[Doug]

I think you have to consider that most modern scientific discoveries of 19th and 20th century have come about due to war, weapon proliferation, terrestrial exploration and the space race…..What I would fear is if this money didn’t get spent on space exploration would we still benefit or would we suffer the effects of stifling our own futures because of inertia within the scientific community, we need to explore not only to see what’s out there, but just as important to see what’s still under our feet and our seas……

Drugs and dressings, protective surfaces, heat protection, advances in basic engineering? Advanced fuels and fuel replacements, alternative fibres, food preservation and hundreds of other applications have come out of the last 60 to 70 years of fighting, killing, exploring and experimentation……..

We will all live longer because of it and millions in the third world will continue to starve to death because of it. We have played god and spread our dreams among the stars and we will pay for it dearly.

But ask yourselves what would have occurred if we had done nothing and what will be the consequences of not continuing….Progress is forward motion. Stop and you don’t get any further than an hole in the ground………….Frightening isn’t it