Royal Society Summer Exhibition 08 Space Survey
What do you think - should we explore the Solar System by Mankind, Machine or Both? You told us your opinion about the UK's future in space exploration and participation in human exploration programs by completing this survey. The survey has now closed and you can see the results below.






A new generation of 21st-Century space missions is set to explore the planets and their moons. Intelligent rovers that drive across planet surfaces, unmanned orbiters, and even Aerobots that fly through the atmosphere will all play a part in the future exploration of our Solar System. You can see these future explorers at the Royal Society Exhibition this summer, including the ExoMars rover, which will be travelling to Mars in 2013 www.summerscience.org.uk.

One day our Solar System might be explored by humans as well as robots. Do you think the UK should join in human space exploration? Here's your chance to have your say. Is exploration of the Solar System worth the cost? Should we use robots and orbiters, or send human beings?

Summer Science 08

University of Leicester, Space Research Centre, Planetary Science

Mullard Space Science Laboratory

Aberystwyth University Robotics


BepiColombo orbiter for Mercury

ExoMars rover

Manned Moonbase (2020 and beyond)
Survey Results

Should we explore the Solar System by Mankind, Machine or Both? You told us your opinion about the UK's future in space exploration and participation in human exploration programs.

Results
No of records in this query: 266
Total records in survey: 266
Percentage of total: 100.00%

Field Summary for 1:
Do you think we should explore the Solar System with:
Answer Count Percentage
Observation from Earth 56 21.1%
Observation from spacecraft 63 23.7%
Robotic landing and exploration 70 26.3%
Human space missions 38 14.3%
All of these 174 65.4%
None of these: we should stop exploring the Solar System 7 2.6%
Field Summary for 2N:
What is the most important reason why we shouldn’t explore the Solar System?
Answer Count Percentage
No answer 259 97.4%
Space exploration is very risky 2 0.8%
Space exploration is very costly 0 0
Space exploration will only be carried out by a rich or scientific elite 0 0
Space exploration is not good value for money 1 0.4%
Space exploration is much less important than solving problems on Earth 4 1.5%
Field Summary for 2Y:
What do you think is the most important reason to explore the Solar System?
Answer Count Percentage
No answer 7 2.6%
To generate new scientific knowledge and advance human culture 178 66.9%
To return value to the UK economy through technological progress 13 4.9%
To create international cooperation 15 5.6%
To inspire new generations of scientists and engineers 36 13.5%
To engage British society in the full excitement of space exploration 17 6.4%
Field Summary for 3:
Do you think life has ever existed on other planets in our Solar System?
Answer Count Percentage
No answer 7 2.6%
No 60 22.6%
Probably primitive life 165 62.0%
Higher life forms 34 12.8%
Field Summary for 4:
Where do you think we should explore for any traces of life?
Answer Count Percentage
No answer 7 2.6%
Mars 49 18.4%
Moon 2 0.8%
Other planets in the Solar System 31 11.7%
Beyond our Solar System 67 25.2%
All of these 99 37.2%
None of these 11 4.1%
Field Summary for 5(Risky):
To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about space exploration? (1=Strongly Agree, 2=Agree, 3=Neither Agree or Disagree, 4=Disagree, 5=Strongly Disagree)
[Space exploration is very risky]
Answer Count Percentage
No answer 7 2.6%
1 76 28.6%
2 117 44.0%
3 36 13.5%
4 21 7.9%
5 9 3.4%
Field Summary for 5(UK):
To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about space exploration? (1=Strongly Agree, 2=Agree, 3=Neither Agree or Disagree, 4=Disagree, 5=Strongly Disagree)
[It is important that the UK is at the forefront of space activity]
Answer Count Percentage
No answer 7 2.6%
1 98 36.8%
2 69 25.9%
3 51 19.2%
4 29 10.9%
5 12 4.5%
Field Summary for 5(Value):
To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about space exploration? (1=Strongly Agree, 2=Agree, 3=Neither Agree or Disagree, 4=Disagree, 5=Strongly Disagree)
[Space exploration is good value for money]
Answer Count Percentage
No answer 7 2.6%
1 43 16.2%
2 72 27.1%
3 74 27.8%
4 45 16.9%
5 25 9.4%
Field Summary for 5(Unimp):
To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements about space exploration? (1=Strongly Agree, 2=Agree, 3=Neither Agree or Disagree, 4=Disagree, 5=Strongly Disagree)
[Space exploration is much less important than solving problems on Earth]
Answer Count Percentage
No answer 7 2.6%
1 30 11.3%
2 46 17.3%
3 55 20.7%
4 77 28.9%
5 51 19.2%
Field Summary for 6:
How much of the national budget do you think should be spent on space exploration?
Answer Count Percentage
No answer 7 2.6%
None: It should be financed with private money 13 4.9%
Less than 0.01% 22 8.3%
Between 0.01% and 0.5% 150 56.4%
More than 0.5% 74 27.8%
Field Summary for AboutYou:
Are you a UK resident?
Answer Count Percentage
No answer 2 0.8%
Yes 240 90.2%
No 24 9.0%
Field Summary for Background:
Please tell us your background
Answer Count Percentage
No answer 2 0.8%
Secondary school student 31 11.7%
Undergraduate 45 16.9%
Post-graduate 68 25.6%
Academic research 65 24.4%
General public 55 20.7%
Field Summary for Sex:
Gender:
Answer Count Percentage
No answer 2 0.8%
Female 97 36.5%
Male 167 62.8%
Field Summary for Age:
Age
Answer Count Percentage
No answer 2 0.8%
< 15 45 16.9%
15-24 59 22.2%
25-39 78 29.3%
40-54 63 23.7%
> 55 19 7.1%
Field Summary for Exhibition:
Have you seen the exhibition or just this website?
Answer Count Percentage
No answer 1 0.4%
Exhibition 64 24.1%
Website 201 75.6%