Grand-Scale reasons to Explore Space: How we all benefit

How has space exploration affected our daily life? Why should we continue to explore this frontier? Science fiction author David Brin discusses the technology payoffs of the space program.
If NASA had received a mere 1% royalty on all technological spin-offs of the space program, its budget would be covered. For starters consider communication, navigation, reconnaissance & weather satellites, GPS, solar cells, fuel cells, microelectronics, image processing, robotics, CCDs, a generation of scientists, engineers, teachers & artists inspired. Where would we be without these? We must invest in tomorrow
David is the author of books such as The Postman, Startide Rising and The Uplift War. visit
For more information about David Brin, visit his website: http://www.davidbrin.com/
Follow him on Twitter: http://twitter.com/DavidBrin1
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/David-Brin/22358129265

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Science & Technology

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[ajn158]

We will go into space, the reason is simple. Entropy & Economics.

We refine minerals to create products, but the products (generally) have a lower concentration of the minerals than the original ore. The lower the concentration of minerals, the higher energy costs to refine the minerals.

It wont be much longer before mining our solar system will be cheaper (use less energy) than recycling (of rare minerals).

[Nightbringer2000]

I agree, in a country that spends more on "National Defense" than every other country in the world combined, the military budget could be shrunk by anywhere from 10-25% and still suffer no ills and be no worse for it. That money could then be redirected to our education programs and yes space programs too.

Ignorance is a key contributor to a lot of our national and personal problems, education can help fix that.

[flashvideofan]

Excellent point regarding guilt.

There are people starving across the world but decades of foreign aid has only succeeded in making many countries (predominantly in Africa) virtually dependent on US grain excesses.

Birth control pills, condoms and education would be cheaper and have a much more far reaching effect.

It is not up to US or European citizens to solve other country's problems. Help and advise them yes, donate for specific disasters but not year on year, and then quit worrying.

[Architectonic01]

The debate is usually manned space exploration vs unmanned...

[ZombieDawg]

Pride in accomplishment for the win!

[Doom3111]

David Brin.....one of the best

[Jacnas]

I think Cameron was making more of a statement about humans, not about technology. Though I haven't seen the movie, I've seen an interview with him and people who liked Avatar generally point to the character played by Sigourney Weaver as a model of a 'good scientist/scholar'. Other than that, great video.