Because exploration drives science. Science solves problems. You want to solve the world's problems? You have to explore.
Long form:
Necessity is the mother of invention. Two things historically have been the major sources for inventions - exploration & war. Exploration has the added benefit of discovering new sources of things for science to play with as well as providing problems for science to solve. There are many forms of exploration. Space is only one but it's the most logical "next step" other than the oceanographic areas. (plus, solving space problems tends to solve oceanographic ones & vice versa - something about dealing with adverse environments? *G*)
Then hit 'em with examples - Katrina or the Tsunami for instance. 100 years ago, how much higher would the death toll have been? NOT just from the fact that satellites provided warning & notification once the disaster occurred.
Then start over with the next group of peopel - it takes a LOT of repetition. Unfortunately, a lot of the folks who don't like space don't tend to like history much either. :(
no subject
Because exploration drives science. Science solves problems. You want to solve the world's problems? You have to explore.
Long form:
Necessity is the mother of invention. Two things historically have been the major sources for inventions - exploration & war. Exploration has the added benefit of discovering new sources of things for science to play with as well as providing problems for science to solve. There are many forms of exploration. Space is only one but it's the most logical "next step" other than the oceanographic areas. (plus, solving space problems tends to solve oceanographic ones & vice versa - something about dealing with adverse environments? *G*)
Then hit 'em with examples - Katrina or the Tsunami for instance. 100 years ago, how much higher would the death toll have been? NOT just from the fact that satellites provided warning & notification once the disaster occurred.
Then start over with the next group of peopel - it takes a LOT of repetition. Unfortunately, a lot of the folks who don't like space don't tend to like history much either. :(