Space Exploration, NASA, the USA & the Mission to Mars

I jumped into a recent conversation online which took the position that money invested into NASA and space exploration was a waste and could be better spent elsewhere at this time. My reply:

"The return on investment from NASA and space exploration has rivaled or exceeded that of many private investment vehicles. But this is because the gov was wise enough to allow the contractors to use the discoveries extracted from space research as they saw fit. I grew up when all of America hovered around a grainy black and white picture a few inches across to watch Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the moon. It was a very exciting time. The greatness and nobility of America is when we seek the dream - and then pull together to do it. The power of America lies in the ambition of our ideals, not in the fears of our hearts. The strength of America is when we dare the impossible and then do what it takes to get it done, not in worrying about the minutiae of roi or cash flow. The strength of the American people is the imagination to dream big and then stand on the moon. Mars is next. And we should do it.

America should put a crew on Mars because - as John Kennedy said, "not because it will be easy, but because it will be hard," we should put a crew on Mars not because it is something China would do, but because it is something America would do. America should put a crew on Mars not for any anticipated returns, but for the achievement of an ideal; America should put a crew on Mars not because it is what any nation would do, but because it is something that only a great nation can do, and America is a great nation. When we plant that American flag on the red sands of Mars, we do it not to prove to our enemies that we are a powerful nation that must be feared; we do it not to show to our friends and allies that we are a great nation, nor do we plant a flag on Mars to expand our territory or defend our status, no, we plant the red, white and blue on a far distant planet to prove that impossible dreams are possible to a people that dream big."