Originally posted by PennyQ
Let me ask you something.... if the space/moon missions are discontinued or delayed,
How many people will be out of a job because they work for the very businesses that build, service and supply the space program?
There is a huge infrastructure involved in going to space and the money is spent in the community, not in space.
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Let’s say President Obama allocates $100 billion dollars to the moon programme. That’s taxpayer’s monies. Once the programme completes and every
dollar paid out, that’s $100 billion gone. The workers paid, foreign imports debts settled and as the infrastructure is completed, they too will not
be needed and will add to unemployment figures.
US will have a base on the moon. But for what purpose? Scientific observation while humans are being starved on Earth? What are the economic returns?
Helium 3, and the high cost for transportation when we are harnessing other forms of energy?
Now compare to this instead:-
President Obama allocates $10 billion dollars to scientific research on for example; exotic rocket propulsion. Test facilities will be created and
workers paid. Once they succeed, the rocket propulsion systems can be incorporated onto future manned flight into space.
BUT the spin-offs will come from selling the patents to the aircraft companies around the world, to use its technologies to improve their passenger,
military and cargo fleets as well as any other tech that needs improvements.
The returns will be tenfold and more into the treasury for social spending and even future space programmes.
The rest of the $90 billion will be used to fund entrepreneurs and help them get started on creating jobs and buying equipment/research on needs.
When they succeed, these enterprises and workers will bring in taxes far exceed the amount spent, and will continue to grow as they improve on tech
and productivity to meet needs into the future.
Which do you choose now? A lonely outpost on the moon at $100 billion or a future $1 trillion to fly to the stars and search for economic resources
far beyond the moon?