US space plans

[Kona Bear]

What does everyone think of the United States plans of going to the back to the moon (and eventually Mars)?

Is this a good idea or a bad one?

What you all think?

KB

 

[Gbourdon]

Financially maybe not but I think it is a good idea. I think it sucks that we are going to increase NASA's budget to do so but is only a drop in the bucket considering the size of the deficit we operate under anyway

 

[jred321]

i just wonder, what's the point?
but since i work for the company that makes the space suits, i guess it's a good thing

 

[M=SP^2]

I don't like the fact that we're doing it at the expense of funding to the International Space Station...considering how many billions have already been inested in that.

 

[Dre]

Billions invested? It's not an investment if you're losing money. Honestly, what have we gained by sending people and robots into space?

Oh my gosh, we landed on the moon! Holly crap, there's a purple asteroid 60 million light years away! Now we can all die happy people!

 

[PhreakV]

what have we gained?

space is one of the most important science laboratories we have. some of the research and experiments that are conducted in space are done so because we are unable to do them here on Earth... the technology that has been produced to enable space flight has shown itself useful in the everyday, open market.

taking money away from the ISS is one of the dumbest things we could've done. not only does it crimple that program from our end, it destroys the "investments" of other nations as well. so not only have we shot ourselves in the foot, we've made a very public "f-you" to many other countries that we might like as allies down here on the surface...

 

[Mxyzptlk]

I think its cool that we go back to the moon but I think george has been watching too many Jetsons episodes to think of making a lunar station.

 

[Dre]

Important research such as what exactly? Whether or not ants can be trained to sort tiny screws in space? C'mon. Give me a break. Whatever can be done up there, can certainly be done down here.

 

[Salmon_Rob]

without looking to space, or even the ocean, or exploring, we become a stagnant race, a people with no hopes or aspirations. Our current space technology hasnt had any significant changes in more than 20 years, and collectively our imaginations and compacency have gotten to a point that is horribly disgusting. Its a very good things

 

[servoeyes]

Why don't I add some educated expertise here:

Read "The Case for Mars" by Bob Zubrin and look at the information on the Mars Society's website. Mars is a much easier initial target, a lot of people don't understand that. A lot of people also don't understand the benefits of the space station...extended stays in space require a lot of technology (like air-tight, rad-tight enclosures.) We also need space suits with hightened mobility and durability.

All of this will come at a price, *however*, that price can be covered if NASA's focus is moved to this one goal. The ISS *will* be completed as promised, but we'll also bring new technologies to the table.

Anywho...I'm an out of work rocket scientist. All of this means big openings and moves at NASA and their contractors. As soon as we start moving industry into space we'll see the monetary benefits coming back. Not just from the process, but from the stuff that we find in space.

 

[norman]

Well, lets see here. December 14, 1972 was the date that the last man was on the moon. Do you not think that technology has improved over the last 31 years to the point that we may find a new fuel source there? Perhaps on Mars there are materials that would create a new ultra light steel that would improve vehicle safety and efficency. iwokup said it very well that we have become stagnant race. We need exploration and discovery to keep moving along.

As far as the space station goes, I feel that the experimentation that will be done on it may lead to manufacturing plants on the moon. Perhaps a product can be redesigned that when constructed in weightlessness it will become stronger, lighter, smaller or more efficient.

And unlike servoeyes, I am not a rocet scientist, just a middle aged guy who would give both kahones (I'm old and don't need them anymore) for a ride on a shuttle.

 

[skilletrx]

Prestige baby. Prestige over China... Who know what China will do if they get there first... they could claim it all, and as funny as this sounds Mars may be important in the future economically, and needless to say.. what if China builds a DeathSTAR up there first =T

 

[Micah]

Well, lets see here. December 14, 1972 was the date that the last man was on the moon. Do you not think that technology has improved over the last 31 years to the point that we may find a new fuel source there? Perhaps on Mars there are materials that would create a new ultra light steel that would improve vehicle safety and efficency. iwokup said it very well that we have become stagnant race. We need exploration and discovery to keep moving along.

As far as the space station goes, I feel that the experimentation that will be done on it may lead to manufacturing plants on the moon. Perhaps a product can be redesigned that when constructed in weightlessness it will become stronger, lighter, smaller or more efficient.

And unlike servoeyes, I am not a rocet scientist, just a middle aged guy who would give both kahones (I'm old and don't need them anymore) for a ride on a shuttle.

So help me god, if I ever am willing to part with my "kahones" - will someone please promise to properly smack me around until I regain my senses. ( Preferably several young attractive women. )

 

[Salmon_Rob]

Prestige baby. Prestige over China... Who know what China will do if they get there first... they could claim it all, and as funny as this sounds Mars may be important in the future economically, and needless to say.. what if China builds a DeathSTAR up there first =T

IIRC the US has claims to ~25 percent of the moon, being as we are the only ones that have been there lol

 

[turbonium959]

I think either is useless. Moon is dead, so one would have to create a safe environment, which would be extremly expensive. Mars, however has atmosphere that can protect the environment from small meteorites and etc. (one would have no protection on the Moon). Also, Mars could have a environment that can be adopted to. But if Mars wasn't so damn far, it would have been worth it, otherwise, waiting six to seven months just to get would be so boring.

 

[StarvingRussian]

Screw the moon. I say we nuke the s*** out of it for a good fireworks show.

 

[Salmon_Rob]

I think either is useless. Moon is dead, so one would have to create a safe environment, which would be extremly expensive. Mars, however has atmosphere that can protect the environment from small meteorites and etc. (one would have no protection on the Moon). Also, Mars could have a environment that can be adopted to. But if Mars wasn't so damn far, it would have been worth it, otherwise, waiting six to seven months just to get would be so boring.

see, thats the attitude im talking about. flying through space for 6 months would NOT be boring. can you imagine all of the things that you would see that NO ONE had seen with their naked eye before? i cant even imagine what that would be like, let alone treat that as boring

 

[1sty]

what have we gained?

space is one of the most important science laboratories we have. some of the research and experiments that are conducted in space are done so because we are unable to do them here on Earth... the technology that has been produced to enable space flight has shown itself useful in the everyday, open market.

taking money away from the ISS is one of the dumbest things we could've done. not only does it crimple that program from our end, it destroys the "investments" of other nations as well. so not only have we shot ourselves in the foot, we've made a very public "f-you" to many other countries that we might like as allies down here on the surface...

Very true. The list of materials NASA created to achieve its goals that we use every day is staggering. Its is one of the fundamental reasons for our advancement.

Simply put, set a goal that seems almost impossible and let those that coose it, figure out how to make it not only possible, but feasable. This is the idea. We don't yet have the technology to achive these goals. Hopefully setting these goals will help us advance even further.

 

[1sty]

Prestige baby. Prestige over China... Who know what China will do if they get there first... they could claim it all, and as funny as this sounds Mars may be important in the future economically, and needless to say.. what if China builds a DeathSTAR up there first =T

Oh, I forgot about Darth Lee.