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Posted on 01/26/2010 5:56:31 PM PST by KevinDavis
Human space flight is at a tipping point. Next September, after 29 years of flights, the Space Shuttle is scheduled to be launched for the last time. The future of U.S. crewed missions is currently being reviewed at the highest levels of the Obama administration, with a decision expected early next month.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
By the time the Timmay and Bernanke are through, they can build the ‘stairs’ to Mars out of Federal Reserve Notes. lol
I still like the idea of a series of spacecraft that orbit the sun in orbits that intersect mars and earth.
Its not the greatest means of getting humans there but it would be an effective means of moving robotic landers or supplies.
Space exploration, except for military purposes, is over. We cannot afford it.
Private companies, however, can.
If everything was free as air I’d be all for a manned mission to Alpha Centauri. But it isn’t, and putting future generations several billions more in debt right now makes a trip to Mars look like a really dumb priority.
By the time the Timmay and Bernanke are through, they can build the ‘stairs’ to Mars out of Federal Reserve Notes.”
All printed with the denomination “1 Trillion US Dollars”. Which is exactly half of one Euro.
No it is not! The Chinese, Russians, Indians, and Japanese plan to continue manned space exploration (in a big way). It's just over for the US, busy checking its collective navel for lint.
Oh and by the way, he who holds the high ground commands the battle - which, of course, is precisely what those other countries realize and US nay sayers have forgotten.
So when China and others are busy making solar pannels cheaply on the moon's surface and exporting H3 back to their fusion reactors, I'm sure there will be many US citizens glad they made the wise choice of abandoning manned space travel.
They will read about the latest Chinese, Russian, Indian, Japanese project to colonize the rest of the solar system, by the intermitant light from their Chinese made solar/wind power generators.
They will be glad too that China agreed to take as many as possible on a first come, first served basis after all the Chinese people have departed and before that 195 km rock hits the Earth... if there is time...
No dithering?
The Chinese will beat us back to the moon.
...which means that we’re not going to Mars regardless of what NASA says.
Next September, after 29 years of flights, the Space Shuttle is scheduled to be launched for the last time.And that'll be it for a number of years, not unlike the gap between Skylab and the first Columbia flight. Thanks KevinDavis.
A shame. Have heard many scientists say Mars was at a more Earth-like stage millions of years ago; archaeologists might
discover some astounding things there.
comparatively cheap robot probes have discovered astounding things there already, but no they haven’t discovered life or signs of it. Astronauts are no more likely to discover anything like that either.
Meanwhile the ROI for the Apollo Program investment of $35 billion 1960 dollats is about 700% In Laymans terms for every dollar invested in the Apollo program, 700 dollars was returned. Dish Network, computers, internet, cell phones and all the jobs created by this science and economic bump has been outstanding.
I think we can afford more space investment.
The fraud and waste of combat loss used to stagger my imagination during the Vietnam conflict...however grateful I am to the government for taking me there.
There's a lady who's sure
All that glitters is gold
And she's buying a stairway to heaven
When she gets there she knows
If the stores are all closed
With a word she can get what she came for
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
And she's buying a stairway to heaven
I agree we shold go to Mars, but this is in the New York Times? I guess even a stopped clock and all that . . . .
Don't fear...With advances in technology, robotics, and advances in telescope design, we will not only travel to Mars in the future, unlock it's secrets, and occupy it.
On May 19th, 2005, NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit captured this stunning view as the Sun sank below the rim of Gusev crater on Mars. This Panoramic Camera mosaic was taken around 6:07 in the evening of the rover's 489th martian day, or sol. Spirit was commanded to stay awake briefly after sending that sol's data to the Mars Odyssey orbiter just before sunset. The image is a false color composite, showing the sky similar to what a human would see, but with the colors slightly exaggerated. (NASA/JPL
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