To not understand why we can afford to send Tim Peake into space whilst we are cutting essential services for UK citizens?

[Destinysdaughter]

Just that really. I don't get it. Apparently we have no money for the NHS, police, care for the elderly etc but we can blow a shed load of money on this? Think the Gvt's priorities are skewed really badly. I have nothing against space exploration but surely basic needs should be met first? Or am I just naive...?

Btw tamponlady that list is awesome. Mind if I copy it to show the kids in my school?

Yeah sure

OP people have spent quite a bit of time and energy and research explaining to you the benefits of space research, to which the UK has contributed a tiny tiny tiny amount. At least have the decency to acknowledge that your original premise was indeed naive and you now understand the importance of such funding, rather than pick up on the one or two seemingly frivolous side products.

Even the food you eat every day has been made safer by space exploration OP - to avoid any possibility of astronauts getting food poisoning in/en route to space a principle of food safety management system (HACCP) was developed. This (at varying levels of complexity) is now a basic requirement of all food businesses world wide.

This is like 'what have the Romans ever done for us'!

Splitters!

YABU and were from the start but choosing to ignore all the very good points people have made and fixating on the less 'essential' items that came about through sending people to space means YABVU and looking a bit silly.

Op has gone I think.... Prob a bit embarassed at her ott thread

Are you the Judean people's front?.

Fuck off! We're the People's front of Judea.

Pseudo, to go with food, also water purification and filtration has been advanced by space technology.

I agree with titchy, this is "what have the Romans done for us" disguised as a "DAE hate the tories" thread.

I'm Brian!

Your a arse op many applications that have been invented for space have practical uses on earth

Yes, but that was coincidence, not the intent behind space exploration.

You could as well say that scientists should be careless and let their petry dishes become mouldy because peniciline was discovered like that.

If scientists actively worked on improving the living conditions for people on earth, I am rather sure they'd be even more successful!

The priorities definitely are skewed.The fact that space exploration sometimes produces something useful by accident might mean that less money is actually wasted than one might fear, but there's no question about the priorities.

YABU

He will inspire kids to want to do science which might just save the planet

The cost of sending him is less than the catering bill for the House of Commons.

The total cost is less than the funding my, fairly small, university has lost in the last few years. Both incidentally funded by the same Government department whose budget has been slashed by over 25% in last months spending review. So yes the government has indeed been prioritising. Unfortunately.

I had no idea how the space program has improved our lives. Can't wait to share with my kids tomorrow because I thought that the space program had started off as a vanity project during the Cold War but there's some really cool stuff in that list.

OP- Trident costs billions so turn your anger to that project.

Yes, but that was coincidence, not the intent behind space exploration.

i don't think you fully understand the base remit of the space program

Just watched the horizon special on his training and Mission bloody fascinating and inspirational watch it op worth every penny of investment.

Go Tim

Space exploration might be an inefficient way of developing new technology, but directed research is also highly inefficient. If you already knew how to do something it would be easy. But faced with a difficult problem you usually have to try loads incorrect potential solutions before you find the right one. Every one of those tries costs time and money.

Also, scientists search for the unknown. They can direct their research, but so very many discoveries happened entirely by accident I think it's a bit short sighted to suggest that only directed research is important.

What did the astronauts ever do for us?

I haven't rtwt. what did the astronauts ever do for us?

besides the experiments up in space upon their return they do tons of public service and teaching. they are excellent high achieving role models for our children.
the jobs of the future require technological advances, and I want my grandchildren to have jobs in the future.

I'm not sure. Space travel is science, and future oriented. It could be seen as a waste, but in that case what about the royal family? (Or do they create more revenue than they cost)
And I think I saw a post today saying that young couples are being given cash for a house deposit.
I am not very up on the countries economy, but I don't think that there is any real poverty in this country. But there is a lack of health services. Charities are sometimes focussing on what i see as unnecessary things such a Christmas presents for poor people's children. So, I'm not sure. I don't know enough about it

Everyone should definitely read the whole thread. Tis very enlightening.

I love this thread. I love Tamponlady and I love the Monty Python route this has taken!
(May have yelled "fuck off! At a friend across the pub last week for enquiring whether our group was the Judean people's front...)
I think the technologies that have come about from NASA research are exciting, and I don't begrudge the funding one bit!