Majority of Americans Believe It Is Essential That the US Remain a Global Leader in Space (pewinternet.org)

Pew Research: Sixty years after the founding of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), most Americans believe the United States should be at the forefront of global leadership in space exploration. Majorities say the International Space Station has been a good investment for the country and that, on balance, NASA is still vital to the future of U.S. space exploration even as private space companies emerge as increasingly important players. Roughly seven-in-ten Americans (72%) say it is essential for the U.S. to continue to be a world leader in space exploration, and eight-in-ten (80%) say the space station has been a good investment for the country, according to a new Pew Research Center survey conducted March 27-April 9, 2018. These survey results come at a time when NASA finds itself in a much different world from the one that existed when the Apollo astronauts first set foot on the moon nearly half a century ago. The Cold War space race has receded into history, but other countries (including China, Japan and India) have emerged as significant international players in space exploration. Another finding in the report: Most Americans would like NASA to focus on Earth, instead of Mars.

Comments

Moon?

[Bodhammer]

Moon colonization shout be the goal along with asteroid mining. That is the best way to build a sustaining space travel infrastructure. Mars can wait.

Re:Moon?

[b0s0z0ku]

First things first -- space station in Earth orbit, able to be replenished with fuel (reaction mass) via automated spacecraft as well as accepting capsules loaded with people. Then use nuclear-rocket powered shuttles for the leg between station and moon.

Spacecraft designed for travel in space aren't optimized for launch from Earth into orbit, and vice versa. "2001" had it right in the 1960s.

Re:Moon?

[gweihir]

It cannot. Not enough gravity to retain an atmosphere. What people are talking about is building a self-sustaining (as far as possible) moon base as a demonstration humans can survive long-term without deliveries from earth. My personal guess is this will take at least 100 years to accomplish.

Re:Moon?

[MightyMartian]

Because in a century or two whomever dominates space will control access to resources that will become increasingly scarce or environmentally irresponsible to extract on Earth.

Europeans didn't immediately start sailing around the world and creating colonies and trade infrastructure. They started by creeping the coastlines of the Old World until marine technology had reached a point where opennsea voyages became possible. But the point is that those technologies were developed and advanced.

Probes serve their purpose, but it's clear at least that the Chinese have bigger plans, and it would seem prudent for the US to leverage it's nearly six decades of space exploration to meet the challenge, rather than sitting around and losing the race.

Re: Moon?

[Reverend Green]

Most great achievements of civilization are not "profitable". Accountants are notoriously myopic.

Re:Moon?

[AmiMoJo]

Mars makes more sense for a self-sufficient base because it has more resources. The greater gravity is also quite helpful for humans living there long term.

Need education first

[l0ungeb0y]

Considering 1 in 3 Households in the US rank as âoeThe Working Poorâ, Americaâ(TM)s fastest growing demographic and the fact that the majority of US Households cannot afford to send their children to a college in the US, how exactly shall the US remain relevant at all. Itâ(TM)s a well known fact on Wall Street that the days of US economic supremacy are over. Itâ(TM)s all about the cash heist now. By 2035 China and the BRICS will rule and the US will become a 3rd world shithole renowned for it Prison Society and corporate backed military authoritarianism against its population of impoverished ignorant bible banging fuckwads

Re:Need education first

[Tablizer]

By 2035 China and the BRICS will rule and the US will become a 3rd world...

Considering all that's happened, the US is still quite the top dog. China is our biggest rival, but their per capita GDP is about $15k versus $60k in the US. True, their sheer population size magnifies any trade or military threat, but that just means they have a big population, not that USA is going to heck in a handbasket. I don't see their threat as big as the Cold War. US and Soviet Union were on hair-trigger notice back then; it was scary, with too many close calls.

And past growth is no guarantee of future growth. Things change. China has a history of big political turmoil and revolutions.

Re:Need education first

[AmiMoJo]

The difference being that China is on the way up and for the most people there life is getting steadily better, often much better. In the US it goes in cycles.

Actually there is a more fundamental difference than that. The Chinese government believes in making things better for as many people as possible (even if its methods are questionable), where as large parts of the US government think that is un-American socialist communism.

Ignore what the public thinks

[Leuf]

72% think it is essential that the US be at the forefront of space EXPLORATION, but 18% think we should do any exploring. People as a whole are completely, utterly useless at directing policy. If you ever want to do anything important or interesting ignore what people think about it.

Not quite

[igotmybfg]

"Majority of Americans Believe It Is Essential That the US Remain a Global Leader in Space As Long As It Doesn't Cost Them Anything"

fixed it for you

Re:Problems

[b0s0z0ku]

We could do both if we weren't so all-fired eager to get involved in every brushfire war worldwide.

Re:I know why

[gweihir]

Trump as president is just a symptom. Removing him will do nothing about the actual problem.

Re:Doesn't matter ...

[jwhyche]

Very good. I mis-interpreted your intentions. You have my apologizes.

Re:I know why

[murdocj]

Maybe we could blame him for appointing Pruitt and rolling back all the environmental regulations that we've so painfully established? Just so his buddies can make a profit while the rest of us drown in filth? How about blaming him for that?

Re:Thought so...

[R3d M3rcury]

"Monitor key parts of the earth's climate system"

Maybe it's just me, but this sounds more like a job for NOAA.

What does it mean to be a "Leader in Space"?

[sycodon]

If you look at History and the various technologies that have come along, you notice that there is one kind of technology that enables most others...transportation.

Whether it's inventing a wheel, canoe, ship, automobiles, etc. enabling someone to get from A to B quickly and easily is the key to creating the huge, glorious stuff once you are there.

So too with space. Don't try to be the first to Mars. Be the first to make getting to Mars cheap, quick, and easy. Don't be the first to put up a giant space station, be the first to make putting space stations up quick and easy. Don't be the first to establish a Moon colony. Be the first to make regular or on demand supply runs to that colony.

So focus on launch capabilities and, once in space, the ability to go from A to B without years of planning and relying on being shot across space on chemical rockets.

Re:What this poll doesn't say:

[PPH]

I read the first 10 pages. Is that enough?