Daily Research News Online no. 6236 - Asians Keen to Boldly Go

Asians Keen to Boldly Go

December 12 2006

A substantial majority of people in Asia (59%) believe that expenditure on space exploration is justified, according to a CNN/TIME poll conducted by TNS. Still more (68%) believe that Asians countries should take a more active role in space exploration.

Of the eleven markets polled, strongest support came from Korea (83%), Hong Kong (73%), and Thailand (72%). In only two countries, despite a question wording which acknowledged the feelings of opponents*, did a majority believe space exploration to be a waste of resources - Indonesia (56%) and the Philippines (51%).

CNN recently hosted Future Summit, a discussion program from Singapore featuring second man on the moon Dr Buzz Aldrin and recent space tourist Anousheh Ansari.

Support for Asia's active participation in the space race runs highest in Thailand (92%), Korea (91%) and Hong Kong (80%), giving backing to China and Japan's efforts to gain a foothold in the space race. Two thirds of Asians (66%) would be interested in taking a trip into space if money were no object: those 'very interested' include 49% of Indians, 46% of Thais, 44% of Singaporeans and 43% of Hong Kong citizens. Least interested were those in the Philippines (51% not very or not at all interested) and perhaps surprisingly Japan (52%).

The survey was conducted by TNS between November 16th and November 21st, with fieldwork conducted online in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand, and face to face in India, Indonesia and Philippines. The survey uses a weighted total of 5,000 respondents giving each country equal weighting. TNS is online at www.tns-global.com and the survey sponsors at www.cnn.com/international and www.timeinc.com .

* the 'waste of resources' question was asked as follows:
Q1: Despite the cost and the challenges many experts believe it is only a matter of time before man sets foot on mars. However many people contend that space exploration is a waste of time and money which could better spent elsewhere. When man still can't cure the common cold, do you think space exploration is a waste of resources?