This week's poll was suggested by jacob66. You remember those news stories about Richard Branson and Elon Musk flying to space? Would you go on those trips? (Let's assume you're able to actually reach the accepted altitude for "space".)

You can submit poll ideas here
http://www.mangaupdates.com/showtopic.php?tid=3903

Question: If a pharmaceutical company found the cure for cancer, would they hide it or release it?
Choices:
Release it, it’s the long sought holy grail of medicine - votes: 1587 (52%)
Hide it, more money in treating disease than curing it - votes: 1462 (48%)
There were 3049 total votes.
The poll ended: September 11th 2021

Very close poll! A lot of people have low opinions of large corporations

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A just ruler amongst tyrants

For free, of course I would. For the kind of money they're asking these days it's a fat nope in my book, especially taking into consideration the fact that in a few years Elon Musk's Starship is projected to take people to actual-for-real-space (i.e. orbit) for a comparable sum.

No.

Why?

I'm a fucking coward.

Wouldn't take a trip in a submarine either.

Money isn't the issue for me. I think space tourism will be affordable for me in my lifetime (software engineer, I have a few hundred thousand in savings at the age of 30, so technically I could buy one of virgin galactic's $250k tickets but I think it'll be under $100k in my lifetime for a slightly longer trip). I just don't want to go to space. I can barely even tolerate driving on a highway.

Going to what technically just about qualifies as space, is pretty damn pointless, IMO.
…and really going to space would be way too scary. (much like HikaruYami, I'd also never go in a sub)

If were talking Star Trek style space travel (no teleporters!), I might consider it, but…

Last edited by zarlan at 6:15 pm, Sep 11 2021

Seems like a chore, I'd rather stay in my house mmm..


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I will change this world mmm...
So the world can change me mmm...

Yes, I think that sort of thing is exciting. I'm sure I'd talk about it for years. It's really superficial though. You basically just get on a plane, go up, float for a bit and go back down.

Like, specifically the way Branson and Bezos did it? No, even if it were free, it wouldn't be worth the time. I think while the way those space racing billionaires did it is a display of how far technology has come, I don't think it really counts as "going to space" the way anyone wanted it to be. More like an exaggerated flex than anything. Clickbait clout irl, if you will. And while it would be cool, it would ultimately just be sightseeing, and looking at things where the best outcome would be that it looks like the pictures is my least favorite thing to do on vacation. Give me an experience, make me do or eat something.

If it were going to space in like, a proper, real astronaut way, maybe even get to visit the ISS, play in zero gravity, or eat some genuine space food and not just museum gift shop dehydrated ice cream and strawberries, I'd be down. Assuming that I'd also get some training for free too. Be a part of the journey to space and not just a passenger

It's less dangerous than other modes of travel so yes. Call up Major Tom, let's ravage nature even further for no reason at all. Commercial space missions here we come!

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I also read EU/US comics and am a librarian.
Manga-Masters, My ANN-Lists + Imdb

No. I dislike flying on planes and don't see how space travel would be much of an improvement.

Sure, it would be cool to take the trip. However, if we're not going anywhere on that trip, then what's the point of it?

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It depends. Is it under the assumption that you'll make it back down to the ground alive or no? Or will one make to back to the ground at all instead of floating off into space and slowly starving to death?

NO

I never thought that space could seem uncool until people started trying to transform it from a place of science and exploration into a method of letting obscenely rich people burn or earn their money. When I look at these projects, I see scientific success but moral failure.

Edit - to clarify, I’m referring only to space tourism. Obviously something like contracts to launch weather satellites or take astronauts to ISS is a different scenario.

Last edited by hkanz at 7:57 am, Sep 14 2021

NO, unless it was as a scientist, and even in that case I might decline.

It isn't good for your health or the planet, not only would you receive lots of radiation, the liftoff and landing would also affect you negatively. I guess it'd be fun feeling the absence of gravity, but that can also be experienced many other ways without contaminating so much. I mean just the price in fuel to take 100Kg into orbit could feed various families for years.

Who else has the money to fund space projects? And, what's the issue with making money off of it?

The government sure as Hell doesn't have the funds, nor do they care about the benefit, as they decided, back in the 70's, that all that tax money for the Apollo programs is better spent funding their latest welfare scheme to appease their voter base and retain their positions in office.

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No, too risky still... Maybe several decades later if i am alive and space travel is way safer but for now it is a no

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