Several weeks after Curiosity landed on Mars, one of the older rovers, Opportunity, found small balls of hematite on the surface. The article states that the iron balls, or "blueberries," indicate the presence of water. However, these blueberries were formed by microbes. This discovery lends further proof for life on Mars.
Due to the small size of these orbs, it is obvious that anything that isn't on the planet's surface would not be able to see them. This is why we needed those rovers: to look for the hard-to-find stuff. To discover more about the universe, and our immediate solar system, we need to focus on space exploration. Exploration of space will continue to answer many questions that were previously unable to be answered.
Sadly, the funding for NASA has been cut dramatically. Instead of focusing on scientific advancement, our government is spending money on wars that we don't need to be fighting. I honestly think that the US needs to reconsider its budget. As mentioned in class, America has a tendency to play the "reluctant hero" and get involved with conflicts that it doesn't need to. this attitude keeps us engaged in wars across the world, wars which only seem to bring death and debt. The government needs to put more money towards things that will help us, not cause problems for everyone. However, I do not know if anyone else thinks the same way. Do you think that space exploration is important enough to invest in it more?
I agree that investigating and discovering more about space is very interesting but I do not think it is necessary. Our country is currently in deep debt and according to the New York Times 46.2 million Americans are currently living under the poverty line. Which shows that we do need a lot economical help. Not only that, but people all over the world are dyeing everyday due to starvation and lack of resources, these people need money to sustain there life. With this going on in our world it is ridicules to spend money on exploring our solar system. I believe it is our job as powerful Americans to help those whom are in need, and that requires us to utilize all our resources. Although I think space exploration is very interesting I do not think that this is a good time to invest in it.
ReplyDeleteI would second Alana's view that this may be an inconvenient time to focus on offworld exploration; however, I would point out that, as Sean originally observed, funds are being diverted not to fight "starvation and lack of resources" but rather to fight "wars across the world". Furthermore, discovering life on extraterrestrial objects, such as Mars, could have significant impact back home. A number of potent medical advances have come from the discovery of lifeforms in unique and isolated locations, including the sea floor and the deep Amazon. Might there not be enormous potential to be found in even more removed genomes?
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