A Question Of Priorities

Space program lunacy, opinion, LA Times

“It’s easy to be mesmerized by the promise of deep-space exploration by astronauts in otherworldly space suits. After all, the “Star Trek” franchise didn’t hook its followers with tales of white-coat scientists crunching numbers over slide rules. But NASA’s idealism is seriously endangering the world’s ability to track its own changing and more dangerous climate. Indeed, one of the most popular complaints about space exploration is that it wastes billions of dollars that could be better spent on problems here. With global warming an increasing threat, NASA has a chance to prove what it has long asserted that a space program provides practical benefits to Earth-bound humanoids.”