The Space Race: Tech Drain or Gain?

GA

Not to mention the incentive for education that it would give to a whole new generation.

I don't know why.. but that post makes me goosebumpy and tingly...

Well spoken Moose. GA from me. Many of our technological advances were spawned out of NASA's space endeavors. It has been said that they would have come from the private sector without NASA. While this may be true, they would not have come anywhere near as quickly. Private entities are constrained by profit/loss risk analysis. Thus, many companies are hesitant to take the plunge, so to speak. Understandable because, while success can make millions, failure can mean chapter 11 bankruptcy. NASA on the other hand, is funded by the Gestapo, er IRS. (ie not answerable to the stock holders) So they are not as worried about failure, after a massive expenditure, as a board of directors would be.

Admittedly I am biased. I live on the Space Coast. So, thanks to our Commander In thief, I am going to be competing with a bunch of laid off Space Center Techs for my job in a short time. :(

Well said!! GA

NASA's endeavors also fed national pride and imagination.

I remember watching the launch of STS4, from the river's edge, and a group of Canadians were so so excited that their countrymen had designed and built the arm for this shuttle. I believe I remember their enthusiasm and pride more than the details of the launch.

The ISS will appear as a cash drain whether it is or not as long as it is uncomfortable for humans to live in.

Without gravity your bones go all to hell unless you are constantly exercising.

Sure enough its a nice home for AI robots which we need for use here at home for selective ocean fishing and energy source gathering, so it is useful for that sort of R&D, which could be done out in the seas, which we got problems with how we use below the pressure surface.

Basically it's great, but how it is viewed is another thing.

If spaceships run routes from London to Sidney in a tenth of the time of jet engine powered aircraft, due to ISS R&D, well then people might be happier about the expense of a vulnerable, uncomfortable, metal rock in near Earth Orbit hardly suitable for much more than its own maintenance. Mir got that far, and look what happened to it.