| Author | Message | ||
     Hex |
I thought it rather wacky and fiscally irresponsible when announced by The Decider, but alas, it will be no more. NASA has been called off the human exploration of the Solar System by BO's new budget proposal. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/science/space/02nasa.html?hp Mr. Obama’s 2010 budget proposal for NASA asks for $18 billion over five years for fueling spacecraft in orbit, new types of engines to accelerate spacecraft through space and robotic factories that could churn soil on the Moon — and eventually Mars — into rocket fuel. Plans for a new mission to leave Earth’s orbit will probably not be spelled out for a few years, and the budget proposal makes it clear that any future exploration program will be an international collaboration, not an American one, more like the International Space Station than Apollo. also: http://www.universetoday.com/2010/02/01/no-moon-missions-thats-a-relief/ The rumors were true, Constellation is canceled. No Ares 1 crew vehicle, no Ares V heavy lifter, no Altair lander. No bases on the Moon, and no human exploration of Mars. NASA is canceling the human return to the Moon.  | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
Haven't we already been to the moon. Besides, if you haven't noticed, we are in debt up to our eyeballs. | ||
| Hootowl |
I hate to see NASA get the ax, I really do. If I got to choose where my money gets spent (directly) NASA would be pretty high up on the list. But, I do agree that we have to cut programs. I just wish the messiah would gut other government programs as well. 3.8 trillion dollars? *cough* good Lord. We're hemorrhaging cash. Somebody stop the bleeding already. | ||
| Milt |
NASA's Sojourner program showed that we can do really, really good science relatively cheaply with rovers. No need to send people. It's risky, very expensive and severely limits the length of the mission. | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
"The human race must move to a planet beyond our Solar System to protect the future of the species, physicist Professor Stephen Hawking has warned." I tend to agree which means we must continue to push the boundaries of manned space travel | ||
| Spatten1 |
We have to get someone on Mars before the Soviets get someone there. It is vitally important to the morale of the country. | ||
| Hootowl |
Dibs! There, Mars is ours. I also call shotgun. I'm not sitting in the back for a six month ride. | ||
| Strokizator |
A federal budget of 3.8 TRILLION dollars! That's over $12,000.00 per man, woman or child spent in order to be deeply involved in their lives. Why not spend a whole lot less and leave me the f**k alone? | ||
| Hootowl |
"Why not spend a whole lot less and leave me the f**k alone?" That should be a campaign slogan. | ||
| Sifo |
This is one of the first things that I agree with BO on. "The human race must move to a planet beyond our Solar System to protect the future of the species, physicist Professor Stephen Hawking has warned." Why exactly do we have to protect the future of our species? | ||
| Spatten1 |
"The human race must move to a planet beyond our Solar System to protect the future of the species, physicist Professor Stephen Hawking has warned." That is straight from the plot of the Foundation sci-fi series. | ||
| Sifo |
As much as I like Asimov I disagree that we must protect the future of our species. If we get snuffed out like the dinosaurs, what's the big deal? | ||
| Hex |
Sifo, One reason is in about 4.5 billion years, the sun will swell up into a red giant star and engulf the Earth. I think we need to plan things out a little better next time we take on such a large endeavor. Russia can have Mars for now. China or India the Moon. However, if we are truly a world united in the exploration of space, then everyone will want to chip in. Anyway, it looks like we are going to have to wait a while... | ||
| Sifo |
OK, we can revisit the need in about 4 billion years and see if we have recovered from BO's spending by then. In the present I see no need. | ||
| Hex |
Other than Pride? | ||
| Sifo |
Is there pride in spending billions of dollars so that a very few people can go on their private tour of the universe that could be done better with unmanned missions? | ||
| Elsinore74 |
+1 on unmanned. Let the Taikonauts make the next human footprints on the moon; let us harvest some He-3 and bring it back (robotically)long before their photo-op. | ||
| Etennuly |
I say why not do it for one tenth of the budget or less. Send no one under 75 years old. There are plenty of retired NASA folks and scientists who would rather go out with an adventure than sitting in a rocking chair for fifteen years, or perhaps they would sign up just because the spouse of fifty years just wants him or her out of the house. Expendable astronauts, yes, but be honest with them when recruiting. "We had to cut back all of the triple redundant systems." There will be enough food and black market medicines aboard. Back up oxygen.....no need, the actual usage will be down due to more nap time, and less activity. No need to protect reproductive parts from gamma rays, X rays and such, that stuff might actually be good for them as a preemptive 'natural' cancer prescription. Who would not be in less physical pain if getting out of bed in zero gravity just means floating over to the human waste outlet? What if they run across aliens? Who better to represent the human species than extremely experienced people? It can't get any better, a brain probe will show some true history of people on Earth, an anal probe will show them what not to do if they proceed to the Earth. Memory problems could be a true asset. Imagine how much less fuss there would be about the prolonged months of travel time if you cannot remember one day at a time. There would not even be a need for a good couch, just let them velcro themselves to the wall and give them a TV (satellite of course), the controller, fiber cereal, and a triple redundant supply of Depends and Wipealls. Give the thing an instrument panel of a Buick, plain, only what is really needed (tripometer, gas gage, arrival time), in large print of course. A million and a half miles out a catastrophic problem happens, have a nice funeral, learn from it, and send another set. I'm not really a cold hearted middle aged man, I'm looking for an opportunity for when I hit 75 if they take my motorcycle license away. | ||
