The last shuttle makes it's last trip into space today (barring adverse weather conditions).
We have no more space vehicles to take us out to the cosmos. We'll have to hitch rides with the Russians.
It's rather sad.
I'm holding on to a thin ray of hope that our boy, Barry, before his 8 years is up, will see to it that our governments manned space program continues on into the future.
I fear for the exploitation of our final frontier...or have we learned?
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Alma wrote:
I lost my post
Obviously we have to use that money for our under funded armed forces.
George Carlin wrote:
I think it’s the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately.
Elinda wrote:
I fear for the exploitation of our final frontier...or have we learned?
It's not exploitation; Final Frontier is legally an adult, and it needs money to pay for tuition.
Jophiel wrote:
I managed to be both retarded and entertaining.
I've got no beef with closing down the shuttle operations. They've shown marginal returns on a massive investment thusfar.
We need a completely overhauled approach to space exploration. Something with a clear goal, that puts forth a clear way that it will be of benefit. And something with a cohesive method of integrating commercial enterprises would be good.
We need a completely overhauled approach to space exploration. Something with a clear goal, that puts forth a clear way that it will be of benefit. And something with a cohesive method of integrating commercial enterprises would be good.
Eske Esquire wrote:
I've got no beef with closing down the shuttle operations. They've shown marginal returns on a massive investment thusfar.
We need a completely overhauled approach to space exploration. Something with a clear goal, that puts forth a clear way that it will be of benefit. And something with a cohesive method of integrating commercial enterprises would be good.
We need a completely overhauled approach to space exploration. Something with a clear goal, that puts forth a clear way that it will be of benefit. And something with a cohesive method of integrating commercial enterprises would be good.
Benefits, profits and exploitation can come later.
Alma wrote:
I lost my post
Elinda wrote:
Eske Esquire wrote:
I've got no beef with closing down the shuttle operations. They've shown marginal returns on a massive investment thusfar.
We need a completely overhauled approach to space exploration. Something with a clear goal, that puts forth a clear way that it will be of benefit. And something with a cohesive method of integrating commercial enterprises would be good.
We need a completely overhauled approach to space exploration. Something with a clear goal, that puts forth a clear way that it will be of benefit. And something with a cohesive method of integrating commercial enterprises would be good.
Benefits, profits and exploitation can come later.
Then let them pay for it themselves. Or find fools willing to sponsor them.
Donate. One day it could be your family.
An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come. Victor Hugo
An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come. Victor Hugo
Uglysasquatch, Mercenary Major wrote:
Elinda wrote:
Eske Esquire wrote:
I've got no beef with closing down the shuttle operations. They've shown marginal returns on a massive investment thusfar.
We need a completely overhauled approach to space exploration. Something with a clear goal, that puts forth a clear way that it will be of benefit. And something with a cohesive method of integrating commercial enterprises would be good.
We need a completely overhauled approach to space exploration. Something with a clear goal, that puts forth a clear way that it will be of benefit. And something with a cohesive method of integrating commercial enterprises would be good.
Benefits, profits and exploitation can come later.
Then let them pay for it themselves. Or find fools willing to sponsor them.
I just can't help thinking where we'd now if, in the 60's, we'd required the Apollo missions to show profit or benefit before expending tax-payer dollars, or scarier yet, if we'd urged some multi-national corporation to do make the journeys to the moon.
Alma wrote:
I lost my post
Elinda wrote:
I just can't help thinking where we'd now if, in the 60's, we'd required the Apollo missions to show profit or benefit before expending tax-payer dollars, or scarier yet, if we'd urged some multi-national corporation to do make the journeys to the moon.
You also had far fewer services straining your taxpayer base. There is a finite amount of resources, something has to go in order to pay for more.
Donate. One day it could be your family.
An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come. Victor Hugo
An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come. Victor Hugo
Uglysasquatch, Mercenary Major wrote:
Elinda wrote:
I just can't help thinking where we'd now if, in the 60's, we'd required the Apollo missions to show profit or benefit before expending tax-payer dollars, or scarier yet, if we'd urged some multi-national corporation to do make the journeys to the moon.
