Research in space: in search of meaning

H umans have been going into space for a number of reasons: to “beat the other side” during the Cold War, out of curiosity, to make the first tentative steps into the great beyond or simply “because it’s there”. Yet, to justify continued or even a permanent presence of humans in space now requires better arguments: the aggressive space programmes by China and India, for instance, serve to demonstrate their advanced financial, technological and organizational capacity and international prestige. Private companies are now exploring ways to get humans off the planet for commercial reasons and the military has always had a long-standing interest in heaving material and humans into orbit. ...................................................... “. . . scientific research was put forward as a major argument for establishing a permanent presence of humans in space. . .” ......................................................