Neil deGrasse Tyson: The case for human explorers in space

In 50 years, humans will have been to Mars, will be able to go on tourist trips to the moon and will have access to gadgets and tools that are yet undreamt ofif the U.S. chooses to double NASA's budget.

That's the prediction of astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson and the argument he makes in favour of boosting the budget for human space exploration in his new book, Space Chronicles: Facing the Ultimate Frontier.

"When you dream of a tomorrow and you want to then invent that tomorrow, you need scientists, engineers and technologists to do that and when you innovate, you pump the economy like no other force of nature can," Tyson told CBC'sQuirks & Quarks.

Tyson isdirector of the Hayden Planetarium in New York City and a dedicated science communicator who makes regular appearances on TV talk shows and PBS science programs.

He believes strongly that publicly funded space exploration is the most effective way to inspire his country's most brilliant minds. And in the book hediscusseswhy he thinks that will, in turn,advance the kinds of basic research that lead to developments that better human lives and stoke the economy.

On Quirks and Quarks with Bob McDonald, Tyson spoke about potential destinations other than Marsfor publicly-funded space exploration by humans, from asteroids to the far side of the moon.

He also talked about why he doesn't think the private sector will be able fill the gap and advance the frontier of space if NASA cedes that role.