Space exploration benefits a small number of scientists in their quest to gain a better understanding of the universe. However, the money would be better spent on something more strategic, such as renewable energy storage, which would ultimately benefit everyone.
David Morgan, Workington, Cumbria
One of the more attractive facets of human nature is curiosity and the desire to accumulate knowledge. ExoMars is a good example of this and is money well spent.
David Andrews, Peterborough
The benefits of space exploration are immeasurable, since we don’t know what we will find. If, on the other hand, we find nothing, then it is a waste of money.
Jamie Davies, Llantrisant, Mid Glamorgan
I’d like to know the answer, so I am willing to contribute my €2.60 – €1.3 billion
divided by around 500 million Europeans – to get an answer.
Kevin Long, Germany
This is a mission that makes us think about the future. Whether we are ‘to boldly go’ or ‘to go boldly’: that is the question we should be looking at. The alternative is ‘not to go at all’, and that seems such a waste of all the effort our ancestors have put in to get us to where we are now. Perhaps we should return to the caves.
Matthew Waterhouse, Calveley, Cheshire
It’s probably worth maintaining some capability for space travel, just in case we ever need to leave this planet.
Steve Porter, Basingstoke
I don’t see the immediate benefits of this mission, and would be more than happy to spend the money on medical resources, such as a cure for cancer. Let’s look after mankind on this planet first before we meet the Martians.
David Mee, Newcastle upon Tyne
I would like to be certain that life on Mars would be friendly before I spend too much money trying to find it.
Nicholas Easby, Berkeley, Gloucestershire
Space exploration has always pushed the boundaries of scientific knowledge. The knock-on benefits of this new knowledge always seem to play back into everyday uses, as with Teflon coating. As long as we keep pushing the boundaries, we keep developing as a human race.
Mike Davies, Cirencester
I don’t want to rain on anyone’s technological parade but, given the crises facing planet earth, I would have thought that we could be investing the money closer to home and more wisely than searching for little green men on a planet where the atmosphere has even more carbon dioxide (95%) than ours. And remember, ¤1.3 billion is only the start – it won’t get us far along the 401 million kilometre road.
Andy Brown, Gloucester
€1.3 billion sounds a lot to go looking for little green microbes. The ramifications for mankind on the basis that life creation may be possible outside planet Earth might not be realised for generations to come. However, the technology spin-offs from this kind of endeavour can be much more immediate. On balance, I’d rather the UK is a significant contributor to the supply chain than be sitting outside it, thumbing our nose, saying ‘what a waste of time and money’.
Rob Johnson, Stockton-on-Tees
Space exploration projects are beneficial in two ways. Firstly, they give science and engineering clear goals that stretch our collective capability, resulting in research and development that typically have other applications. Secondly, they are a truly global activity, as no single nation can afford to pursue such a project on its own and collaboration is always beneficial.
Anonymous
Pros: pushes the boundaries of technology, which has benefits on earth. Cons: I feel sorry for life on other planets if the human contagion reaches it.
Mel Plumridge, Crick, Northamptonshire (third planet from the sun)
While I am not convinced that the ‘are we alone?’ question needs to be answered, the exploration of space does help all mankind, if only with spin-off technologies, education and inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers.
Ash Dhir Warwick, Cirencester
Humankind is right to explore the wonders of the universe. Who knows what we
might find there and its potential benefits to us here on earth. But... is there really
life on Mars?
Alan Holbrook, Thakeham, West Sussex
It sounds like a waste of money but the only way to ensure the long-term continuation of the human species is to establish colonies elsewhere in the universe.
Richard Anderson, Stocksfield