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#100318 - 06/14/08 11:51 AM
Space, the next frontier
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Kimmbberr
Member
Registered: 10/04/99
Posts: 1842
Loc: Corvallis, Oregon
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Should we stop the space program?
I remember when they used to bring in a TV during class when the Apollo missions were doing something exciting like taking off or landing. We also watched the first man landing/walking on the moon. I'll never forget that.
I watch even now when I know these things are occurring, I guess because I was trained to do so. I do still find them exciting though after the Challenger I find myself holding my breath until they are safely up or down.
_________________________
Kimi
What Washington needs is adult supervision. Obama, 2006
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#100323 - 06/14/08 03:12 PM
Re: Space, the next frontier
[Re: Kimmbberr]
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BlankKeys
Member
Registered: 04/09/08
Posts: 513
Loc: New York
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This may not be the most popular point of view, but I've always thought that it was a tremendous waste of money. I wouldn't say cut out the space program entirely, but scale it back. When you have people homeless and hungry in your country, and a big black hole where your medical care should be, it's hard to justify billions of dollars spent to fly around in space. 
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#100326 - 06/14/08 03:45 PM
Re: Space, the next frontier
[Re: BlankKeys]
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14tonks
Member
Registered: 10/25/01
Posts: 5972
Loc: Only 3rd world country in US
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When you have people homeless and hungry in your country, and a big black hole where your medical care should be, it's hard to justify billions of dollars spent to fly around in space.
Sort of sounds like all the reasons Ferdinand and Isabella weren't all that keen about financing that sea voyage into the unknown that ended up getting this country started, LOL.
As far as the space program goes--we pretty much have stopped it already since the moon landing. It's now pretty much just an earth-orbit program.
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#100348 - 06/14/08 08:20 PM
Re: Space, the next frontier
[Re: 14tonks]
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casagrandeMT
Member
Registered: 12/05/04
Posts: 1341
Loc: Casa Grande, AZ
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As far as the space program goes--we pretty much have stopped it already since the moon landing. It's now pretty much just an earth-orbit program.
Except for the Mars missions. The current one is in our paper almost daily - probably because of the U of A involvement. Check out this link.
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Casagrande ex-MT
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#100351 - 06/14/08 08:44 PM
Re: Space, the next frontier
[Re: BlankKeys]
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Glory1863
Member
Registered: 03/27/08
Posts: 215
Loc: Beyond Antares
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BlankKeys, check these out:
http://techtran.msfc.nasa.gov/at_home.html
http://www.thespaceplace.com/nasa/spinoffs.html
As a transcriptionist, you'll probably find the medicine-related developments the most interesting.
I've been told for a long time that without materials and lenses developed for the space program, I would not be able to see. "Coke bottle" lenses does not begin to describe what my glasses would look like if they were still made out of glass (or even the old fashioned plastic). I couldn't keep them on my face for their weight. To say I'm grateful is an understatement.
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The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. Abraham Lincoln
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#100356 - 06/15/08 12:01 AM
Re: Space, the next frontier
[Re: Glory1863]
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Mike
Administrator
Registered: 07/11/98
Posts: 2668
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I wonder... Couldn't we have all those neat inventions and more, while spending less money, by creating a government funded organization specifically designed to solve problems here at home?
My personal opinion is that NASA's main goal is national security.
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#100359 - 06/15/08 12:09 AM
Re: Space, the next frontier
[Re: casagrandeMT]
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14tonks
Member
Registered: 10/25/01
Posts: 5972
Loc: Only 3rd world country in US
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Oh yeah, they're still sending out some probes and robots off and on, but people are restricted to high earth orbit these days with nothing more on the drawing board there.
I figure we don't start heading for the planets now, we're going to be way short of options shortly when the ecology of the only planet we're on collapses under our weight.
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#100407 - 06/16/08 07:39 AM
Re: Space, the next frontier
[Re: 14tonks]
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BlankKeys
Member
Registered: 04/09/08
Posts: 513
Loc: New York
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True, Tonks. However, how much of the fuel for these rockets and such dumps pollutants into our atmosphere. (Nice point about Ferd and Izzie, though!)
Glory, I did check out those sites and, you're right, they are interesting. I especially was happy to see the strides in fighting brain cancer and the firefighting developments, but I have to agree with Mike - I think they could've been developed without the space waste.
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#100410 - 06/16/08 08:27 AM
Re: Space, the next frontier
[Re: Mike]
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14tonks
Member
Registered: 10/25/01
Posts: 5972
Loc: Only 3rd world country in US
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My personal opinion is that NASA's main goal is national security.
I'm not sure they have any goals these days beyond preserving the bureaucracy that provides their jobs, but yeah, war and weapons drives most government funding and scientific research. We're not unique in that.
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#100558 - 06/17/08 07:01 PM
Re: Space, the next frontier
[Re: 14tonks]
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Mike
Administrator
Registered: 07/11/98
Posts: 2668
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I was thinking more in terms of space being the ultimate strategic high ground, but that too. 
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