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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
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 OPINION 
7

Leave Space to Robots

President Obama would be well-served by removing costly manned exploration goals

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(Newser) – Barack Obama is poised to chart a new direction for America’s exploration of the final frontier, writes the Economist. While George W. Bush supported continuing manned space exploration in the tradition of the previous century, Obama is considering scrapping some of NASA’s planned upgrades to the space shuttle program. This would leave space exploration to the robots, an idea the Economist heartily endorses.

Obama may devote part of the space budget to scores of new satellites for monitoring earth, a “domestic policy” that gets another thumb-up from the magazine. But the recent discovery of methane on Mars shows that humans cannot completely abandon the galaxy’s outer reaches. With robots currently “better and cheaper” than ever, unmanned missions are the perfect way to keep exploration going for less money.

Data confirms there is methane in Mars' atmosphere, and while it's possible the gas is produced by biological sources, it behooves us to send robots, not humans, to find out, the Economist writes.
Data confirms there is methane in Mars' atmosphere, and while it's possible the gas is produced by biological sources, it behooves us to send robots, not humans, to find out, the Economist writes.   (NASA)
An engineering model of the 2009 Mars Science Laboratory, dubbed
An engineering model of the 2009 Mars Science Laboratory, dubbed "Scarecrow," makes its way down a hill in the "Mars Yard" at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.   (NASA)
Unmanned vehicles are a much cheaper, safer way to explore outer space, writes the Economist; President Obama would do well to cut manned missions, given other priorities back on Earth.
Unmanned vehicles are a much cheaper, safer way to explore outer space, writes the Economist; President Obama would do well to cut manned missions, given other priorities back on Earth.   (NASA)
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Robots ... can work tirelessly for years, beaming back data and images, and returning samples to Earth. They can also be made sterile, which germ-infested humans, who risk spreading disease around the solar system, cannot. - the Economist

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riffran
Jan 24, 09 3:59 AM CST
on a tech level, and not on a political level........Space exploration is not going to happen with an "either man or machine" approach. There will have to be a multi-faceted approach. There will also have to be a few more leaps in propulsive technology, and in power production, to run it. Cosmic radiation is also a concern, and the effects of microgravity......But until it becomes "PROFITABLE" I don't see a whole lot happening soon. But I would love to see it....Warp factor two Mr.Sulu.....engage......lol..riff Reply
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LapsedPacifist
Jan 24, 09 5:20 AM CST
Machines perform best at tasks which require no original thinking. Therefore I believe we ought to replace the anti- space travel pundits with robots. Reply
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MarkFL
Jan 24, 09 10:54 AM CST
The toughest part is that if we abandon manned missions, we will never know what we are missing. It sounds like a pragmatic idea but it is a little depressing that we all must abandon our collective scifi fantasies! Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
gregconquest
Jan 24, 09 5:23 PM CST
Focusing on robotic missions now does not mean "abandoning" human exploration of space forever. We can just get a LOT more data for our dollars now using probes and other robotic missions. As we get more data, we'll be better prepared to send humans deeper into space. A human mission to Mars now is nothing more than a neo-con attempt at breaking the bank.
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Doctor_Zaius
Jan 24, 09 6:19 PM CST
What if instead of climbing Mt. Everest or going to the South Pole we just put a picture taking probe there? How would that have inspired humanity? Reply
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