Younger generations are also more open to the hypothetical, with 53-55% of those in the under 50 age groups saying they would be willing to go to the Moon if given the chance, compared to just 41% of 50-64 year olds and only 28% of the over 65s.
Why do half of Britons not want to visit to the Moon?
Considering the risk-free nature of our hypothetical question, some might be intrigued by the instinct of 49% of Britons to say ‘no’ to such a unique opportunity. So we asked this half of the public to tell us in their own words why they would not want to visit the Moon.
A simple lack of interest in visiting is the most common reason, expressed by 23% of those who would decline the opportunity to go.
The desolate nature of the lunar landscape was also a frequent reservation, with 6% saying they would not want to visit as there’s nothing to do once there, while 8% said there would be no point or benefit in going. For some, this contrasts with more Earthly attractions, with 5% saying there are places on Earth they would like to visit first, alongside 4% who simply said they were happy on Earth.
A perception that such a trip would be wasteful also came up, with 3% viewing it as a waste of money, 2% as a waste of their time and 1% as a waste of resources. An adjacent worry about the environmental damage it could cause was cited by 3% of those who would not want to pay the Moon a visit, with another 2% saying we should fix the Earth’s issues first before playing among the stars.
Despite our hypothetical question explicitly guaranteeing a safe return, fully 8% of those who said they would turn down the opportunity rejected the premise that their safety could be ensured. Additionally, 7% said they would be scared, nervous or anxious about the trip, even if they could be kept safe.
Some expressed more specific fears, including 3% who said a fear of flights or heights put them off the particularly long-haul flight to our closest cosmic companion, while another 3% said they were too claustrophobic or agoraphobic to be able to cope with a trip that would keep them confined in such a small capsule for days.