[Rufus]

We, in the UK have been treated to a 3 day Stargazers programme, on the subjects of, well, ... stars :o
We hear how the nearest planet which could be Earthlike is (I think), 600 light years away. That's further than Clacton to Melbourne, I think.
With space bound telescopes, radio telescopes and detectors of all kinds in and around the Earth, my question is "shouldn't we look in a little more, rather than spending £1000000000 looking out?

[NT73]

Where are you going to go when we fill the earth up with bodies. You can't just up and go, unless the apparatus is there.

On the same day as earthflight there was a program about a family of 16 with the 17th on the way..

[Rufus]

I understand what you are saying, but the possibility of travelling, a: at light speed, and b: for 600 years +, even if ever possible, would mean that the population problem would overrun us many years before we could act.
The logical course must be to address the problem, not run.

But, I didn't intend a discussion really, I suppose. How can there be one? There's no solution at present even worth considering, let alone spending £10000000 on.
Just thinking in text, really.

[NT73]

I read recently that travelling faster than light is a possibility. You wouldn't be able to see where you were going though.

Education is the answer, which includes your thoughts and mine.

[Zig]

I've a feeling the "x zillion staaaars..." refrain from the trendy guy on telly with the lips, is merely the misleading tip of the iceberg, and that plans would be already under way to mine the moon and/or its satellites. Haven't they already come across the tricky finding that the speed of light is not as constant as they thought?

[NT73]

Come on Rufus. It's only about 400 years since everybody except cranks, thought the earth was flat.
How much change have we witnessed in the last 100 years. I doubt I will be around to see the next 100, but at the rate we are going the answers will come. And I don't mean 42.

Neither am I trying to get your back up. It is still a photographic site.

[Rufus]

Yes, you may be right. In 100 years anything can happen.
No, my hackles aren't up, it's ok. I was only thinking out loud anyway.

[NT73]

By the way I feel similar to you, in that we seem to spend trillions on things that do not seem to improve the planet, but is it the planet we should improve or the people on it.
Thinking about the suicide bombers in Nigeria as I write this.
Uneducated loonies who are not satisfied with a hundred virgins in this life. Difficult I believe (not from experience let me say)

[sinatraman]

Investment in space technology has a huge impact on the rest of society. Because of the moon program , we have everything from new fabrics, compputers, improved radar, digital everything the list goes on and on. Investing in space would jump start our economy, encourage our young to become engineers, and scientists instead of lawyers. (yuck) we will have a colony on the moon long before we send anyone to alpha centuri. There is a motherlode of rare and valuable minerals in the moons of jupiter just waiting to be mined.

[Don Schaeffer]

Aren't you curious?

[NT73]

Yes, but if there is an afterlife, I may get the answers before you.

[sinatraman]

kind of an odd question and answer for the Christians unite group? Of course there is an afterlife, depending on you its either in the SMOKING or non smoking section.

[Barbara G.]

Funny sinatraman. From going through some of the old threads, there has been some controversy on some of the old posts, so if you see something strange - it may be.

I like the smoking or non-smoking section! Never really thought of it that way!