Debate 2, October 25 (Th)

Panel members:

• Bethany Tyree

• Jacob Determan

• Chase Thomas

• William Bradford

• Alyssa Garcia

  
  Audience: come prepared with questions/debate topics.
  
  Topics (panelists can choose to talk about one or both)

• (1) Exploring for life in the solar system and beyond: Should we do this, Yes or No? Why? And if "Yes", then "How?"

• (2) Where would you most like to go if you were an astronaut? Why?
  
  Possible subjects:

• Space research and the search for life: is it worth the trouble and money?

• If not, where would the money be better spent? E.g. societal problems on Earth, education, medical research, etc.? What might be consequences if we don't engage in space research?

• If yes, then:

  - What are the best ways to go about this search in the Solar System: manned missions? Robotic missions? Sample return missions? How would you prioritize missions, e.g. what is most important to you: sending astronauts to Mars; a robotic sample return mission to Mars; a mission to Europa to look under the ice; or

  - Or would it better to focus on planets outside the Solar System, e.g. by building a telescope that could detect and characterize the atmosphere of earth-like planets around other stars? Or perhaps another experiment altogether, let's hear it.

• Will commercial space flight provide the path forward? For example the Mars-One project or the plans of Elon Musk (Space-X) to go to Mars? Do you have thoughts on the New Mexico Space Port just outside of Las Cruces, space tourism, and eventual space exploration for commercial purposes?

Panel members will prepare a half-to-one page statement on one or two of these issues that they will read to the audience to stimulate discussion of these topics. Audience members will take part in the discussion by asking questions and advocating their views.

Instructor will moderate discussion while trying to get money for his latest research project.