Deep space exploration and the Socialist

[sypher]

Is the left for or against traveling to mars in the near future and traveling to other solar systems in the distant future?

[evil chris]

do you smoke crack?

[Ian]

Interesting question, There is a bit of a problem in space exploration and that is that the cost of it may be so great that it denies citizens privelages or even rights such as food. I believe that if we do clothe and feed the poor, house the homeless and educate the youth then we can explore space, and perhaps colonise different planets to expand the human population and advance it.

One interesting suggestion is that we somehow catch all of our greenhouse gases and establish a relay of massive space ships to transfer the crappy gases into planet warmers to warm up Mars, of course a bit of oxygen would be taken and moss is able to live in conditions such as the above to spit out more oxygen through photosynthesis. This would, of course take years and is very far-fetched.

[Mazdak]

Cost is a big issue, however, ocne issues stabilize and the government has suplus, then why not explore space? Have a "Star Trek" like voyage?

Isn't it conforting to know that we will never live to see any of it...

[Lardlad95]

i'll live to see it i'll freeze my self and be awoken when we learn how to keep the people alive

[suffianr]

I'm more into deep muff-diving exploration myself, but don't let that put you down from any intergalactic space-travel aspirations...

[PunkRawker677]

Im gonna be frozen too.. but i want them to thaw me when they invent the light saber.. so i can kick cappie ass..

p.s. this is complete random bs

[Fires of History]

I think there are more pressing needs than making sure that shithead from *NSuck can be a space tourist.

But my mind is open about the idea in general. If the people's money is used by the billions to discover that floating, weightless frogs are funny, well that's basically a bad thing. But if all this spacewalking actually improves the life of people, then sure. I'm just uninformed about the great advances that NASA has brought us.

So, anyone know what the hell NASA has done with all this information/ technology/ insights?

As I said, I'm as neutral as a broken down VW on this issue, so let me know. Although I will say that NASA is partly military minded, for whatever that's worth. I wonder how many spy satellites have been bought with tax money? Not that we'll ever know.

My instinct though is that over a billion dollars just for the space station module is...not exactly what homeless John or automotive lineworker Jane was hoping for from their government right now.

(Edited by Fires of History at 8:30 am on July 16, 2002)

[vox]

I'm pretty much wiht Ian Rocks and FoH on this one.

I love science, and I love space exploration. However, I love people more. One starving man is too many to have.

Oh, and FoH, if I recall correctly, Silly Putty is a result of NASA expirements. Hee!

There are other things, to, of course. Didn't I hear that microwave ovens were a result of NASA tests? I know I've heard lists of things that have come out of the space program, but I can't recall specifics. Many common items. I'd love to see a list, though.

vox

[Fires of History]

Vox,

Silly putty!? It was worth it all!!!

Seriously though, I think the reason I have this nagging, almost subconscious disdain for NASA is that we are even having to ask this question!!! Do you know what I mean? We're not sitting here talking about how going to the moon uncovered how to better fight pollution, or how weightlessness creates fantastic cancer drugs. Instead, we're talking about silly putty and stuff like velcro!

If these billions are used just for our curiosity, that's wrong. I'm really, really, really, really, really into astronomy, and I am quite curious about the secrets space has yet to reveal.

But you know what? I'm more curious about what society would be like if the needs of the people were met, the disadvantaged weren't allowed to slip through the cracks, and human rights were actually rights. I'm much more enthralled- just call it crazy catlike curiosity- about those things. I mean, clouds of dust are cool, but people are fucking hungry!

(Edited by Fires of History at 4:33 pm on July 16, 2002)

[Supermodel]

As an alien, I warn you puny humans to keep your skinny asses out of space.

[Ian]

As a puny human, I inform you my ass is not skinny

[andresG]

If there are so many problems to solve here on Earth then why should we go into space (and waste billions)?

solve the problems on Earth first, then go explore space