Originally Posted by
MEMpilot
I couldn't agree more. I'm almost certain that if the space industry was public that we'd be doing alot more human exploration. For one, the Space Shuttle is a piece and in my opinion, an enormous waste of money. I miss the good old days of going to the moon...
No, companies need to make money. What money is there to be made in sending people to orbit or to the moon? What financial motivation would a private company have for space exploration?
What benefit is manned space flight other than a thrill for the people going? People are expensive. Remember that industry gains profit when excess need for people is eliminated. (Think robots on an assembly line, and no Flight Engineer in a 777). Are unmanned operations not quicker/cheaper/faster/as well as more capable due to being able to tolerate things humans can't? (remember that unmanned fighter aircraft that pull gs that humans can't take are coming)
The Space Shuttle was and still is the ultimate for it's purpose. Do you know of anything better that is
currently operational?
No, space exploration is not profitable for a company, and it may be questionable for a government to divert much needed resources that are needed inside our atmosphere.