| Snowscum |
I am hoping he move the money to space science. Right now we have two Aries programs going which seem to be going away and that is not a good thing right now. Thank my lucky stars I am working JWST for the time being. | ||
| Aesquire |
Here's the simple truth. He who rules the Moon rules the Earth. Period. Mars is a long term dream, since it has an atmosphere, and is far easier to live on & exploit, but it's weeks or months away. The Earth is at the bottom of a well, the Moon is just over the top of the well. A guy on the bottom of the well isn't going to have an easy time tossing rocks, (missiles) up to hit the guys on top. ( not impossible, but hard ) A guy on the ground outside the well just has to toss rocks high enough to clear the side of the well. And drop them. Easy. Read "The moon Is A Harsh Mistress". The Chinese were looking to own the Moon, that's why Bush ( whatever you don't like about him he had this one right ) kicked off the return to the moon program. I'm serious, he who owns the Moon owns the Earth. period. | ||
| Elsinore74 |
Treaties being as worthless as we all know them to be, you speak the truth, Aesquire. Let's go back (robotically, or maybe geriatrically, as Etenully suggests for Mars) and harvest some Helium 3. He-3 may be some good stuff, the fifty-pound-heads say... | ||
| Hughlysses |
What's really nuts is that in 1960, starting from pretty much basic WWII rocket technology, we got three men on the moon in 9 years, using slide rules, hand calculations and drafting boards. In 2007 (?), with nearly 40 years of technological progress (not to mention EXISTING designs from the 1960's!), the finest computers and CAD equipment at our disposal, it was declared it would take at LEAST 10 years before we could go back to the moon. I remained baffled. NASA seems to have not gained an inch technologically in the last 40 years. | ||
| Froggy |
The bodies of the average 75 year old can't handle it. Hell its very taxing on young and healthy folk.
Actually you consume more air when you are sleeping. Less activity would be detrimental to already failing bodies. They wouldn't need to pack the extra oxygen, because it would be a one way trip. | ||
| Metalrabbit |
So man is going to the moon to fight over who owns it, and the Earth? Big surprise,, Now you know why mans knowledge has leveled off. People are choosing sides and they're set to destroy each other,, you ain't goin' anywhere till that crap gets settled. This whole planet is on the edge of a doomsday scenario and it doesn't have anything to do with the planet. It is only due to the nature of man himself. | ||
| Mbxb12scg |
I'm in the industry that these decisions impact, and all I know is that I'm tired of budgets waffling back and forth. If someone would stick to a plan and quit messing with things that are already heavily invested in, we just might get something out of all the efforts. Instead billions are spent starting something only to get 50% of the way done, and then it gets canceled. Every 4 years, all the funding the previous person started gets canned and a new agenda starts. What a waste... | ||
| Jasonnennig |
IMHO, there is a Ton of futuristic, exciting, high-tech science that can be explored here on Earth. That someday can and should be implemented in space and on other planets. So much research needs to be done on lifestyle on how a colonist will live and survive in such an environment. Some thing on the lines of a larger, more realistic domed city project where new technologies are explored for use on other planets may be in order. Getting there may be the easiest part. All this money being spent on rockets and such may be putting the cart before the horse. Maybe it's time to rethink the order in which we go about implementing space exploration. Our $$$ may be better spent here on Earth now. | ||
| Froggy |
Without NASA we wouldn't have half the technology we do now. We wouldn't have this: | ||
| Hootowl |
"That is straight from the plot of the Foundation sci-fi series." In the Foundation series, Earth was a myth. No one even knew where it was. How could leaving the solar system be central to its plot? | ||
| Reindog |
We wouldn't have Tang if it hadn't been for the manned space program. Or velcro. Or national leadership. Or true world respect. Or inspiration. Or imagination. Let's just redistribute the wealth as that is more fair. Let's just wallow in the swamp of sameness and mediocrity. | ||
| Etennuly |
Froggy, To further my point, put say thirty of these good older folk on board for the duration. Some of them are going to make it through. Put the extra bodies in place of the technological stuff that will not be going, the astronauts become the redundant supply. They could be self sustaining if they would eat their expired comrades. As far as using more oxygen sleeping I believe I said "nap" time. Hell, the older I get the less I can sleep anyway. I know that is true for most folks. This is of course for the trail blazing first few round trips. Once it is learned how to do it safely and cheaply(say when the failure rate is down to seven of ten), then send up the more costly and needing reproductive units. If there is one thing this planet has a lot of extras of at this point, it is people. Just a matter of lowering one's standards for a matter of survival of the species. You know.....HTFU.  |
