The scientific case for human space exploration

Abstract

Many scientists are sceptical about the scientific value of sending people into space, arguing that its high cost would be better invested in additional robotic missions. Here I argue that this scepticism is misplaced and that the history of human space exploration—particularly of the Apollo project—indicates that science has actually been a major beneficiary of having people in space. I argue that the same will be true of future human missions to both the Moon and Mars, and that scientific exploration will benefit enormously from exploiting the infrastructure that is developed to support human space activities.