Ya.. what he said.. Moon?.. first I had heard of this... Sure, why not... Lord knows the money spent would be put to better use than a lot of the programs they spend it on.. Money will not fix the problems of our society.. only when we all take PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY for our actions, will that happen.. And I am not holding my breath on this one.. In the meantime, I just go about the business of day to day life, and take care of what I have to take care of... and from the clock on the computer here, looks like it's time for bed.. tomorrow is another work day, and there is plenty of it to do. JW
i drove a neptune accord onceou: . i believe we should continue the space program and in as many ways as we have the technical abilities to do so. the more times we get off this planet successfuly and the more times we actually meet goals and expectations in doing so, the better we will get at it. i would like for us to be on mars in my lifetime! in fact i would like to be able to go myself before i get too old to enjoy it. so the better nasa and anybody else who wants to play this game gets at it the better my chances are. we need the moon as a starting point to jump off into space travel and we need to be good at getting there. face it, people are not going to stop reproducing and overpopulating earth [at least not voluntarily] and we need to go SOMEPLACE. mistakes are going to happen, accidents are going to happen. but we are going to need to be able to do this. and cost, in the long run, is irrelevent! the cost of not taking the chance is MUCH greater. we may as well still be living in trees and being eatten by REAL preditors if we are not going to have the nerve to go the full distance on this
Moon = Trash Dump! Hey, We need some where to put nuclear waste, harmful chemicals, deteriorating gas rockets and just trash in general. Just think how much cleaner and safer our planet would be. You know outta sight outta mind.
Most of the comments here are about how federal money should be spent. We might as well make everybody happy and spend it on every money needing issue that has been discussed, because as far as the national debt goes, were screwed, and W. knows this, so I'm sure his thought is we just might as well keep spending. I read that every man, woman and child currently owes about $300k each ( however, I don't know if the illegal immigrants change this amount). I have a family of 5 so my family's share is $1.5million, and I am sorry but I don't have it (and never will). There is no possible way that the national debt will ever go down, with the current system we have in D.C. and the Federal Reserve System. The budget deficit this year is about $500 billion officially, however that does not count the ~$180 billion they 'borrowed' (when do you think it will be put back?) from social security and a couple of other treasure chests. So the real deficit is close to $700 billion. This country is bankrupt, so we might as well say "don't worry, be happy!" and say "Charge It". Back when I really cared about these issues I voted for Ross Perot (I am sure that I will recieve some flak about that) because he honestly was our best hope for righting the financial ship, when it was still possible to do so. I am sorry for the long rant and I hope I didn't depress or offend anyone here. So let's crack a beer(or whatever your refreshment of choice is) and talk about cars(I'm being politically correct to not say Buicks) because they are a needed diversion from the real world.:beer
I have a lot of time to read books while flying back and forth to China. If you want to read an interesting fiction about NASA that I just finished, try "Deception Point" by Dan Brown. I'm not sure setting up a space location on the moon will payback for the maintenance costs. The moon rocks didn't seem to be very commercially interesting. Would need more info but have an open mind. Visiting Mars on a one shot deal, well lets see whether the mars buggies send us any clues that it would be worthwhile. My .02 on that.
Re: Moon = Trash Dump! Its been proposed and thought of for years.....actually to send it into the SUn. Problem is....what happens if the rocket, loaded with depleated uranium, PCB's, and whatever other "Nasties" are laoded aboard doesn't make it into outerspace ??? .....as in Raining down on us after it explodes on its takeoff run
Re: Re: Moon = Trash Dump! Wow, good point. That would definitely suck. :error: Chances would be slim, but not worth the risk. imho So How about those Patriots! :beer
With China being part of this race to space, that is surely something for us all to worry about. How could we stop them from doing that if we can't even stop them from invading Taiwan if they decide to do it?o No:
More money for NASA? Guess recent history shows why money should be spent right here on earth and not outer space. "In April 2003 Gov. Davis sent a letter to President Bush, warning that the bark beetle infestation had created thousands of dead and dying trees. In the $430 million request, Gov. Davis stated that the situation is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the state. FEMA turned down the request in October 2003. DHS Secretary Ridge called it understandable that California asked for additional money to rid forests of trees killed by bark beetles. But he called it equally understandable, following $43 million in federal funding this year for the problem, that Bush declined the request for emergency status and more money. In October 2003, California wildfires raged out of control causing extensive damage to both private and public properties. As of November 14, 2003, the wildfires have been blamed for 20 fatalities, including that of one firefighter and a reported 174-firefighter injuries. The total affected acreage for all fires in Southern California is 738,158. There have been approximately 3,626 residences destroyed and approximately 1,184 other buildings destroyed. Gov. Davis has estimated the damage to be more than $2 billion." Someone should have listened to ex-Gov. Davis and not have his head "in the clouds".
