Space Exploration

A: I often think about space and why we spend so much money trying to go to the stars. It really doesn’t make much sense when you think about it .

B: But, that is where the future lies. This is the new frontier of science and, it has to be explored because it is there for the taking.

A: Isn’t that half the problem? It’s the same old story-first come first served-it will be no different to the colonization on Earth.

B: No. Not at all! Space exploration will be a united effort by all the nations on Earth and it will be for the good of mankind.

A: Very noble I’m sure but, why are we spending so much money to get there when there are still so many problems to be solved on Earth?

B: But, think of all the things we could find up there.

A: You are getting carried away by all the Science Fiction crap that gets dumped on us ad infinitum. Will the exploration of the planets ever become an economic reality?

B: You sound like a real skeptic. Don’t you have any faith in the future and our need to go to the stars?

A: Hey mate! We can’t even look after this planet let alone live together so, how in the hell are we ever going to look after the galaxy?

B: That’s not fair. We can’t stop exploring the stars because there are problems on Earth.

A: Why not? The only exploration that will ever be done will be because someone can make a profit out of it.

B: No! That’s not true. We will find things on the planets that we don’t have on Earth and it will benefit all mankind.

A: So, where will this exploration start? Will it be the Moon because that is the closest planet?

B: Actually, the Moon isn’t a planet. It doesn’t revolve around the Sun; it revolves around the Earth and is a satellite, like the ones we put in space.

A: What is the closest planet and how are we going to get there?

B: I would imagine we could explore the Moon first and use it as a staging base to go to the other planets.

A: What other planets would we be going to?

B: Mars would be the most likely as it is the closest one with a climate we could handle. The average temperature is only minus 63 degrees centigrade.