to think that discovering if the moon has water on it is a bit of a big boys' toys indulgence?

[holeyteatowel]

I mean- there's world wide poverty, there's a world wide recession, there's no public healthcare system in the US... I could go on.And yet- there's always cash sloshing about for these space missions. I am delighted for Saturn that it has another big old ring, I am chuffed that Mars can support life. BUT all this space stuff is really just an expensive hobby? An over-indulgence which is mainly of no specific use to us. They want to see if the moon has water- why? So they can put a big station up there. Why? Erm....
AIBU?

No it is important - we may be able to use it as transportation place - if there is water

Isn't water a sign that life can survive? I understand you reasons but as the human race we have always tried to dicsover stuff. It is for the advancement of our society. If we did not try to find things out then we might not be able to develop and overcome some of the problems we have with our world.

YABU. Scientific research and exploration for the sake of it has led to so many unexpected discoveries and uses. The world would simply not be the same today if everything had to have a direct and obvious practical application.

'Cos we'll probably need to move there when we've fucked this planet up!

YABU...to misquote Sam Seaborne, the story of mankind is the journey of exploration. People will still be starving and in need of healthcare whether we explore the moon or not, it really doesn't work that way.

Bread and roses. No point feeding your stomach if your soul starves.

Yes yabu. Totally.

There is nothing more exciting than finding out about the rest of the universe. How can that not thrill you? There is so much we don't know about the fantastic place we live.

Yes there are huge problems in the world. But are you honestly telling me that if we stop spending on scientific research, we will suddenly start solving all the worlds ills with the extra money? Because I'd be willing to bet that wouldn't happen.

I understand man's need to discover new things, but why are we not concentrating the finest minds on climate problems, and using money to solve what is going on in the world now? It seems that there are a lot of positive solutions being mooted to global warming, but prevented because of money.

Not quite as simple as 'You, fine mind, concentrate on climate change'.

YABU - pooexplosions said it

Maybe I am bit idealistic. Thanks for your points of view.

there are a lot of positive solutions to global warming which will effect private companies profit and being political the ideas are mooted as the companies and the goverments are intertwined with each other

YABU. Have you been reading Deception Point?

Italics intended in that last post!

I agree with you. I'm not a great believer in climate change being driven by man as opposed to the cyclical nature of the planet, but if we have buggered up this one, and we certainly have buggered up some parts of it, then that's reason enough to leave everything else alone. We were given this planet to 'play' with; the rest of the universe is none of our business. If it was, we wouldn't need oxygen tanks and funny little spaceships to visit it.

to the op, so that people can go and live ont he moon is the simple answer.
why did christopher columbus sail to america? why did captain cook go to australia? exactly the same reasons why we are now bombing the moon.