Space travel can be either useful or wasteful, depending on general views, emerging from the worldwide governments, scientists or common sense.

 If we consider that there are some other priorities, such as starvation or malnutrition in Ethiopian, African or even in South American countries, caused by war, natural catastrophes, floods or droughts, we might feel that they should be tackled in the very first place, so the money the USA, Russia and France spend on space travel is, without any shadow of a doubt, quite wasteful.

 However, the scientists regard space research as an important issue and defend that life must be searched for on different planets, not only in our own interest, but also because we owe it to the generations to come.

 Besides, astronauts have already discovered ways of curing serious diseases or, at least, attenuating their effect.

 Moreover, nobody knows whether some day, in the future, some of those planets will be likely to be inhabited by human beings, in case the planet we are living in becomes so polluted that we can no longer breathe its air.

 To be quite honest, I do not think space should be regarded as a priority. If the national governments are entitled to spend astronomical sums on research, why do not they apply some of those funds on homing , food, orphanages and care centres, in order to provide the refugees, the homeless, the victims of war or natural disasters (such as floods, hurricanes, tornados or earthquakes) with what they really need to survive with the least dignity possible?

In my humble opinion, I am neither against space travel nor space research. On the contrary, I consider it very important. Nevertheless, I do not see it as a vital issue when thousands of people are dying, everyday, in the most appalling circumstances, due to lack of health care, food or housing.

 As far as I am concerned, the most important thing in life is the human being and, above all, the unprotected children, who are the most affected by the adults’ mistakes.

 Apart from that, what would the world be like without its essential element –  man?

Would a mechanical being be created, like Frankenstein’s monster, to substitute mankind?

 In my view, both space travel and helping people in need can work hand in hand if the governments are able and willing to control their economic systems, so as not to allow unnecessary expenses to be made, especially by governmental staff.