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%