhine (Ph.D.) who brought parapsychology into the laboratory and established it as an experimental science and worked with Margaret Mead (also highly educated and accomplished as an anthropologist) to get the Parapsychological Association that he established elected as an affiliate in the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Answer 7

Most, if not all, of NASA's flights are for scientific experiments. So, I'd say it is part of science.

The Rover's landing on Mars, for example, is an experimental effort to determine if Mars can sustain human life so that someday, overpopulation on earth can find a remedy.

Answer 8

Space travel is an application of science. So far, the aliens have been patient with us, and do not feel threatened, as they always did in the 1950's movies.

But as far as paranormal, what if THEY don't want us there?

Could get mighty spooky!

HapWeen!

Answer 9

Good Point! I never thought of it that way.  I'm sure we will continue to evolve and harness present day paranormal activity.

Answer 10

The comparison is so illogical.I just don't know how to answer it.We knew the Moon and outer space were there.Everyone can see them.When anything paranormal becomes that obvious.You will have a point.