Friday, January 13, 2012
Sorry, don't get it
What's the point of the Kepler mission?
No matter how many earth-like planets you find in other galaxies, we will never be able to communicate with them, let alone reach them. Physically impossible.
"Finding" an earth-like planet 80 light-years away is identical to imagining such a planet in a sci-fi story. Both exist solely in the mind.
Sci-fi is fun and sometimes a useful source of ideas, but we're spending billions on sci-fi that pretends to be real exploration.
By contrast, Mars is a thoroughly earth-like planet within practical "driving distance". We already have the necessary technology to send a manned expedition to Mars. If we're going to spend anything on other planets, let's spend it on Mars. ¶ 7:05 AM
No matter how many earth-like planets you find in other galaxies, we will never be able to communicate with them, let alone reach them. Physically impossible.
"Finding" an earth-like planet 80 light-years away is identical to imagining such a planet in a sci-fi story. Both exist solely in the mind.
Sci-fi is fun and sometimes a useful source of ideas, but we're spending billions on sci-fi that pretends to be real exploration.
By contrast, Mars is a thoroughly earth-like planet within practical "driving distance". We already have the necessary technology to send a manned expedition to Mars. If we're going to spend anything on other planets, let's spend it on Mars. ¶ 7:05 AM
