NASA - and the fruitless waste of lives and money therein

[Rastafari]

How many people think that NASA has become frivolous in many ways. The "experiments" that they often perform can be easily done in special laboratories or atmosphere tests that won't cost the billions of dollars a year and lives every now and then. NASA space missions have become what they began as 50 years ago, a way to prove that the U.S could outdo any other nation-to become the veritable spanish armada of space, without the marked economic benefits.

[Anonymous]

STFU now. No one wants to here your so typically asinine, anti-american leftist rehtoric. Especialy at this moment in time.

[Tkinter1]

"NASA space missions have become what they began as 50 years ago, a way to prove that the U.S could outdo any other nation-to become the veritable spanish armada of space, without the marked economic benefits."

Not at all. That shows how little you know about NASA.

[Guest]

No one knows NASA, and if you do, its top secret and classified. Can't say a word. We gotta protect national security, and NASA has some damaging information.

[man in the red suit]

Quote: from Tkinter1 on 2:10 am on Feb. 2, 2003
"NASA space missions have become what they began as 50 years ago, a way to prove that the U.S could outdo any other nation-to become the veritable spanish armada of space, without the marked economic benefits."

Not at all. That shows how little you know about NASA.

and what do you know about nasa that we don't? why can't these same experiments be done with satellites and machinery as they have been doing recently? what is the point of sending humans into space? what does it accomplish which our satellites cannot? I agree with rastafari. These space exploration missions are a waste of time and can result in these truly tragic events like that of the one that crashed over texas. I do not think that america is trying to become the veritable spanish armada of space as america has already proved this. However I do think that these missions which involve the deployment of human beings is dangerous and certainly not worth the price of the lives they must pay with their "missions." Maybe I don't know enough about nasa but what purpose does it serve anyway? what does space exploration explain to us? how does it improve our lives or anything at all? I certainly will not claim to be an astrologist. I will not deny that I do not know a thing about space exploration however if you are in fact the astronaut which you claim to be, then can you extend me the coutesy of enlightening me on the subject?

[Rastafari]

Probably wrong about the single responsability of the US for NASA, as they have drawn several other nations into it as well. Glad to see someone else sees similar to my fuzzy logic as well, though.
I mean, what have Space Experiments, conducted from outside of our atmosphere really produced over all this time for anybody. Now don't give all this silly putty, velchro, and all of the other useless suburbanities that were spun out of land based trials, even though silly putty can copy newspaper if you put it on it, it provides little to no benefits to starving people in Cambodia, or the children who are born with aids in Angola, does it? Besides, other programs have produced things like Golden Rice and an end to many maladies plagueing everone worldwide on much tighter budgets. I think that unmanned missions may be okay from time to time-they cost less money and provide a lot more information anyway. What I suggest to you, my stalwart Cappie friends, Is to look at the big picture, something that you have resisted to do for years and years.

[Tkinter1]

www.nasa.gov

Probably the best place to get your questions about NASA answered.

[Som]

Does everything need a specific purpose and need for it to be done?

How about just the advancement of science and exploration?

Purpose and immediate need are not end all of everything, and nasa's budget is actually rather small compared to alot of government programs.

Further the space exploration, someday maybe we'll have people off the planet, how bout that big picture?

Just because its not likely something we'll see the benefits of the day after, doesn't mean we shouldn't do it.

[suffianr]

Space exploration?

Funny, but beneath the barrage of headlines, all that one seems to realize about the tragedy is that it is"the most grievious loss suffered by Americans since Sept 11th"...

Disgusting, isn't it? Everywhere you look, the media are suddenly associating any human tragedy involving Americans with the Sept. 11th attacks...Why?

Is the world not done grieving over Sept. 11th? Why compare?

Must it be perpetually used as a benchmark against future catastrophe? A sickening yardstick to measure pain and sadness?

It doesn't matter that NASA sources were quick to rule out the possiblity of a terrorist attack; when you mention Sept. 11th, what comes to mind?

It just plain disgusts me to see such incidents overwrought and uber-hyped...We're starting to get over Bali and East Timor...Stop harping on Sept. 11th, and let the victims rest in peace...

[Stormin Norman]

The supportive role that NASA plays in America's black budget projects, meant to developed space based weapons systems, and their use in carrying SIGINT, COMINT, GPS, and High Resolution Imaging payloads, then initializing these systems has been well worth the funding. Grant it, shuttle delivery is not always needed to accomplish these feats, but NASA has saved a few multi-million dollar satellites from near death. The space exploration done by NASA has improved our perspective of the universe, and has a direct link to the entire world's quality of life. Many of you are completely ignorant to the important role NASA plays in the research and development arenas, as well as their importance to this nation's national security.

[Blibblob]

Quote: from suffianr on 3:02 pm on Feb. 2, 2003
Space exploration?

Funny, but beneath the barrage of headlines, all that one seems to realize about the tragedy is that it is"the most grievious loss suffered by Americans since Sept 11th"...

Disgusting, isn't it? Everywhere you look, the media are suddenly associating any human tragedy involving Americans with the Sept. 11th attacks...Why?

