http://techland.time.com/2011/04/29/lunar-tourism-possible-within-5-years-if-you-can-afford-it-spoiler-you-cant/
A company which is Virginia-based named Space Adventures will be offering the ability for consumers to take a once in a lifetime trip to outerspace. The catch: The trip will cost in the range of $150 million dollars.
Space technology is just one form of technology that seems to be adopting their technology for recreational purposes. These recreational purposes are in some ways replacing the use of technology for scientific research and discovery. Do you think that this shift seen within the past few decades will benefit scientific research or is it solely for amusement purposes? Should this form of technology be available to those who are not specialized in that field simply because they have access to money? Where do you think the line should e drawn in inventing technology for reasons other than scientific inquiry?
Consumers can take advantage of technology, and this fits the main and basic goal that scientists invent new technologies. In the article, the Space Adventure is really cool and compelling, and personally if I have enough money,I will definitely try this. In addition, I do not think recreational purpose affects any scientific research and disccovery, for example, personnel can improve their designing skills, find and solve problems during the process or after travelling. As a rusult, in some cases, it will benefit scientific research. Generally speaking, the rich people always have privileges so they can "buy"different and interesting experience. This really makes me feel a little bit jealous, so I do hope some day this techonology can open for everybody for free or at least cheaper. :)
I clearly think that the technological advancement made in last few decades that are benefiting the recreational facilities are a result of some scientific research. Only because of these researches are people able to enjoy most of the amusing activities. The thing you are talking about has to be carried out with a lot of knowledge. Even a small mistake can cost a lot of money or even lives, so atleast till the time of perfection only the specialized people should be allowed in this field. Technologies should be created for scientific researches and for anything that would lead the human life to a better stage.
Surprisingly, I never thought of the idea you bring up about how scientific research has allowed for these opportunities of recreational activities. But as the focus shifts from scientific to recreational, what factors (if any) will hinder the scientific research in these new technologies (i.e. more time spent having fun rather than learning)?
I think that this will benefit scientific research in a small way because scientists will be able to see the moon more often and study it each and every time that they make a trip with the people. I feel that sending people into space for that amount of money is only to supply the scientists with more money that will in turn help them for more technological advances into finding out about space. Obviously not everyone with that amount of money will be associated with that field of work, so if anyone who has the money wants to give it up for a weeks ride into space, then I think that the scientists by all means will not turn down the money. At the end of the day, its all about more advances in technology. I mean if you want the line to be drawn for scientific inquiry, draw it, but honestly, money is the most powerful thing in this world, and any way it can help in the advancement of technology, scientists will use that way to get their hands on it.
I think that the ability for scientists to be able to view the moon more often is a step in scientific advancement, but for the public it is more of a recreational activity. Although, the majority of people in the world will not be able to take advantage of this opportunity given that the price of the trip is $150 million. I think that if they are going to give civilians the chance to go to the moon, they should be required to go through training because even astronauts who specialize in space travel have to. It is also a big risk taking people there because anything could go wrong, so personally I do not think that even people who have the money to go should be able to. If the technology being invented has the possibility of harming individuals, such as going into space, it should not be used.
I feel like this is a great example of showing how a certain of technology that was once state of the art and used solely for research by leading scientist has become available to the public(at least to those who can afford it). Space travel has been around for decades and isn't has new as it once was, so why should it matter if it is used for amusement purposes. For example when computers came the were as big as rooms and very few people had them. Today, computer are found every where and everyone has them, so it might be a trend that the older technology becomes the more broad it's use becomes. Saying that I don't think a line should be drawn for whether some technology should be used specifically for scientific research and use.
If you have ever heard your elders or seen movies about the day someone landed on the moon, it was an amazing advancement in science. Now, anyone who has money can travel there too? I think undermines all of the work scientists put in. Having people travel to the moon for recreation takes away the wonder that the moon creates. I think there should be a very thick line between science and technology. Scientists go through years of schooling and work to become an expert in their field, so I do not think just anyone should be able to experience the same things that they do simply because they have money. Additionally, who knows what all of the extra trips to the moon could cause in our atmosphere.
However, with all of this being said the trips that people would pay for could possibly create extra funds for scientists to more research which would create more developments in technology.
I think that would be a blessing to scientific research. Because to spped up development of techology, we need time, talented person and money. The cost of the space-travelling will provide the enough money for the further development. The prerequisites of this form of technology are enough money and strongly interesting and curious in this field. If customers have no trend in this field,
they never to pay money for any boring project.Money is powerful hand to achieve anyone's dream. There is never need a drawn in inventing technology
I would say it’s partly amusement partly scientific because the individuals capable of affording this once and a lifetime experience in some way have to appreciate the science of all of it. Besides, research isn’t being put on hold for this it’s just to get the population once again excited into science. Which I believe is even more important since research funds are plummeting each year. I also believe, that research starts to harm the public or Earth itself it’s drawing the line. For example, this trip specifically says they will NOT walk on the moon therefore they are doing no harm and consequently can have a memorable experience and also not damaged the moon or its surroundings at the same time.
