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AIBU?

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Original poster

Those astronauts must be slightly insane.

211 replies

thinktoomuchtoooften · 01/04/2026 22:09

I mean obviously they’re highly intelligent individuals and must know what they’re doing… but the risks are so huge and they have families. To me it’s just madness.

OP posts:
10namechangeslater · 02/04/2026 07:07

SouthernNights59 · 02/04/2026 04:43

Well I think it is an incredible waste of money and resources, shameful really considering what a state earth is in and all its problems.

Agree 100%

LlynTegid · 02/04/2026 07:06

They are at greater danger I expect when on earth from the lack of gun control in the US and from road crashes where one or more car driver is unfit when behind the wheel.

10namechangeslater · 02/04/2026 07:03

MimiGC · 01/04/2026 22:57

I heard on the radio this morning that one of the astronauts is a single dad and he has given his children his will and instructions about who will look after them if he doesn’t return. This was said quite admiringly. I think a single mother doing the same would be criticised.

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I think that is quite selfish of him tbh. I’d prioritise being there for my kids over flying to the moon.

Boomer55 · 02/04/2026 07:01

If I could, I’d go. Must be fantastic. 👍

Pedallleur · 02/04/2026 07:00

smallglassbottle · 02/04/2026 06:40

Yeah, wars every few years, junk food, trashy media output and Palantir 🙄

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Let's not forget internet porn, influencers, Donald Trump, rich getting richer etc

Tul1pFever · 02/04/2026 06:59

I think USA has far bigger issues in its country on this planet that need sorting first- people who have no access to healthcare, the people forced into health bankruptcy when ill, no social security system, very little green initiatives….

So distasteful seeing billions of dollars burned into the atmosphere when you have the above.

Pedallleur · 02/04/2026 06:58

Met an astronaut once on a ski holiday. Ex Marine Corps helicopter pilot, I asked him about sitting on a firework and he said he was an engineer and knew everyone involved in the launch. He trusted them with his life.

smallglassbottle · 02/04/2026 06:40

LondonRidge · 02/04/2026 00:00

They’re amazing and could transform humanity. It was only a few hundred years ago that explorers set out to discover America … and look what we have now

Yeah, wars every few years, junk food, trashy media output and Palantir 🙄

NotMeAtAll · 02/04/2026 05:56

When I was 3 my parents woke me up and brought me downstairs to watch Apollo 11's return landing. They said I'd remember it for the rest of my life, and they were right. They thought it was too important to miss. I've been a space nut ever since.

I'd go in a heartbeat.

LBFseBrom · 02/04/2026 05:45

Tel12 · 01/04/2026 22:22

I couldn't help but think that we'd be wise to sort our planet out before go looking at the moon.

I quite agree. The moon isn't going away, it can wait.

PurpleFlower1983 · 02/04/2026 05:39

It seems like madness to us but most people who achieve greatness have had to do some pretty extreme things on the way. It’s how progress happens. I think it’s just something us normal folk don’t quite understand.

auserna · 02/04/2026 05:36

Newgirls · 01/04/2026 22:33

Apparently there are some tech issues? They must have amazing trust in the tech team!

Well if you can't trust a rocket scientist...!

auserna · 02/04/2026 05:33

DaveGroh · 01/04/2026 22:22

Fill me in please, I’ve deleted the news app as I was getting anxious about health stories !

Presumably you haven't deleted Google.

dinbin · 02/04/2026 05:32

I get scared in an airplane so obviously not for me but we need people to push boundaries & explore otherwise we wouldn’t progress.

Squirrelsnut · 02/04/2026 05:22

Eggandspoonrace2 · 02/04/2026 03:59

"Allowed to" - by whom? You appear to think you have some right to stop others from space exploration. You don't. HTH.

If you haven't bothered to simply Google the numerous benefits we reaped as humans from scientific exploration before making this daft statement, I'm embarrassed for you. Truly.

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Why so contemptuous?

We've soundly bolloxed up this planet. Why do we need to spread like a tumour elsewhere?

Original poster
thinktoomuchtoooften · 02/04/2026 05:02

BMW6 · 01/04/2026 23:57

Don't be so daft OP.

Why climb mountains? Cross deserts? Explore caves?

For that matter - give birth? Drive?

Hardly comparable

OP posts:
Aintgointogoa · 02/04/2026 05:01

@LondonRidge i think you are being ironic ? Yes, look closely at what we have now...😳 The Americas were alway there, and did not need to be 'discovered' by a prannie who thought he was in India 🧐
The astronauts on Artemis are fantastically brave. I couldn't step into their
shoes !

lxn889121 · 02/04/2026 04:47

thinktoomuchtoooften · 01/04/2026 22:24

The cost is also madness imo. There are better things to spend millions (or is it billions?) on.

there are some good videos and guides that put this into perspective. The costs are huge, from the perspective of an ordinary person - but from the perspective of a nation? Space exploration, even for America, is a tiny tiny tiny fraction of what they spend on other things, and absolutely dwarfed by most other national costs (especially defense spending). When you consider the advancements to humanity, and the specific technologies that have come from it - it is actually a real bargain.

SouthernNights59 · 02/04/2026 04:43

Well I think it is an incredible waste of money and resources, shameful really considering what a state earth is in and all its problems.

DolefullySingingMotherfucka · 02/04/2026 04:17

I think it's wonderful and would go myself if they would have me. In fact I'm available for the next flight if NASA decides it needs more non-physicists with dodgy hips in space.

Eggandspoonrace2 · 02/04/2026 04:09

AlcoholicAntibiotic · 02/04/2026 04:07

Probably not an unbiased source, but there are genuinely a lot of innovations that have come about as a result of space programmes

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/infographics/20-inventions-we-wouldnt-have-without-space-travel/

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Anyone who types in "benefits of space exploration" can come up with dozens and dozens of past, present and future benefits. It was either a disingenous response or an extremely ill educated one, but either way she could just type in "Benefits to humanity of space exploration" and spend some time reading.

AlcoholicAntibiotic · 02/04/2026 04:07

PollyBell · 02/04/2026 03:58

While I, like most people, find the scientific aspects of space exploration fascinating. Given the environmental impact humans have had on our own planet, why should we be allowed to explore space?

Beyond the simple argument that "it is there," what are the actual benefits of space exploration?

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Probably not an unbiased source, but there are genuinely a lot of innovations that have come about as a result of space programmes

https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/infographics/20-inventions-we-wouldnt-have-without-space-travel/

Eggandspoonrace2 · 02/04/2026 04:06

Givinguponmyhair · 02/04/2026 04:03

You dont have to get aggressive just because someone has a differing opinion

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Yes, you should avoid doing that, as obviously you're not referring to my response.

Givinguponmyhair · 02/04/2026 04:03

Eggandspoonrace2 · 02/04/2026 03:59

"Allowed to" - by whom? You appear to think you have some right to stop others from space exploration. You don't. HTH.

If you haven't bothered to simply Google the numerous benefits we reaped as humans from scientific exploration before making this daft statement, I'm embarrassed for you. Truly.

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You dont have to get aggressive just because someone has a differing opinion

PollyBell · 02/04/2026 04:02

Eggandspoonrace2 · 02/04/2026 03:59

"Allowed to" - by whom? You appear to think you have some right to stop others from space exploration. You don't. HTH.

If you haven't bothered to simply Google the numerous benefits we reaped as humans from scientific exploration before making this daft statement, I'm embarrassed for you. Truly.

Edited
Show quote history

I think I can just about cope

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