One factor that keeps these costs high, is the overwhelming uncertainty of damage in space. We have not encountered every problem possible, so we do not yet have solutions for everything. Particles the size of pebbles - some even smaller - are traveling at tens of thousands of miles and hour. This constant barrage of impact could rip apart a shuttle. That is just one danger however...Inside our atmosphere and magnetic field, we are protected from massive amounts of radiation. Out in space, you are absorbing all of the radiation reaching you from the sun. These amounts are enough to even alter your DNA.
Yet another factor to consider when planning space travel is distance. The Earth and Mars only line up about once every two years. This is because Mars is further out, causing their revolution around the sun to take longer. If a shuttle were to launch while the two planets were out of sync, it would take about 20 months just to get there. Imagine if there was an emergency...there is literally nothing that could be done.
Space travel is something most of us dream of, at least as children. However, many people do not understand what all goes into a single launch. Years of planning and double, triple checking details, training, etc. While the space program seems to have slowed down in the past few years, the ideas have only sped up. It will be so interesting to see what happens in our lifetime.
I've never really thought about space travel in terms of dollars and cents. I've always simply thought about what there is to see. I don't ever aspire to be someone who travels in space. I know that seems odd, but I've never been too horribly curious about what else is out there. I am the type of person who would prefer to keep my feet planted on the Earth. I find beauty in the unknown. You make a very interesting point though, the cost of space travel is outrageous. I too, took forward to seeing what will develop during our lifetime!
ReplyDeleteI too loved watching the Cosmos Neil DeGrasse Tyson explains the wonders of the universe so well that pretty much anyone can understand. I couldn't imagine the training that goes into an expedition to outer-space. Theoretically some scientists make living on mars something that could happen in the near future, but when I think about all the things that could go wrong it is scary because one mistake means death. Like you said they haven't encountered every problem so it is hard to prepare for what may happen. There is still too many questions about space I think, I think I just want to stay on Earth! .
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