NASA should focus more on unmanned space exploration than manned space exploration

I will point out why NASA should focus more on unmanned space exploration whereas my opponent will point out why it should focus on manned space exploration more than unmanned.I will use this round primarily to establish the achievements of unmanned space exploration and cost efficiency. I will later refute my opponent's arguments.C1) Astronaut safetyLess lives are put at risk in an unmanned mission. As it is primarily operated by robots, there is less risk to humans. It is worth holding off on manned space exploration until more research has been performed and space travel technology is more advanced.C2) Higher level of Scientific Research One of the main reasons for Space Exploration is a better understanding of Space and the Universe. The two major ways to do this is to send people to Space Stations, to the moon, and possibly to Mars and beyond. The second option is to send unmanned probes to different planets to learn more about them, launching unmanned satellites and telescopes and using those probes, satellites and telescopes to observe space and planets before taking the next step by sending humans.It can be seen that NASA's greatest achievements have always been done with unmanned exploration.(A) Hubble Space TelescopeHubble discovered the age of the Universe [19], that every galaxy has black holes in its center [20], how planets form [21], confirmed the existence of dark energy [22], and discovered three moons around Pluto [23].(B) Magellann (Venus) The Magellan mission studied land forms and tectonics, impact processes, erosion, deposition, chemical processes, and model the interior of Venus [8]. (C) Spirit and Opportunity (Mars)The Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity successfully landed on Mars and sent over 124,000 highly detailed images of Mars [9][10]. The rovers also discovered that This was a big step to further the exploration of Mars for eventual human missions. It showed that there were once hot springs or steam vents on Mars, which could have provided favorable conditions for microbial life [11]. The reason for these discoveries is the length of time the rovers spent on Mars because there was no need to support astronaut lives. These long time-spans give rise to unexpected discoveries. (D) Galileo (Jupiter)Galileo changed the way we look at Jupiter as well as the Solar system. It discovered that Jupiters great red spots were storms, that Io has volcanoes and the Europa has a frozen ocean underneath the ice. It also shows that there is evidence that even Callisto might have an ocean [12]. (E) Cassini-Huygens (Saturn)It made many major discoveries including proving Einstein's theory of General Relativity, that space-time is curved, and that light bends around gravity [13]. It also discovered three new moons of Saturn. The Huygens probe landed on Titan and sent back pictures to Earth [14].C3) Cost EffectivenessThe cost of manned missions has always been more expensive than unmanned missions. The International Space Station and the Space Shuttle cost too much for what they achieved. (A) Space ShuttleIn 2005, NASA's then administrator Michael Griffith said that manned space eploration in the form of the Space Shuttle and the ISS was "not the right path" [1][2]. The total cost of the Space Shuttle was over a $150 billion by 2005 [1][2] and nearly $200 billion by 2011 [4]. (B) International Space Station (ISS)Overall, the ISS has cost NASA more than $100 billion. (C) Apollo missionsApollo cost $170 billion [24] and served its purpose well. The mechanics of human spaceflight was understood. There is no need for humans to go back to the moon at this moment. Once more research has been done, then they can plan longer term bases on the moon.(D) Constellation programThe Constellation program which would have been the next manned mission has been cancelled. Its primary purpose was to extend the range of human habitation [25] which is not feasible with current technology.By comparison, the Hubble Space Telescope cost $10 billion [18], the Cassini-Huygens mission cost $3.26 million [3], the Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and opportunity cost a little less than $1 billion [11], Magellan cost $0.45 billion [15], Galileo cost $1.6 billion at the most [17]. Unmanned space exploration is orders of magnitude cheaper.ConclusionBefore sending humans back to the moon, or to Mars, NASA must first spend more time and resources exploring Space and the Solar System through unmanned probes. The knowledge gained through this will help further space exploration and is a far better investment than focussing on manned exploration right away.Sources[1] http://www.infowars.com...[2] http://www.nasaspaceflight.com...[3] http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov...[4] http://www.space.com...[5] http://www.thespacereview.com...[6] http://www.gao.gov...[7] http://www.msnbc.msn.com...[8] http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov...[9] http://1.usa.gov...[10] http://www.nasa.gov...[11] http://www.msnbc.msn.com...[12] http://solarsystem.nasa.gov...[13] http://www.nature.com...[14] http://esamultimedia.esa.int...[15] http://bit.ly...[16] http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu...[17] http://www.theage.com.au...[18] http://www.livescience.com...[19] http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov...[20] http://hubblesite.org...[21] http://www.nasa.gov...[22] http://science.nasa.gov...[23] http://1.usa.gov...[24] http://bit.ly...[25] http://bit.ly...