What is the reason why the government spends a lot of funds on the exploration of the outer space?

Question

Many people say the exploration of the outer space is economically ineffective. By the way,why does the government proceed it? Let me know the reason. Thanks your help in advance.

Answer 1

I would argue that several space exploration things have produce great economic advantages and decent consumer products.

No space program =  no cell phones, no wireless internet, beds and pillows that are terrible for posture...  the list can go on indefinitely.

There's also the cliche that "knowledge is power" and if we do everything we can to understand the universe better, I don't see why not.

Of course, I would still like to see a better bookkeeper working on the various space exploration programs.  Is it really necessary to spend a couple million dollars to have a bolt shipped overseas when the hardware store across the street sells the same thing for 12 cents?

Things used for space exploration will inevitably find a way to the marketplace, at least in a capitalistic country, because, well, hey, if there's a dollar to be made off of something...

Answer 2

  We havent explored space accept with a telescope.

  We are the government. We would like to get some idea how to get off this planet and colonize mars.

  Technology comes from investments. When we spend money we are investing in our future. There are many things we use today because the investment in space technology.

Answer 3

who knows...maybe , if we almost destroy ourselves on earth thru nuclear warfare, we might have to colonize the moon...or even mars.......but if that does happen that would be way in the future...that is one reason why....the other reason is because humans are intelligence seeking animals...we crave to learn. exploreing space helps fill that crave.....that is what i heard on discovery channel

Answer 4

I would agree with Bill C.  Compared to other expenditures of the U S Government, the amount spent on space exploration is fairly small.

Answer 5

I would actually argue against the validity of the question.  NASA gets half of one percent of the budget of the United States.  And that's ALL of NASA, of which only a small portion goes towards 'exploration of outer space'.  I wouldn't call that a "lot of funds".

But basically, the reason funds get directed towards exploration are simple:  Knowledge.  The more we know, the stronger we are and the more likely we are to survive.  Imagine if we find life somewhere else!  Or imagine if we looked on the other side of the moon and found enough hydrocarbons to last us another thousand years.  Its worth looking!