Are we talking about the same hubble that was launched blind and had to be fixed in orbit?


While it may have been a great piece of equipment how much of an advance did it make? Would these things never have been accomplished without it?

Compare it to all of the technology that was developed by NASA to send people into orbit or to the moon. It seems to me (a non scientist) that the greater return for the investment is something that may have a real impact on people. The stars they are going to be there tomorrow. What is 2 or 3 years in the life of a star anyway? People's lives however could be positively affected by developments from these manned programs almost over night. The andvances in engineering and manufacture would be felt very quickly but how does knowing that the universe is 14 billion years old rather than 13 billion help us right now. Science for science's sake is great and interesting and all but the general population really does want something for there tax dollars not just some data that a few(myself included but not most of the population) finds interesting. For instance I think it is cool to know how old the universe is but joe blow is more interested in that new composite material that makes his life better.

I say go to the moon, go to mars. Exploration breeds scientific inquiry. Think about all the exterrestral geologists that will sprout up from our studies of mars, science for science's sake will come following the exploration. Thanks. Just my opinion.

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