Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

What’s the value of space?
The Space Review ^ | 06/19/06 | Jeff Foust

Posted on 06/19/2006 7:23:48 PM PDT by KevinDavis

One of the long-running challenges faced by proponents of space exploration has been finding compelling reasons to sell such efforts—particularly big-ticket government programs—to the general public. This is a challenge in large part because, at least in the United States, there are few coherent attitudes about space. Public reaction to space in general and NASA in particular is a mix of wonderment, primarily in response to images returned by the Hubble Space Telescope, Mars Exploration Rovers, and other missions; and skepticism about the costs, risks, and problems associated with the shuttle, station, and the new exploration initiative. The prevailing attitude, though, might best be classified as apathy: most people pay little attention to space on a day-to-day basis—and have little reason to do so.

In an effort to form a strategy to help sell space programs more effectively to the public at large, the AIAA organized a forum on Capitol Hill June 12 titled “Making the Business Case for Space: Where’s the Value?”. A panel of experts from the public and private sectors weighed in on the issues associated with raising awareness about space with the public. However, if the results of that session are any indication, the space community has a long way to go before it can hope to change the attitudes of the general public.

(Excerpt) Read more at thespacereview.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: space; thefinalfrontier

1 posted on 06/19/2006 7:23:49 PM PDT by KevinDavis
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: RightWhale; Brett66; xrp; gdc314; anymouse; NonZeroSum; jimkress; discostu; The_Victor; ...

2 posted on 06/19/2006 7:24:16 PM PDT by KevinDavis (http://www.cafepress.com/spacefuture)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: KevinDavis
What is the value of space?

Too much space between John Kerry's ears caused him to lose a presidential election. I'd say that space has a very high value.

3 posted on 06/19/2006 7:32:57 PM PDT by 69ConvertibleFirebird (Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: KevinDavis

Space beyond earth orbit has no value except as a venue in which to shock and awe our world competitors. If the 1967 UN Outer Space Treaty is withdrawn from, then space can be developed into extreme commercial value.


4 posted on 06/20/2006 8:27:05 AM PDT by RightWhale (Off touch and out of base)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson