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THE SITUATION: As the world watched the ill-fated space shuttle Columbia disintegrate on the 1st of February, the prospect of continuing the space programme would not immediately seem the most appropriate tribute to the brave explorers who perished. With underfunding being offered as a possible cause of the disaster, you wonder whether such a risky investment is worthwhile as the global economy continues to be fragile, a war potentially looms, and starvation still exists in the third world. Each shuttle launch costs about £500 million, the planned international space station is set to cost £70 billion in the next three decades, this includes £20 from every man, woman and child in Europe. Do you think this money could be better used to feed people in the third world or the homeless in the western world? The US and other nations continue to invest in their space programmes, as astronomer Sir Patrick Moore sights "you cannot separate space research from any other branch of science." The developments of astronautics can lead to developments on earth in medicine, and aid our understanding of the environment.
However should the basic human need to eat come before green ethics, and wouldn't an end to world hunger alleviate much of the global health problems? Is it time to end what could be perceived as demonstrations of economic might and national superiority? Should we continue to put science before poverty? Post your views.

Is investment in space programmes a waste of money when starvation still exists on earth?

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Ilya, Cambridge, England
£500 million is a relatively small amount of money for a medc (more economically developed country) such as US. It's really important that
American space exploration program continues just to keep up with other countries. On the other hand, the world we live in is a cruel place. Survival of the fittest still exists. Why should America spend the money of their tax payers to battle the starvation of the 3rd world rather than doing something useful for their own citizens?

Tim, Australia
Humans have and always will have a pioneering spirit. People have risked everything to achieve great things, often at great risk or cost to themselves. Exploration has led to many great things and despite what has happened in our history, it has led to the world as we know it today. Exploration has ultimately brought people together. Who knows, if we continue to explore space then one day some of your single readers might me able to meet someone or thing. So at least that's one good thing.

Sara, Germany
I think that the world governments should be concentrating more on world poverty but realistically don't think that you can compare the financial implications of space travel with money spent on aid. Starvation is always going to exist unless a long term solution is found. This can only be found by the use of science. And whether on earth or in space the study of science, physics, biology, chemistry means money. It has to be done.

Craig, Nottingham, UK
Ethically speaking, anybody would say the right thing to do is to allevite 3rd world hunger. If you know your history, Western civilisation was founded by the blood of what we now know as the 3rd world. The powers that be, have changed the question of the day, which you have sympathetically asked. Their question is plain ,simple & rhetorical -WHO CARES? - is the question that they ask you knowing fully well that it is designed to produce an effect rather than to be answered. Simply put, they don't care an inch about third world development, except to exploit, for their own glory & might. The questions of the day will not be answered by speeches & political rhetoric on BBC & CNN, but by blood and iron. The BLOOD shed through disease & femine in the third world, the IRON involved in making armour & space technology, even the IRON hand of the powers that be. Words can never sum up the degree of catastrophe a few powerful human beings are capable of. However there is always a price to be payed for blood money e,g Sept 11,Iraq, Zimbabawe,North Korea & Islam to name a few.

Chris, Eastham, London, UK
Every 35 years the human population doubles; however the Earth as our home is not becoming larger. In fact we are already living from the substance. Within the last 50 years a major portion of all available raw materials has been consumed. The fact is that more and more important raw materials will become scarce in the next century. Even more people will have to share less and less space, raw material and energy. We will have to search for new resources, even if it is just so that we don't fight over what little we do have. The US..Iraq..

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