Is the Risk as Great as the Risk?

Keegan Nolan

Anthony Jones

5/6/10

In the light of some recent space disasters (Space shuttle Columbia, 2003, Space Shuttle Challenger 1986) and some near disasters (Cargo hit side of space station “Mir”) among many training accidents, numerous people are asking themselves “is space travel worth the risk and cost of life?”  5% of all people who go into space have been killed, and 2% of all individual spaceflights.

Not even unmanned satellite rockets are safe from unnecessary deaths. The Intelsat 708, which was launched on a Long March 3B, careened off course 2 seconds after launch and crashed not village and killed between 56-200. all of them villagers. A preparation for a launch turned deadly when the rocket unexpectedly exploded, killing 21, among many more. There also have been numerous training fatalities, and it seems nowhere is safe for astronauts and would bee's alike.

Now, with more technology that’s suppose to make spaceflight safer, the spacecraft are now more prone to failures that could be more dangerous than basic equipment used by earlier astronauts, who had a better chance of living.

So, until someone comes forward with good reason on why we should not explore the outer reaches of our universe,  the journey into space will continue.