Humans vs. Robots: Who Should Dominate Space Exploration?

Humans vs. Robots: Who Should Dominate Space Exploration?

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Many space scientists, engineers and politicians argue that virtually anything a human can do on another planet, a robot can do, only cheaper and without the risk of losing a life. But the battle between humans and robots for the starring role in the next chapter of space exploration is not yet settled.

Robots have done all the recent planetary exploration in the solar system. In past decades, rovers, landers, and orbiters have visited the moon, asteroids and comets, every planet in the solar system and many of their moons as well. But how does their work compare to that of human astronauts?