Chapter 11, Problem 61IF

Is It Worth It? Thanks to rapidly advancing technology, we could probably now build space observatories capable of obtaining images and spectra of Earth-size planets around other stars, with enough resolution to be able to determine whether they are Earth-like, and perhaps even to detect spectral signatures that would indicate the presence of life. However, such observatories would likely cost several billion dollars. Suppose you were a member of the U.S. Congress. How much would you be willing to spend on such observatories? Defend your opinion.