Advantages and disadvantages of unpiloted and piloted space exploration?

1. Pilots not subjected to harmful radiation, spacecraft is dramatically lighter because of not having life support equipment, this increases range, decreases cost.

2. Robots not currently sophisticated enough to complete tasks normally accomplished by astronauts.

3. see # 2, pilots can do more complex things

4. see # 1, pilots subject to harsh radiation, pilots suffer extreme bone loss, more complex & expensive spacecraft required

Space Exploration Disadvantages

Advantages of unpiloted:

They cost around ten percent of an equivalent piloted mission. They return typically about ten times as much science due to the focus of the mission being on scientific discovery rather than the wellbeing of the astronauts. They are an excellent way to develop new techniques in robotics that are becoming more and more important here on Earth:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asimo

http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/3179110.htm

Disadvantages of unpiloted:

none really

Advantages of piloted space exploration

Gives politicians a reason to boast and play games to try to get "one up" on other politicians.

Disadvantages of piloted space exploration:

Horrendous cost: Typically ten times more expensive than an unpiloted mission. Lack of science return: the focus is on the astronauts rather than on gathering science data. Dangerous to the astronauts. The expense of piloted missions sucks funding away from other projects where it could be put to better use. Antiquated and corny in today's world.

Cheers!

It depends on our capabilities technologically. And the exact purpose for why a shuttle is launched.

There are many missions that do not REQUIRE and individual to be there. There are other missions that DO require a human to complete the tasks.

Robots cannot function and think in the complex ways that humans can.

Once a machine can do a triple heelflip on a skateboard, then astronauts probably won't be needed.

"ROBONAUT" the robotic astronaut is in space right now. GM-NASA.