Why Does the US Have a Civil Space Program?

BDew writes "The Presidents of the National Academy of Science and the National Academy of Engineering have commissioned a study on the Rationale and Goals of the US Civil Space Program. In short, the Academies are asking why the nation has a civil space program (including human, robotic, commercial, and personal spaceflight). The study is intended to provide a strategic framework for the nation's activities in space that can provide consistent guidance in an increasingly interconnected world. The members of the study committee are interested in the views (positive or negative) of the general public, particularly those people with a scientific and/or technological interest."

Comments

Why?

[Werkhaus]

Because it's polite.
An uncivil space wouldn't get much in the way of positive press.

Re:Why? As if you have to ask.

[camperdave]

Well, considering that Space is a vacuum, shouldn't that be: because it's not there!

Great idea

[moderatorrater]

That sounds like a fantastic idea for a book.

Re:Great idea

[ozmanjusri]

That would be a pretty cool way to spur the development of a species.

I've been trying something similar with a nest of ants in my back yard.

They're not doing very well so far.

Re:Let's rephrase : scientists say, kill manned sp

[dontmakemethink]

The military seems to have zero interest in maned space flight due to 4 issues.

1) Why send a person when you can send a bomb?
2) It's hard to do stealthy reentry.
3) How do you get people home once they are there?
4) It cost way to much to send enough people do do something meaningful vs flying someone in from a near by base.

5) Aliens aren't known to have any oil
6) Haliburton doesn't supply freeze-dried ice cream
7) "Shock & Awe" doesn't have much effect in space since the explosions are dwarfed by supernovas
8) We can't generate a warp signature for the Vulcans to detect yet