Waste?

Things I like to think about.


There's this asteroid called Bennu, and there's a one in two thousand chance it's going to impact Earth.  Based on those odds, NASA has launched (on my birthday, which is cool) a probe to study the asteroid so as to determine its surface and composition.  Knowing those things, then, scientists hope to determine the best way to deflect the asteroid and prevent an impact with Earth.

At the very least, an ambitious and laudable goal.

However.

NASA has included a device to sample the surface of the asteroid and return that sample to the Earth for study - the aim of the study is to see if organics are found on the asteroid, thereby demonstrating the Earth's organics came from space - or COULD have.

But wait.

Am I not correct in assuming that the constituent parts and pieces of the Earth all came from space? None of the materials of the Earth were made here; the assumption being that if they were made here they wouldn't exist elsewhere.

Keep in mind that "organics", in this case, does not refer to living matter or the product of life processes, but, rather, compounds which contain carbon.

I'm sure organics exist almost everywhere in out solar system.  Why?  Because they're here, and "here" is made of the same stuff that the rest of the solar system is made of.  If it's here, it MUST be out there, as well.

So why waste the money to satisfy some scientist's whim?  Why send the extra probe?

If it's here, it has to be there, as well.

NASA.  Don't just spend the money because you can.


Ndinombethe.  Ubuntu.