I believe that sending individuals to the moon for recreational purposes for a high price tag could be beneficial to scientific research but I also believe that it would be selfish. Scientists could surely use the 150 million dollars people would pay for this trip to further advance their research but is money really worth risking the lives of individuals who aren’t specialized in space travel? And this is where I believe the line for inventing technology for reasons other than scientific inquiry should be drawn, when lives begin to be put into jeopardy. I believe that it would be much more beneficial to send people to the moon who are specialized and educated in the field of space travel rather than individuals with no former training or knowledge of space. Individuals who can afford such a trip should not have the same privilege to travel to the moon as the people who have actually studied and been educated in space travel because the people who are specialized will be able to actually help make advancements in scientific research whereas the others would be using the experience as a vacation. Traveling to the moon is a much more complex trip than a vacation.
Something to think about: You could do a 150 billion different and more influential things with 150 billion dollars (the cost of the trip by an individual). Why should they spend that money on one trip that lasts less than a week than other things that could affect the lives of many? Or should we pass less judgement on how people who have an abundance of money spend it?
http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,2043872_2229122,00.html
^Somethings someone could do with 150 billion dollars
I believe that this quick shift in technology is beneficial to science because without it there are many things we would not be able to do or even think about. It does provide a large amount of amusement but also it does help up develop scientifically. I think this experience should only be available to people in that line of study. It is unfair to make this available to wealthy people when they have nothing to do with the scientific research. I think that the public should be given small, basic and manageable technological resources. They don't need access to something that is not of use, cost a lot or irrelevant to their lives.
Technology like space travel was inevitably going to go down the path from technology to recreation because of human curiosity, but it is not necessarily a good thing. Technology of this magnitude is not meant for everyone. If this technology is being used to take people to space, the scientist are going to have to focus on their safety rather than the research they are supposed to be using it for. People who are not even qualified in the specific field would have full access to it, and could even cause something to go wrong. Not everyone would have access to it, only those with money. It will only help the stereotype that people with money can do whatever they want just because they have money. Some technology should be accessed by the public because it could help scientist improve technology or even give new ideas. But it should be open to everyone, not just people with money.
I do think these recreational purposes is even greater extent in order to provide amusements for people instead of being beneficial to scientific research, for these kind of activities mainly target on rich people with no scientific research experience but curiosities of out space. If I were one researchers,I would never attend these activities for it is not professional for researching. It could be open for the rich, however, then the purpose of doing so is just for money. Actually, people will benefit from both invention of technologies and scientific research; scientific research should be as same important as invention of new technologies.
I think that this shift in space technology usage seen within the past few decades can be used for amusement purpose and at the same time, be beneficial to scientific research. Space travelings are currently unimaginable for most people due to its high price so it is only available to the elites. But due to its high price, space traveling has the potential of making profits and raising funds for scientists that dedicated to the advancement of science. Commercialization of space traveling also attracts privately companies into the field. Most of these companies have abounding funding and are able to help development of space technology and ultimately benefit the entire human race. This technology is currently available only to those who are rich, but sometime in the future, space traveling will become available to most people. I think that there should not be a clear line drawn in invention technology for reasons other than scientific inquiry because technology developed for amusement purpose might not have an immediate benefit to science but they have the potential of making money which will indirectly support scientific development.
Space technology is mainly focus on the scientific purpose. First, I do not think that space technology is just a type of technology for recreation purpose. When the first time American set their first footprint on the moon, it is a remarkable moment which writes down the huge scientific process in human history. This historical milestone gives human hope that living outside of earth may be possible. Instead of defining space technology as a tool of entertaining and making money, it is more appropriate to say that space technology is a way of advanced technology making human dreams come true. Therefore, I think that letting people who can afford it to go to the space is a good way for people to experience or share the fruit of high technology.
I fell that this is means for the rich to only be able to so this. I think that this is something that would be great for everyone to particate in. I feel that this mean should be only uses to scientific purposes but thta will not stop from corporate america do what ever it takes to make a dollar. I fell that this will go towards amusement purposes that is why they are gong to be charging millions of dollars for the private sector.
This invention is quite interesting, but when i saw the price, i am no more interested in it. Admittedly, flying to the moon is an exciting thing to do in a person's life,and it is an experience that no one could forget. However, it is worth to pay millions of dollars to land on moon? May be not. If this 100 million dollars are used in other way, it might help more people in need or this money can be more valuable. Secondly, this technology does not have scientific value. I think technology is better when being used in scientific area. and i agree with josh that it becomes an amusement purpose for people who can afford for it.