April 2nd, 2012
09:41 AM ET
Neil deGrasse Tyson on space exploration
On this week’s “Fareed Zakaria GPS,” famed astrophysicist Neil Degrasse Tyson made his case for space exploration, saying, “There’s nothing that drives ambitions the way NASA does”.
Space exploration means something different to everyone, according to Tyson. He says that to a doctor, it means revolutionary new tools to diagnose breast cancer. To the explorer, it means the chance to dream. Tyson believes that there are many reasons why the U.S. needs to ramp up space exploration and that all of them are valid and important.
Watch Neil Degrasse Tyson make the case to explore space.
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When I was a kid all of us used to dream of being astronauts and going to space. We wanted to be in that shuttle even after the Challenger disaster. We went to places like Space Camp and learned what it took to get there. I look at the youth today and just don't see the same fire we had for going into space and solving the problems with space travel. Unfortunately these days we just don't have the drive nor is our country the same as it was when the space races was going on. Our society is not one that makes sacrifices for the greater good of the country nor do we still believe that something is out there for us to find. It's a sad commentary on our motivation, imagination and our dreams. It's almost as if we have taken a few steps back and have no intention of trying to make the next steps forward.
I hope we can find our drive and our determination again. I hope we can go to places like Mars and maybe beyond in my lifetime. I hope we can "slip the surly bonds of Earth" and find other places to explore and learn from. Sadly that is all it may be though. Just hope.
sadly they are never going to give to the space program like they did back in the days of the race to the moon. its going to be left up to private industry now to carry the torch, and thats only going to go to those who can afford it. the leaps and bounds we made in the last 25 0r 30 years are going to take us 100 to even come close to what we achieved.
at the same time and only time will tell maybe and just maybe the private industry will take the lead and run without having to wait for government approvals for every little thing which NASA deals with and has for years. so i still have hope for our future in space.
Neil Degrasse Tyson is a superstar. It would be nice to have a politicians who think like Dr. Tyson and actually funded science and space exploration with the money they deserve rather than wasting it all on military, useless wars and bank bailouts. As Dr. Tyson says in the video NASA is only a half a penny on your tax dollar. It is tremendously underfunded compared to other government programs. You may ask why is it worth it? All of the technologies below are spin-off technologies of NASA.
MRI's, Lasik Surgery, LCD Screens, Water purification, Smoke Detectors, Fire Fighting Equipment, Artificial limbs, Temper foam, Satellite Dishes, The miniaturization of electronics, etc I can keep going if you want.....We have these things because of NASA. So show your thanks by contacting your congressman and telling them that NASA and Science deserves more funding.
Right..Tell that to your Tea Party affiliated congressman and see how much happens. We live in a society where space science and technology have taken a back seat to war fighting and the development of a bigger and better IPhone!