Just like with the first trips to the moon and the subsequent ISS I can’t imagine the technological breakthroughs we are going to benefit from!

SpaceX just used a booster rocket for a record fifth time.

https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/18/spacex-breaks-a-falcon-9-rocket-re-use-record-with-successful-starlink-launch/#:~:text=SpaceX%20breaks%20a%20Falcon%209%20rocket%20re,record%20with%20successful%20Starlink%20launch&text=The%20launch%20this%20morning%20used,component%20of%20its%20launch%20system.

SpaceX just used a booster rocket for a record fifth time.

https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/18/spacex-breaks-a-falcon-9-rocket-re-use-record-with-successful-starlink-launch/#:~:text=SpaceX%20breaks%20a%20Falcon%209%20rocket%20re,record%20with%20successful%20Starlink%20launch&text=The%20launch%20this%20morning%20used,component%20of%20its%20launch%20system.

We are already seeing great advancements. The benefits for us here in the US and eventually the world will come down the pipe. I hope I’m still around to see some of it. I particularly want to see putting men back on the moon. Permanently. I doubt I’ll be around for the mars missions. Very exciting stuff.

Transporters. Warp drive. Tricorders (already have tablets and phones).

We are already seeing great advancements. The benefits for us here in the US and eventually the world will come down the pipe. I hope I’m still around to see some of it. I particularly want to see putting men back on the moon. Permanently. I doubt I’ll be around for the mars missions. Very exciting stuff.

A one way Mars trip is possible now.  We'll collect donations and send you there.  For the sake of mankind.

I'm not saying Capitalism, even as it should be implemented, is perfect.

It's the worst form of economics in the world -- except for all the others.

I am simply showing hvybarrels that his comment is not fact-based.  That's all.   

You support spending taxpayer money on pie-in-the-sky fantasy projects that take hard working American taxpayer capitol and divert it to the pockets of wealthy elites. That makes you a liberal by even the strictest definition.

A one way Mars trip is possible now.  We'll collect donations and send you there.  For the sake of mankind.

It's not just possible, but being planned.  If you have the inclination to live the rest of your life working on Mars, you should submit your application to the Mars One project.  Since this is a one-way ticket, I've wondered if they shouldn't set a minimum age of about 45-50 for the first settlers.  That would have quite a few advantages, not the least of which is the psychological benefits.  You've already had a full life on Earth, this is a way to get your name in the history books, more mature, less worried about a family left behind, etc.

http://www.mars-one.com/mission/mars-one-astronauts

You support spending taxpayer money on pie-in-the-sky fantasy projects that take hard working American taxpayer capitol and divert it to the pockets of wealthy elites. That makes you a liberal by even the strictest definition.

Not everything is about money.

Not everything is about money.

Money represents resources, or at least conservatives believe it should.

Transporters. Warp drive. Tricorders (already have tablets and phones).

You forgot Gene Roddenberrys version of Space Communism, which is another bit of science fiction technology that does not work in reality either.

Money represents resources, or at least conservatives believe it should.

And technological advances represent potential growth in knowledge that hopefully solve resource-related problems like disease prevention, healthcare, feeding the population, energy, transportation and so on.

I consider these expenditures as an investment in the future of mankind, something that can reward future generations and offer an even better jumping-off point for new discoveries than we started with. 

What you seem to focus on is pouring more resources into the "consumables" bucket, which means by definition it will be depleted one day.  What I'm focused on is taking a portion of the consumables and put them into the "let's find a better way to use what we have now before it's all used up," bucket.

You forgot Gene Roddenberrys version of Space Communism, which is another bit of science fiction technology that does not work in reality either.

I think you missed Roddenberry's main point.  He wasn't preaching Communism.  He was looking forward to doing away with the problems you are focusing on: food, money, ... all the essentials people need to live.

