Taking one further step backwards (Step - 1)

Space projects are going to be expensive till a beachhead is established in
space. The kind of resources being invested in space related activities at
present is entirely inadequate.

All space faring nations need to earmark a separate budget ( to be mandated
by governments) for educating the public regarding the importance of space
research. We simply are not going to get into space unless the public is
aware of the importance and urgency of this venture.

NASA at present has a budget of 33 million $ for this purpose. Either this
money is not being used effectively or it needs much more.

The promotional budget will be used to explain to the public:

1. There is a limit to the scientific progress we can make locked in the
earth's environment. There is a limit to the roads we can construct, the
dams we can build, the forests we can clear, .........
2. We cannot get into space without making sacrifices. There is a very real
possibility that we can redirect our 'dubious economy', which may be as much
as 50% of our present economy - which does not help either our health or our
environment - for (1) research relating to the stabilization of our
environment (2) for Space research.
3. The answer to the Fermi paradox (why there are no aliens around us) may
simply be that intelligent life is unable to make the transition to space
based activities. Our own window of opportunity is about to close (we have
discussed this issue in earlier posts). Either we get into space with a bang
in the next ten to twenty years, or we may never get there, due to (1)
resource depletion (2) political instability.
4. Focusing our collective attention on our environment and space research
will help to reduce political instability.

Specifically, this budget will make the following possible:

1. Employ dedicated people, whose entire task will be to keep the public
engaged.
2. Will promote human habitation in Space Habs and of the Moon and Mars. (So
far our space agencies have shied away from doing this).
3. Will promote space in the literary fields.
4. Will team up with talented authors to publish novels relating to space
based life and activities. These novels will be based on real science rather
than fictitious science as they have frequently tended to be. (Jules verne's
success as a science writer was partly due to the support and advise
provided by his publisher - Pierre-Jules Hetzel)
5. Will have a separate budget to promote space based books and novels.
6. Will have a separate budget to promote space based movies.
6. ...............

Regards
Selvaraj