Is the world not done grieving over Sept. 11th? Why compare?

Must it be perpetually used as a benchmark against future catastrophe? A sickening yardstick to measure pain and sadness?

It doesn't matter that NASA sources were quick to rule out the possiblity of a terrorist attack; when you mention Sept. 11th, what comes to mind?

It just plain disgusts me to see such incidents overwrought and uber-hyped...We're starting to get over Bali and East Timor...Stop harping on Sept. 11th, and let the victims rest in peace...

[/quote]

I wholeheartedly agree. I have been told i have no emotion, feelings, and that i am not human. I do not greve for those who died, and it disgusts me how much people delve into it, waste their lives away in the past, worrying about those who are long dead...

Those who died in the crash yesterday, died doing what they liked to do. Theres a lot of danger in that job, and so, they died. The US government wouldnt care so much if the cost of training them wasnt so much, and if the shuttle cost very little. I can almost assure you, that, ignoring the little play they will put on, that the government wouldnt give a fuck if they were just civilians, with no expensive training.

(Edited by Blibblob at 5:53 pm on Feb. 2, 2003)

[Eastside Revolt]

NASA is better than the American military controlling space exploration. And as far as wasting money goes it's less of a waste of money than more than half the things our economies spend money on.

[Blibblob]

how about the US' "grants", some guy got like a couple thousand bucks grant to guess the number of, i think it was gumdrops, in a large jar, and then count them to see if he was right.

How about the one where somebody got a shitload of money to see why people slipped in the shower.

[Rastafari]

People delve into 9-11 to make MONEY, plain and simple. This pseudo-patriotism shit, once it hit big, EVERYBODY wanted a peice of the fucking pie-you had USA condoms, coffee cups, and cellular phone paying plans. sick, really.

[Capitalist Imperial]

NASA's experiments in space are meant to develop solutions to problemms on earth, bottom line.

This includes everything from growing a better tomato to laying the groundwork for colonization of other worlds.

Those of you who don't understand and appreciate what NASA does are pathetically ignorant.

[Rastafari]

I am sorry, then. Please excuse my ignorance, sir

[Capitalist Imperial]

Quote: from Rastafari on 8:05 pm on Feb. 3, 2003
I am sorry, then. Please excuse my ignorance, sir

Sorry, I didn't mean to sound so rude. Perhaps not ignorant as much as ill-informed or unaware of the situation.

[Moskitto]

my biology teacher's son is a genotoxicologist and his current research is into the genotoxic effects of space travel.

in english, does spaceflight cause cancer.

[Anonymous]

Long-time exposure to interplanetary space could very well cause cancer as well as other serious health problems. However, the international space station as well as current shuttle flights are located safely within the inner regions of Earth's magnetosphere. While admittedly radiation levels are far higher there then on the Earth's surface, it still does not pose any serious health issues to those currently residing on the ISS.

[j]

Space travel has and always will be an incredibly difficult tug of war for me. On the one hand, I see billions being spent on NASA and I work with children who don't even get enough food. On the other, I see the infinite excitement of space and its possibilities. I know much of the science done in space could benefit those here on earth. Could it be done without humans? Not if it is to done reliably.

Science is inredibly intriguing. Yet, shouldn't we concentrate on the problems here on earth?

j

[j]

Here's an interesting link about some of NASA has been doing:

http://www.brightsurf.com/news/dec_02/NASA...s_122402_b.html (http://www.brightsurf.com/news/dec_02/NASA_news_122402_b.html)

j

[mentalbunny]

tasteless joke:

Q:What does NASA stand for?

A: Need Another Seven Astronauts

[suffianr]

LOL, you sick, twisted person :biggrin:

[mentalbunny]

my physics teacher told me that joke, not seriously obviously. He said it was doing the rounds after challenger exploded, so I thought I'd ressurect it!

I think the space prgrams should continue (I haven't read all of this thread) because otherwise the scientists will start working for rogue states like iraq, building up their rocket systems so they can bomb people all over the world, which they can't do at the moment (I think Saddam can get to Turkey but no further).

[Rastafari]

That's an interesting thought, but the scientists usually portrayed as working for NASA are clean-cut, good ol' boys who would never do such a thing. haha-money talks. But even if they discontinued the US people in space (PIGS IN SPACE), they would still need all of those scientists.
Actually, I used this post as an act of subterfuge to bump this topic. At least I admitted it, though

[KickMcCann]

Hey Rastafari,


What is your opinion on the Soviet Space Program?

[Stormin Norman]

(Edited by James at 2:49 pm on Feb. 7, 2003)

[Rastafari]

a la Jack Torrenz, Fucking Asshole. Just goes to show you how cappies are

[mentalbunny]

Shouldn't someone delete that post of SN's, considering it is totally off topic and is just spam.

[James]

I missed that one.

[Rastafari]

I hate to sound like an asshole, KickMcCann, but what Soviet Space Program? I think it was maintained in the same spirit the US one was, to project pride to a greater extent. Good point, though

[James]

First dog in space, first man in space

etc etc