Rather than running to the store for every little thing you need, you just use a replicator to make those things.  Knowledge is the most valuable commodity.  There's no need for money.  Everyone is required to work to his or her best ability.  The sick are taken care of through modern technological breakthroughs -- one being a transporter that can break a human into their molecular components and reconstitute them into a more healthy combination of molecules without the diseases or imperfections they had when they started.  Weapons would have the ability to not only kill, but also stun.  A more humane and ethically acceptable option over lethal force.

Even in Roddenberry's version of reality, there were still resource needs, such as dilithium crystals and other ores and minerals critical for their continued society and missions.  They routinely sought these resources on other planets and traded for them.

So, you see.  This isn't Communism.  It's reality in a different set of circumstances.  What we need never really changes but for the details.

*hopefully

There are plenty of ways to spend that money that directly benefit everyone, including widespread infrastructure neglect that threatens the reality-based economy. No hope required.

You forgot Gene Roddenberrys version of Space Communism, which is another bit of science fiction technology that does not work in reality either.

I'm a technical sort of guy.
I own the entire set of old Star Trek, Next generation,  and all the Trek movies.
It is fantasy, not even science fiction, but I like fantasy literature,
Alice in wonderland for example.  Star Trek is that sort of thing.

But the biggest fantasy is the "Space communism".

Personally I think space life will be more like the "Mirror, Mirror"
in the old Star Trek.  Secular mankind historically,  is not very kind.

The book "Dune" is probably the best guess as to what
governance out in space will be like.

*hopefully

There are plenty of ways to spend that money that directly benefit everyone, including widespread infrastructure neglect that threatens the reality-based economy. No hope required.

There is no guarantee that if you put all your eggs into that basket, that nothing bad will ever happen that you lose those eggs -- basket and all.

Why is it your contention that we can't do both?  We make decisions all the time on how to divide resources, and the world keeps turning, people keep having babies, and on and on...

This isn't Communism.

Techno Communism is still Communism, and it will never work for the same reason that Moon and Mars colonies will never work. They are all based on flawed models, wild speculation, and pure fantasy. The human body rapidly disintegrates when taken off this planet. Never mind the psychological degeneration that happens when people are taken out of nature and forced to isolate themselves for extended periods of time. Quarantine is driving people nuts and we can still go to the store and open the window for some fresh air. If someone is foolish/suicidal enough to desire space travel then let them foot the bill instead of taxpayers.

A one way Mars trip is possible now.  We'll collect donations and send you there.  For the sake of mankind.

Can’t get rid of me that easily! 

Techno Communism is still Communism, and it will never work for the same reason that Moon and Mars colonies will never work. They are all based on flawed models, wild speculation, and pure fantasy. The human body rapidly disintegrates when taken off this planet. Never mind the psychological degeneration that happens when people are taken out of nature and forced to isolate themselves for extended periods of time. Quarantine is driving people nuts and we can still go to the store and open the window for some fresh air. If someone is foolish/suicidal enough to desire space travel then let them foot the bill instead of taxpayers.

Who called anything "techno Communism" besides you?  Technology exists to serve everyone.  The resources to achieve those advances rest with the govt and people like Elon Musk willing to take the risks and reach for a higher level of knowledge.

I see nothing Communistic in that.  Nobody is being forced to pay directly into the "black hole" of space exploration.  Our taxes don't benefit the poorest individuals as much as you've been lead to believe.  How many bailouts have been funded by taxes that were subsequently provided directly to those making poverty wages?  To believe giving more to the public in general will ever happen is naive.  The best solution is to focus that money on things that reap benefits for mankind in general.

It took lots of resources to reach the Moon, but the advancements since then have been staggering.  Resource allocation has to include R&D ... for the future as well as the present.

The problems of space exploration as it affects the human body is exactly why we have to try.  Until we do, we'll never know what works and what doesn't.

It took Edison 100 tries to find a filament that worked in the incandescent light bulb.  He never considered the first 99 as failures, but instead he said he discovered 99 ways to NOT make a light bulb.

Innovation requires the dedication to seek answers after every other attempt has failed.  We don't know what we don't know.

Nobody starts out with a 100% foolproof, proven plan that is guaranteed to succeed in everything new. 

