Let's Mine the Blamed Thing (He3)

L.A. Times ^ | August 28, 2007 | Homer Hickam

[anymouse]

From the mouth of the original Rocket Boy.

[anymouse]

space ping

[jas3]

It was a waste of taxpayer money then, and NASA continues to waste taxpayer money now. In particular the Space Shuttle program is a completely useless waste of time and dollars that could be spent actually doing real science (or better yet actually unspent so that taxpayers can decide themselves what to do with their own money).

jas3

[commish]

So, you consider things such as Ear thermoters, Smoke detectors, hand-held vacuum cleaners, water filters, ergonomic furniture, Microwaves, highly efficient foam insulation, portable x-ray machines, programmable pacemakers, and GPS systems to be a waste of taxpayer money?

Because all of the above items were invented for use in or derived from research from the U.S. MANNED Space program.

[LukeL]

That isn’t a valid reason for space travel, can you imagine how much more we would have if the billions wasted on the shuttle program went to R&D for practicial devices like the ones mentioned.

[Pistolshot]

Don’t forget, microprocessors, Crazy-Glue, personal PC’s, Digital watches and calculators, high resolution monitors, cell technology and the framework for the internet.

[bubbacluck]

I love the space program. I'd like to go to the moon myself but I'm too old now. Maybe all these cool inventions would have eventually been invented anyway by someone else as the need arose. And there is no question of the enormous costs that space exploring entails.

[bubbacluck]

Almost forgot Tang.

[Pistolshot]

Take a guess who did the R&D for all of that.

Here's a hint....the letters of the name are N.....A......S.....A

You figure it out from there.

[freedomlover]

Don’t forget TANG !!!

[Freeper john]

We could have bought all these innovations from the flying saucer crews instead of robbing this stuff when they crashed, and claiming we invented it

[geopyg]

“...went to R&D for practicial devices like the ones mentioned...”

I think the “necessity is the mother of invention” might cover this. Without HAVING to have this technology for the space program I doubt much of it would have been invented.

[mbraynard]

I'm not 100% on everything they are describing being a result of NASA's efforts. Maybe Tang.

But NASA is a flip of the switch away from being a sixth branch of the military, as it should be, and that is enough reason to justify the existence of the program, if not all of it's spending.

And the article is right. He3 is highly potent energy source. Just gotta find a way to get it back here - maybe launching tankers into the ocean from the moon or something.

[rednesss]

"It was a waste of taxpayer money then, and NASA continues to waste taxpayer money now. In particular the Space Shuttle program is a completely useless waste of time and dollars that could be spent actually doing real science (or better yet actually unspent so that taxpayers can decide themselves what to do with their own money)."

Cause Congress has shown us that if they have a surplus of money they will spend all of it on highly useful programs that benefit everyone and wouldn't waste it on "Bridges to Nowhere" or other Pork projects HUH????

[NonValueAdded]

Indeed ... and the payback for every dollar spent by NASA is what, $11? What is the payback for that dollar spent by DHHS? And remember, every dollar spent by NASA is spent here on erf, not in space. Can it be done better? You betcha, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be done!

[beezdotcom]

And the article is right. He3 is highly potent energy source

Lately, I'm not so sure. I need to do a little more research, but this article indicates it may not be as useful as first thought. I'm inclined to be skeptical of the article, but it bears checking.

[beezdotcom]

P.S. - I’m mainly only inclined to be skeptical because I’m always skeptical of “killjoy” articles, and NOT because I see any obvious error in this one. On the surface, it appears to successfully dismiss the optimism over He3 (after dismissing the fears over black holes being created by the LHC). I’d just like to know if there’s anything missing from the author’s consideration.

[anymouse]

Take a guess who did the R&D for all of that.

Here's a hint....the letters of the name are N.....A......S.....A

Bzzzz! Wrong! Try DARPA or other DOD researchers. People like to think NASA does valuable R&D that leads to common civilian products, but very few technologies originate within NASA. NASA has used some of these technologies and products, which leads to the confusion.

BTW, Tang was invented commercially and offered to NASA for spaceflight in hopes that it would become more popular, apparently the placement marketing worked for a while.

[anymouse]

Indeed ... and the payback for every dollar spent by NASA is what, $11?

I want to see the balance sheet. I have yet to see NASA pay a single cent in taxes or pay a dividend.

And remember, every dollar spent by NASA is spent here on erf, not in space.

Don't know where erf is, but certainly those who benefit from NASA employees and contractors spending their paychecks in their local businesses sure hope we keep the pork flowing.

Let the commercial guys start an economy in space and space starts to becoming a place of commerce not a welfare program for the overeducated.

[DuncanWaring]

So, you consider things such as Ear thermoters, Smoke detectors, hand-held vacuum cleaners, water filters, ergonomic furniture, Microwaves, highly efficient foam insulation, portable x-ray machines, programmable pacemakers, and GPS systems to be a waste of taxpayer money?

Where's the constitutional authorization for the Federal government to spend money on those things?