Global Q&A: ‘Do you think space exploration is worth the expense?’

Katerina, Seisi, Malmo, Sweden (The Epoch Times)

Malmo, Sweden

Katerina, Seisi, 32, Pharmacist

Why not? Exploration is intrinsic to our nature. It fuels curiosity, inspiration, and creativity. Space exploration is not a drain on the economy; it generates infinitely more wealth than it spends. In fact, the 2007 NASA budget of $16.3 billion is a minute fraction of the $13 trillion total GDP. The amount we spend on space exploration is minuscule compared to what we spend on warfare, professional sports, and television entertainment, and yields far more positive results. The conclusion is that you never can be certain if our curiosity will lead us to a fertile path or to a burnt landscape!

John Mackillop, Vancouver, Canada (The Epoch Times)

Vancouver, Canada

John Mackillop, 52, Retired Telecommunications

I would say that space exploration is worth it, because it’s proven in the past to bring us new technologies that we use all the time—in medicine and just in the health industry in general. It also is very natural for people to be inquisitive, and space exploration satisfies some of that, and gives us a chance to dream and imagine. 

Faisal Mohammed, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (The Epoch Times)

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Faisal Mohammed, 20, UG Student

Yes, I think space exploration is worth the expense because I think that today the world is spending so much on war, weapons et cetera. In the near future, the world is going to be a really small place for humans to live and if we don’t want to become extinct, the human race may need to leave Earth.

Betty Montenegro, Lima, Peru (The Epoch Times)

Lima, Peru

Betty Montenegro, 30, Gastronomy specialist

I think it is worth the expense because we can get information of all that exists beyond Earth in space. If there are other places, other planets that can be habitable, what kind of life, plants, animals, et cetera? For example: when the first man walked on the moon, it was very impressive and with their experiences, we learned new things. I recommend that those who have a lot of money invest in space exploration. 

Andreia Pereira, Itatiba, Brazil (The Epoch Times)

Itatiba, Brazil

Andreia Pereira, Shop Owner

I think it is good because it would be very hypocritical to think that humanity is the only living form in the universe. I think research into space should continue.

Dialecti Paslidou, Athens, Greece (The Epoch Times)

Athens, Greece

Dialecti Paslidou, 41, Contemporary Jewelry Designer

No, because this amount of money could be given to combating poverty or for better health care. They have explored for so many years and I don’t know who has benefited from the discoveries.

Kaitlan Milligan, Alexandra Headlands, Australia

Alexandra Headlands, Australia

Kaitlan Milligan, 17, Law Student

I think space exploration is worth the expense because I don’t feel we can move forward as a society in the world if we don’t truly know where we come from and how we originated to be.

Maria Jose Alvarado, Puerto Montt, Chile (The Epoch Times)

Puerto Montt, Chile
Maria Jose Alvarado, 22, Saleswoman

Yes, I think it is worth investing in space exploration. There is so much mystery around us—if we look into infinity and many of the discoveries that are used for exploration are very useful here on Earth, such as the resonance chamber and an endless list of things that would be difficult to enumerate. I also have a serious suspicion that we come from the infinite universe and you never know if in the near future we will have to move and maybe we will find a place in the celestial vault.

Look for the Global Q&A column every week. Epoch Times correspondents interview people around the world to learn about their lives and perspectives on local and global realities. Next week’s global question: “What do you think of the U.S. election result?”

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