What benefits can we get out of space travel?

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Lexii

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The benefits need to relate to, but aren't limited to, weather monitoring, disease prevention, or climatic research. Also, if you could give me article link (I have to write a research paper and am having a hard time finding articles) so I can print it out and cite stuff. I'll best answer the one with legit articles with credible sources.
Hahaa, okay. I understand the colonization. But thanks for throwing that out there. The pen? I am not really sure how spending all this money on space exploration is worth getting a pen out of it? And I really need articles, please.
 
The VERY first thing you need to know is that you are being fed a loaded question. We, America, are/were once a leading nation, if not the top nation, in ALL science fields. You may or may not believe this.. but there is and always has been - an out & out WAR against science..! The 'religious' cults are battling CONSTANTLY for their 'side' to be in control of how the populace lives and does things.

I can't sit here and write a dissertation on the subject - you MUST look into it, providing you wish to live under the scientific.. modern way of living. Ever since Galileo showed the world that the sun was the center of our solar system and that NOTHING was perfect - the universe is chaotic & wild..! The Moon - battered and cratered.. etc,etc. They wanted to burn Galileo at the stake..!!!!

Anyway, the thing is, it is space EXPLORATION - not 'travel' !! The only 'travel' we do is the transit time involved for a probe or human controlled craft - to go from point A to point B.

Now - the benefits from ALL exploration.. that goes without challenge. Space exploration INCLUDED..!!! We have so many new 'benefits' - you hardly know where to start..!! From computers to medical science to finding underground products.. ocean currents.. weather & climate information, electronics, communications.. educational benefits.. new materials.. cryogenics, etc,etc.. etc..!!!

We have spent many MANY times the money on WARS...!!!!! KILLING PEOPLE...!!! Killing & maiming our young soldiers.. billions & billions on their medical care.. how about all the orphaned kids left behind from WARS.. and widows & widowers..? Ask your teacher that.
 
If we begin to effectively traverse interstellar space, and actually colonise other planets, then humanity becomes essentially immortal.
 
IT'S PROFITABLE:
Only .7% of our taxes go to NASA

Since their creation in 1958 NASA has spent a total of 458 billion dollars, that's a little more than a half of what we spend on welfare every year.

For every $1 NASA is given, it put $8 back into the economy. So at an average of $8 billion in yearly spending, an average of 56 billion in yearly contribution to the economy, NASA has contributed over 3 trillion dollars to the economy.

IT INCREASES OUR KNOWLEDGE AS A RACE:
NASA is also responsible for the majority of what we know about the universe, our place in it, it's history, and where it's heading.

IT ADVANCES US TECHNOLOGICALLY:
Here's a list of NASA and NASA spinoff technology:
virtually all computer improvements from vacuum tubes to integrated chips came from the space program, all of the satellite technology, hydroponic gardening led to hardier species of plants able to survive arid regions reducing hunger, forecasting weather events, memory foam, the microchip, gps, cell service, plasma screens, rechargeable batteries, microwave technologies, pharmaceutical & brain cancer treatment improvements, semiconductor cubing, structural analysis, windows visual news reader, air quality monitor, virtual reality, advanced keyboards, database management systems, laser surveying, aircraft controls, lightweight compact disc, expert system software, design graphics, enriched baby food, water purification systems, scratch-resistant lenses, pool purification, ribbed swimsuit, portable coolers/warmers, athletic shoes, dustbuster, shock-absorbing helmets, home security systems, high-density batteries, trash compactors, food packaging and freeze-dried technology, composite golf clubs, microspheres, forest management, sensors for environmental control, wind monitor, telemetry systems, fire resistant material, radiation insulation, environmental analysis, noise abatement, pollution measuring devices, radioactive leak detector, digital imaging br east biopsy system, br east cancer detection, laser angioplasty, ultrasound skin damage assessment, human tissue stimulator, cool suit - for multiple sclerosis/cerebral palsy/spina bifida and other conditions, programmable pacemaker, ocular screening, automated urinalysis, medical gas analyzer, voice-controlled wheelchair, arteriosclerosis detection, ultrasound scanners,
automatic insulin pump, portable x-ray device, invisible braces, dental arch wire, palate surgery technology, clean room apparel, implantable heart aid, bone analyzer, cataract surgery tools, magnetic liquids, welding sensor system, microlasers, magnetic bearing system, engine lubricants, interactive computer training, high-pressure waterstripping, advanced welding torch, gasoline vapor recovery, self-locking fasteners, machine tool software, laser wire stri pper, lubricant coating process, wireless communications, emergency rescue cutters, fireman's air tanks, self-righting life raft, doppler radar, lead poison detection, corrosion protection coating, robotic hands, studless winter tires, better brakes, weight saving technology, improved aircraft engines, advanced lubricants,
the flywheel energy storage system, wing design for corporate jets, safer bridges, emission testing, airline wheelchairs, electric car, methane-powered vehicles, aircraft design analysis.

CONCLUSION:
So in the end, dismantling NASA would only eliminate thousands of jobs (tens of thousands if you count the private contractors hired by NASA) and cost us billions in lost money to the economy every year. All that with only .7% of my taxes, I only wish the other 99.3% of my taxes were so well spent. Perhaps we should let NASA teach us something about how to run the country
 
Your focus is off. The benefits of space travel are not yet fully known. But we fully enjoy the benefits we have already realized by trying to develop space travel. The space pen seems like a trivial example, but a lot of people have made a living for fifty years selling space pens. No space program = no space pen. Maybe you should ask the Fisher Space Pen Company about benefits. They are here: http://www.spacepen.com/

Here is a long article with more links: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/space-exploration-benefits.html

Edited to add: If you don't understand the importance of creating thousands of jobs over a period of fifty or more years, then what in the world do you think is a "benefit"? I repeat my suggestion: ask the people at the pen company what they think about the question.
 
The benefits are not fully known because we are barely able to do so. Earth could have more space and we could predict things.
 
Quite obviously the number one answer is the salvation of the human race. The Earth won't be habitable forever. Henceforth, we need to learn how to live in space and create or mine for resources to keep us alive.
 
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