Space Travel

| | | | Should the U.S. Government Support A Manned Space Program at the Expense of the U.S. Tax Payers?1. The Man In Space ControversyShould the United States support a "Man In Space" program? Opinions here diverge, with opponents and proponents presenting strong arguments on both sides.The opponents like to point out how enormously expensive manned space operations are with every shuttle flight costing tax payers some $500,000,000 and with the anticipated bill for the international space station expected to be $35-40 billion dollars. They also think that the returns from such space investments so far don't justify the expense. They suspect that many of the tests on new materials and purer crystals could somehow be performed on earth for much lower costs, either through automated systems on less-expensive unmanned rockets or even in laboratories. They further state that in their opinion it is reckless to spend such enormous sums of money on something with uncertain return when there are so many unmet needs here on earth.The proponents of manned space programs have a difficult time countering these strong arguments. However, they point out that the space shuttle now exists, so we might as well make use of it. They believe that the new materials created in the space environment may prove extremely useful, and that the perfect crystals which cannot be made in earth's gravity will allow us to decipher the molecular structure of viruses. Thus, they may help us create powerful new drugs, perhaps overcoming critical diseases, even AIDS. Furthermore, they state that the space station, which represents the first truly international endeavor on a great scale, will promote cooperation and understanding between nations and will help eliminate future wars.Taking a broader view, there is no doubt that exploration of new lands and conquests of new frontiers have always been creative forces throughout the history of humanity, and have promoted the advancement of knowledge