Ever notice how those fires have been downplayed like they never happenned? Meanwhile, the news is flooded with Micheal Jackson news and Laci Peterson and whatever else have you. I think they even tried to blame Al Quida for starting those fires. Oh yeah, and our economy is just streaming along, and jobs are being created. That sure is comforting to know, now is it.:Brow:
Re: Re: Moon = Trash Dump! Alan, Yes, It would have some potential risk. Eventually we will be forced to pursue alternatives and maybe the risk won't seem as great. Also we would face the danger of transporting our "waste" to Florida to be loaded on a space vehicle.
Re: Moon = Trash Dump! But if the nuclear waste were to explode, the moon and the people in the moon base would be thrown out of orbit - destined to wander the galaxy having hokey encounters.
I'm all for us going to the moon. I think there is a lot we can learn up there to benefit us down here. But even I, and I'm a hard core Star Trek fan, think that shooting for Mars now is a little premature. Get something going on the moon first, see how it goes, and then start talking about another planet. NASA and space exploration may seem like the flight of fancy of a few, but the nechnologies that come from their research is what helps make our lives better today. I know if I had the money, I'd be ponying up the $20 million to go for a ride with the Russians to the ISS. I found a company online: http://www.incredible-adventures.com/edgeofspace.html they will take you up in a MIG-25 Foxbat for $15k. That'll get you over 80,000 feet up, at Mach 2.8, to a point where the sky is black and below you is blue. That's sounds way cool. And people who have commented on going say that they even got to fly the plane for a while during their experience. Enough rambling......... Anyway, I think it's a good idea. And it's never a "good time" to do these things. You just have to "Just Do It!".
Thousand Points of Light Rob, I found your post extremely offensive. Why must people be confused with the facts? The next time most people will listen to their President to any degree will be another b*llsh*t State of the Disunion address. The big guy will get up there and promise you the moon. The Repulicrats do it every time. That and paying taxes are the only two things you can count on. I voted for Ross too! Hopefully, someday, there will be some alternative to the madness on the ballot today. Someone else mentions the distraction this space trip can provide Bush. Bush will be looking for WOMD. Yep, do to the happy ending in Iraq, he will do anything to find Weapons of Mass Distraction. H*ll, I still remember his father's "Thousand Points of Light" speach. That was a real beauty. Yep! George Jr., like Bill Clinton before him, will promise to improve every facet of your life and your neighbors life too. According to the Libertarian Party, Bill Clinton proposed an average of $139 million per second in new Federal spendin' in one of his speaches. The one thing he won't tell you is how he is going to pay for it. Jim W. is right, only we can improve our lives. Big brother can't do it, whether it be a social program, a new aircraft carrier, or a new space trip. But these believers of big government will sell you their ideals and their pork. And as long as the football game comes on, and the frig is full, Americans will just keep doing nothing. I vote no for anything that means more stinking government.
Brian, I am sorry that you feel that I offended you, can you please tell me what part of my post was offensive. Because by your post it sounds like we are on the same page. I too believe in individual responsibility, and most Americans only do care about football, the beer, and their job. Most people think they can't do anything about the situation and sit in their lazy boy bi+ching about it and shrugging their shoulders saying "Well I guess that is just the way it is" Until people stop acting and talking about being patriots and start being patriots by banding together to get rid of the "for rent" signs that all these politicians have on their backs, the course that I have described will continue on its course.
Same Page Rob, We are on the same page. We are of like mind. I was being sarcastic. The second sentence of my previous posting was supposed to change the context of the first sentence. Anyway, I appreciate your postings and your refreshingly independent thinking. :beer
if we send Bush(both) and Clinton to the sun, and if the rocket explodes, will they fall back to Earth?