They say necessity is the mother of invention.  What I hear from you is you don't yet think we are at the point of necessity.  If we wait until our resources are at a critical level and unable to sustain us all, is that the time you think we should be looking into space flight rather than now when we actually have a surplus?  By then, you'll have turned to dust, so I guess that's all that matters.

Who called anything "techno Communism" besides you?  Technology exists to serve everyone.  The resources to achieve those advances rest with the govt and people like Elon Musk willing to take the risks and reach for a higher level of knowledge.

I see nothing Communistic in that.  Nobody is being forced to pay directly into the "black hole" of space exploration.  Our taxes don't benefit the poorest individuals as much as you've been lead to believe.  How many bailouts have been funded by taxes that were subsequently provided directly to those making poverty wages?  To believe giving more to the public in general will ever happen is naive.  The best solution is to focus that money on things that reap benefits for mankind in general.

It took lots of resources to reach the Moon, but the advancements since then have been staggering.  Resource allocation has to include R&D ... for the future as well as the present.

The problems of space exploration as it affects the human body is exactly why we have to try.  Until we do, we'll never know what works and what doesn't.

It took Edison 100 tries to find a filament that worked in the incandescent light bulb.  He never considered the first 99 as failures, but instead he said he discovered 99 ways to NOT make a light bulb.

Innovation requires the dedication to seek answers after every other attempt has failed.  We don't know what we don't know.

Nobody starts out with a 100% foolproof, proven plan that is guaranteed to succeed in everything new. 

They say necessity is the mother of invention.  What I hear from you is you don't yet think we are at the point of necessity.  If we wait until our resources are at a critical level and unable to sustain us all, is that the time you think we should be looking into space flight rather than now when we actually have a surplus?  By then, you'll have turned to dust, so I guess that's all that matters.

"The resources to achieve those advances rest with the govt and people like Elon Musk willing to take the risks and reach for a higher level of knowledge."

What we are doing now is making what we already know how to do, Better.
We can probably go to Mars now, but why?  So we can live
like the miners in the first "Total recall" movie?
That is not doing something "new",
so in that sense I agree with our friends on Taxpayer dollars.

Long term controlled Fusion would be "new".
Discovering how to control Gravity
or even what it is, is "new".
How to Null out Gamma radiation
would be "new".
That is where I disagree with the naysayers
and we should forge ahead and use taxpayer
dollars for new technologies.
that we don't have now.

Oahu guys have wasted  money
on a Choo Choo, that will never be finished as
"pitched", is the most expensive train run in America,
will not be used as much as expected, and
will be a permanent drain on your economy.
This is not the best way to develop "infrastructure"
with taxpayer money.
It may as well be a rocket to Mars.

America is full of such Democrat BS.

It may as well be a rocket to Mars.

America is full of such Democrat BS.

The Bus
The Cab
The Rail

soon ... The Spaceship?   

We have Hawaiians protesting against a new and better telescope because of "sacred mountain" arguments. 

I don't see anyone with the same beliefs/viewpoint ever supporting space flight no matter who pays for it. 

Their universe is extremely limited.

The Bus
The Cab
The Rail

soon ... The Spaceship?   

We have Hawaiians protesting against a new and better telescope because of "sacred mountain" arguments. 

I don't see anyone with the same beliefs/viewpoint ever supporting space flight no matter who pays for it. 

Their universe is extremely limited.

Yeah.
Mauna Kea is about one million years old on an planet that is
a little under 5 billion years old.
So I guess their Gods are pretty young.
Kamehameha schools don't teach white mans math
very well.
Don't get me wrong being on Mauna Kea is impressive
at the summit.

TMT telescope is just a facility and a 30 meter mirror.
What makes it work is the instruments that
gather Photons. You don't hear much about the
instrument they are developing.

The James Webb space telescope, if they ever
get it working,  and up there in orbit will way outclass
the Hubble in space, the TMT, or any other telescope on Earth.
Personally once we get the space ones working we really
don't need the land based ones as much.