You also had far fewer services straining your taxpayer base. There is a finite amount of resources, something has to go in order to pay for more.
Maybe the shuttle program, but we're not still in debt from the Apollo missions.
It would be cool to see some world space research organization take up the cause - something supported by countries and not companies.
Alma wrote:
I lost my post
Uglysasquatch, Mercenary Major wrote:
Elinda wrote:
I just can't help thinking where we'd now if, in the 60's, we'd required the Apollo missions to show profit or benefit before expending tax-payer dollars, or scarier yet, if we'd urged some multi-national corporation to do make the journeys to the moon.
And likely with less nuclear proliferation, to boot.
Yeah, I'd trade that for some grainy video of guys landing on a gray rock and the Memory Foam Mattress straight up.
Too much of the impetus for proponents of the shuttle program comes from fanboyism and romanticism, IMHO.
Again, that's not to say that I'm against space exploration. If they put together a comprehensive program for it that laid out some step-by-step progress towards a distant goal, then I'd hop right on board again. Doesn't even have to be a goal that we can financially profit from, either.
Personally, I'm in favor of attempting to build a serious orbiting hub. Something to serve as a launching point for further goals, both literally and figuratively.
Edited, Jul 8th 2011 11:51am by Eske
Elinda wrote:
It would be cool to see some world space research organization take up the cause - something supported by countries and not companies.
I fail to see how paying into some multinational bureaucratic *********** to conduct space exploration would be any less silly (and expensive) than the system which we're currently ending.
Out of curiosity, why do you think such a system would be better than burdening the private sector with the expense?
Jophiel wrote:
I managed to be both retarded and entertaining.
Demea wrote:
Elinda wrote:
It would be cool to see some world space research organization take up the cause - something supported by countries and not companies.
I fail to see how paying into some multinational bureaucratic cluster@#%^ to conduct space exploration would be any less silly (and expensive) than the system which we're currently ending.
Out of curiosity, why do you think such a system would be better than burdening the private sector with the expense?
Bureaucracies move slow - really slow. Say, some company finds they can make a nice profit by mining helium on the moon. So, they set to it. After 10 years of mining helium, the company is rich as sin, the board members happily retired. Then, it's discovered that the helium is limited, or the mining process has caused irreparable damage. It will utlimately cost more to back-peddle, to remediate damage, or change mining processes, or refute claims, or whatever.
I'd rather see the multinational bureaucratic cluster go at slow and easy. Or maybe, there could be some productive effective partnership. Maybe, because of my job I'm jaded. I've seen how much damage has been done to this planet and how much time and energy is spent to fix problems that were created by entities that reaped the rewards but aren't around to clean up their messes.
Alma wrote:
I lost my post
All well and good, but assuming there's profit to be made out there, all that any governmental body is going to do is contract the work out to a private firm at ridiculous rates, and the private firm will reap the rewards anyways (headaches will be exponentially worse since we're talking about a multinational governmental body).
We'd be increasing our costs by adding a middle man, and making taxpayers foot the bill instead of investors (with none of the subsequent rewards).
We'd be increasing our costs by adding a middle man, and making taxpayers foot the bill instead of investors (with none of the subsequent rewards).
Jophiel wrote:
I managed to be both retarded and entertaining.
Eske Esquire wrote:
I've got no beef with closing down the shuttle operations. They've shown marginal returns on a massive investment thusfar.
Eske Esquire wrote:
I think people need to go to space because it's there.
Eske Esquire wrote:
Personally, I'm in favor of attempting to build a serious orbiting hub.
Edited, Jul 8th 2011 4:16pm by shintasama
I think that the benefits of funding space exploration are much more real than those of hundreds of other programs we spend money on which cost us many many many times more. I like the idea of getting private industry involved in space, but I also don't think it's a great idea for our government to essentially give up on the venture themselves.
I'd be far less concerned about mothballing our shuttles if there was something newer and better to replace it. What's sad is that in 30 years we haven't come up with anything better. Hard to believe IMO.
