Isn't dismantling the space program long overdue?

[Reptillian]

I always wondered what the face of human extinction looks like.

Extinction, no no no...I see Morlocks and Eloi in our future.

 

[Ouroboros]

LOL actors aren't artists anymore?

Touché!

All good what you said.

 

[Riverwolf]

... and when bigots burned the man who dared to bring enlightenment and intelligence to the human mind.

Actually, historically, that didn't happen until WELL after the feudal system in Europe had collapsed... and in fact partially happened because the system had collapsed.

The problem was that if you were intelligent, you'd better be a cleric or go into being one.

 

[Alceste]

I am very surprised that no-one has mentioned energy generation and mineral resources.

During the 1960s Gerard K O'Neill managed a government funded think-tank which investigated these subjects. The think-tank was comprised of graduate engineers who took part in the project as an alternative to writing their own thesis to obtain a Masters Degree. They were asked to answer the question "Is the earth's surface the optimum location for a growing industrial society ?"

It was this effort which produced the mass driver to deliver minerals mined in the asteroid belt (later transformed into the 'rail-gun' for the SDI - Space Defence Initiative) and designs for orbiting solar generators.The generators were to power orbital space industry, and to provide electricity for the earth via microwave transmission.

The answer to the question was a conclusive "No" - for two main reasons. One was that fossil fuels are a finite resource ( peak oil was approaching ) and the other that 95% of all energy used by industrial societies is consumed resisting gravity.

The sun is a 24/7/365 source of energy in space. Efficiency of microwave delivery was then around 38%, probably higher now. Regarding investment, the amortisation schedule was very encouraging, promising cheaper electricity on the ground within a few years of establishing the generators.

The asteroid belt has mineral resources equivalent to thousands of earths.

This is why bases on Mars are so appealing, and why there is an international race to achieve them. The asteroid belt, site of the biggest possible mining operation in human history, is just past Mars ...

Honestly, I am staggered at the naivety of people who actually believe that international governments are spending untold billions of dollars in the name of 'scientific curiosity'. It is a very romantic ideal. And we all know how much the 0.01% love spending big money on romantic ideals, LOL. Cute, understandable, WRONG.

You better hope this works ...

Klaatu Barada Nikto

You're not the only one to consider it. I was just too lazy to bring it up.

We're on a sinking ship. The life preservers were all idiotically stashed on the lowest deck, and are now beneath twenty feet of freezing water. Is anybody going to get them now? If not, what is to be gained by reminding people they are there?

We've spent the bulk of our limited resources on fattening ourselves and killing one another and no longer have enough left to harvest additional resources from space. Shall you and I simply fiddle on the deck? It accomplishes little but it passes the time and brightens the mood.

 

[methylatedghosts]

You're not the only one to consider it. I was just too lazy to bring it up.

We're on a sinking ship. The life preservers were all idiotically stashed on the lowest deck, and are now beneath twenty feet of freezing water. Is anybody going to get them now? If not, what is to be gained by reminding people they are there?

We've spent the bulk of our limited resources on fattening ourselves and killing one another and no longer have enough left to harvest additional resources from space. Shall you and I simply fiddle on the deck? It accomplishes little but it passes the time and brightens the mood.

Saw this comic a whiles ago...

 

[Alceste]

Saw this comic a whiles ago...

Exactly.

 

[methylatedghosts]

Though, honestly I don't think we're at that point. I'm certain we'll make it out there

 

[Riverwolf]

Though, honestly I don't think we're at that point. I'm certain we'll make it out there

I agree.

Getting out there may be impossible with currently-existing technology, but NEVER underestimate human innovation, inspiration, or adaptability. After all, it used to be impossible to get out there at all.

 

[Reverend Rick]

I'm interested in anti-gravity technology. Propulsion takes too much fuel you have to carry with you.

 

[Reverend Rick]

This is like counseling Ferdinand and Isabella that funding Columbus' explorations were "flushing money down the sewer".

Good thing you weren't around in 1492.

(Though there were many around with the same feelings.)

Hmmmmmm, lets see, if Columbus stayed home then the slave trade would have not happened nor would the slaughter of the American Indians. The States would not be a world super power........... :no:

 

[Iti oj]

You guys just gave me the chills

 

[apophenia]

You're not the only one to consider it. I was just too lazy to bring it up.

We're on a sinking ship. The life preservers were all idiotically stashed on the lowest deck, and are now beneath twenty feet of freezing water. Is anybody going to get them now? If not, what is to be gained by reminding people they are there?

We've spent the bulk of our limited resources on fattening ourselves and killing one another and no longer have enough left to harvest additional resources from space. Shall you and I simply fiddle on the deck? It accomplishes little but it passes the time and brightens the mood.

You're probably right. I keep forgetting how stupid people are. I forget quite deliberately. It doesn't help my mood at all being enlightened. :areyoucra

It was such a great idea though ...

 

[WyattDerp]

"A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he will never sit." -- D. Elton Trueblood

 

[dust1n]

I always thought the notion that we didn't have money for space exploration was rather lame considering no one who wants to get rid of NASA wants to use that money for something better or more immediate or important.

"Alright, we've defunded the space program, what should we do with all this extra money, help these poor people over here?"

"No, no new welfare!"

 

[Alceste]

I always thought the notion that we didn't have money for space exploration was rather lame considering no one who wants to get rid of NASA wants to use that money for something better or more immediate or important.

"Alright, we've defunded the space program, what should we do with all this extra money, help these poor people over here?"

"No, no new welfare!"

They're usually more than happy to spend it blowing other people up.

 

[Revoltingest]

I always thought the notion that we didn't have money for space exploration was rather lame considering no one who wants to get rid of NASA wants to use that money for something better or more immediate or important.

"Alright, we've defunded the space program, what should we do with all this extra money, help these poor people over here?"
"No, no new welfare!"

I don't think those are the same groups of people. The most rabid anti-welfare people I know are all pro-science
& pro-space exploration. Of course, the silly risky costly manned mission to Mars stuff is another matter entirely.
Unmanned missions & telepresence are pretty cost effective ways to explore.

 

[apophenia]

If there was a global truce we could easily afford to mine the asteroid belt, and everyone would be rich.

Hang on, that's insane.

Papoon for President ! Allahu Akbar !

 

[dust1n]

They're usually more than happy to spend it blowing other people up.

If we are going to do that, we can at least get better at it over time... you know, raise the bar.

I don't think those are the same groups of people. The most rabid anti-welfare people I know are all pro-science
& pro-space exploration. Of course, the silly risky costly manned mission to Mars stuff is another matter entirely.
Unmanned missions & telepresence are pretty cost effective ways to explore.

Oh I've met plenty of anti-social programs, pro-science & space (probably describes my dad). But if someone is anti-government space program, I'm going to put my money on anti-welfare. Of course, there's always the chance I made a bad bet.


But yea, I agree. As computers get better and better here on Earth, everything about Space will get much easier. There really isn't a reason to leave the planet unless, like, we are actually be forced off the planet.

 

[Revoltingest]

But yea, I agree. As computers get better and better here on Earth, everything about Space will get much easier. There really isn't a reason to leave the planet unless, like, we are actually be forced off the planet.

We'd actually have to identify a place to go first. But we can relax....it'll be over
a billion years to go before the Sun becomes a red giant & scorches the Earth.

 

[LuisDantas]

But it will be a dramatically shorter time before we find ourselves in major demographic, ecological and resources-related trouble.

Not that I think that space research has much of a role to play there, mind you. It is not IMO feasible to "evacuate to space".