I'd be far less concerned about mothballing our shuttles if there was something newer and better to replace it. What's sad is that in 30 years we haven't come up with anything better. Hard to believe IMO.
King Nobby wrote:
More words please
I think it would be more productive to fund deep sea research.
shintasama wrote:
What do we gain from that other than the ability to launch more money sinks? Being able to fit even a couple hundred people in orbit doesn't mean jack if we don't take care of energy, clean water, pollution, political unrest, and economic concerns on Earth.
I'd prefer the government not fund/perform it, if possible. But on a practical level, launches are considerably easier if you don't have to deal with breaking orbit.
There will always be those concerns on earth. If we wait to deal with space until those issues are dealt with, then we simply won't be going to space ever. At some point, we're going to need a larger space presence. Better to be ready to do it, and do it well, rather than scramble to try to achieve it. There's that, and then there are the intangible, unknown potential benefits.
Edited, Jul 8th 2011 4:34pm by Eske
Edited, Jul 8th 2011 4:38pm by Eske
Scholar
39 posts
If only a middle eastern country would kindly challenge America to a space race to Mars or something.
gbaji wrote:
I think that the benefits of funding space exploration are much more real than those of hundreds of other programs we spend money on which cost us many many many times more. I like the idea of getting private industry involved in space, but I also don't think it's a great idea for our government to essentially give up on the venture themselves.
NASA is still doing plenty of unmanned missions and has had great success in comparatively "discount" missions like the Mars rovers. Romantic as it is, without a distinct goal, manned missions "because it's there" are best left for more prosperous times.
Belkira wrote:
Wow. Regular ol' Joph fan club in here.
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Scholar
1,150 posts
decayed wrote:
If only a middle eastern country would kindly challenge America to a space race to Mars or something.
Nah, we just have to have Obama say that we'll be on Mars by 2020. Then get shot. In Dallas.
Disclaimer: This should in no way be taken as a threat against President Obama.
Princess ShadorVIII wrote:
decayed wrote:
If only a middle eastern country would kindly challenge America to a space race to Mars or something.
Nah, we just have to have Obama say that we'll be on Mars by 2020. Then get shot. In Dallas.
Disclaimer: This should in no way be taken as a threat against President Obama.
I sent it over to the Secret Service, just in case.
Jophiel wrote:
gbaji wrote:
I think that the benefits of funding space exploration are much more real than those of hundreds of other programs we spend money on which cost us many many many times more. I like the idea of getting private industry involved in space, but I also don't think it's a great idea for our government to essentially give up on the venture themselves.
NASA is still doing plenty of unmanned missions and has had great success in comparatively "discount" missions like the Mars rovers. Romantic as it is, without a distinct goal, manned missions "because it's there" are best left for more prosperous times.
That works a hell of a lot better if one half of our political scene doesn't immediately spend every dime and then a ton more we don't have at the slightest hint that we might maybe be able to afford it. Or... In the case of the current administration, even if we quite obviously can't.
King Nobby wrote:
More words please
gbaji wrote:
That works a hell of a lot better if one half of our political scene doesn't immediately spend every dime and then a ton more we don't have at the slightest hint that we might maybe be able to afford it. Or... In the case of the current administration, even if we quite obviously can't.
Cry more?
Belkira wrote:
Wow. Regular ol' Joph fan club in here.
Back in my day, every single government and social issue didn't boil down to a republican vs democrat false dichotomy.
Simpler times, no doubt.
Simpler times, no doubt.
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Scholar
1,150 posts
nonwto wrote:
Back in my day, every single government and social issue didn't boil down to a republican vs democrat false dichotomy.
Simpler times, no doubt.
Simpler times, no doubt.
Back in your day, it would have been Whigs and Tories, yes?
Manned Space exploration would have gone a lot further if the Russians had beaten you guys to the moon...
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Solrain wrote:
WARs can use semi-colons however we want. I once killed a guy with a semi-colon.
LordFaramir wrote:
ODESNT MATTER CAUSE I HAVE ALCHOLOL IN MY VEINGS BETCH ;3
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