Isn't dismantling the space program long overdue?

[Revoltingest]

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

Of course, if we had to leave the planet because of problems we caused for ourselves, we'd
just bring our problems with us to an even harsher environment. A recipe for failure, eh?

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".

True dat.

 

[dust1n]

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.

I doubt we'll make it very far in the grand scheme of things. Seems like human civilization will last 40k-150k more years, and then die. But assuming that doesn't happen, we got plenty of time to identify somewhere. Right now, we need to get on cold fusion, H3 harvesting (with clones, of course, like that movie Moon [excellent movie, btw]), mining any and all metals than can be mined.

There simply isn't enough on planet Earth to even make a good space colony.

 

[dust1n]

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.

How does it not? The Earth ain't a bubble. With space research, we really don't even know that much about the Earth.

It is not IMO feasible to "evacuate to space".

Well, yea, but we've only been around a few thousand years so. It's a relatively short time period.

 

[dust1n]

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

Well, I'm interested in teleportation myself. Do we really even need to be engaging in locomotion at all?

But seriously though we have some 'anti-gravity technology,' but it is more like, we just fly things really close to big planets and use their gravity to 'propulse' at incredibly high speeds without having to use any fuel.

 

[Riverwolf]

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:

The States wouldn't even exist. ...which means the Germans could have easily won the first World War(something that had been brewing ever since the Black Death), and we'd all still be living under monarchies. ...and the industrial revolution may never had happened.

 

[Jeremy Mason]

I couldn't help it.
[youtube]GuR3zDaqQMY[/youtube]
Bill Maher - Sonar Exercises and Mars - YouTube

 

[freethinker44]

I couldn't help it.
[youtube]GuR3zDaqQMY[/youtube]
Bill Maher - Sonar Exercises and Mars - YouTube

You don't hear Ashton Kutcher saying we need to stop funding the arts though.

 

[Jeremy Mason]

You don't hear Ashton Kutcher saying we need to stop funding the arts though.

Of course not. As a former percussion instructor, I have found the arts to promote many socially need skills. Surely, your not promoting the current decline in these fields, right?

 

[Revoltingest]

I doubt we'll make it very far in the grand scheme of things. Seems like human civilization will last 40k-150k more years, and then die. But assuming that doesn't happen, we got plenty of time to identify somewhere. Right now, we need to get on cold fusion, H3 harvesting (with clones, of course, like that movie Moon [excellent movie, btw]), mining any and all metals than can be mined.
There simply isn't enough on planet Earth to even make a good space colony.

I'm an engineer, so I have some authority on the following claim.
There is no technological solution to our problems, because our problems are inherent in us.
Sure, sure, there are innovations which make life better, eg, the flush toilet, modern sewer
systems, car tires which last 40K miles. But all tech fixes just enable us to muck things
up with greater efficiency, eg, atom bomb, bio weapons. We just need to be smarter &
nicer to each other. Of course, that's not a solution available to us either.

 

[Aquitaine]

I couldn't help it.
[youtube]GuR3zDaqQMY[/youtube]
Bill Maher - Sonar Exercises and Mars - YouTube

Massive amounts of respect now lost for Bill Maher and Ashton Kutcher..... not that I ever liked him anyways lol!

 

[dust1n]

I'm an engineer, so I have some authority on the following claim.
There is no technological solution to our problems, because our problems are inherent in us.
Sure, sure, there are innovations which make life better, eg, the flush toilet, modern sewer
systems, car tires which last 40K miles. But all tech fixes just enable us to muck things
up with greater efficiency, eg, atom bomb, bio weapons. We just need to be smarter &
nicer to each other. Of course, that's not a solution available to us either.

Hey, there is no disagreement from me regarding internal-personally stuff and what not, but as great at killing each other humans are, even killing each other now is rather difficult, bureaucratic task and subject to the some human err that prevents us from doing stuff more effectively.

Ultimately, we don't know what's gonna happen in 10, 30, 50, 1000, years so...

At least I'll be around to find out.

 

[InformedIgnorance]

I am strongly of the opinion that those opposed to the space program have come to agree with the proposition that 'you aren't getting it right until you get an E in science', which might explain the american education system (and yes I believe the two are definitely related - they are both symptoms of a societal rejection of knowledge inconvenient to a growingly anti-rationalist america)

Any 'evacuation to space' will no doubt be limited - with the rich and talented able to get themselves off an increasingly filthy and decrepit planet by way of very limited emigration; which strangely enough would likely leave a significant portion of the more fundamentalist religious folks (and those unfortunate enough to be poor and lacking in the specific areas of talent valued in the growing society/societies in space) behind on earth where space remains an overwhelmingly secular bastion.

And "good riddance" both groups will say; yet in time some of those on earth will become increasingly secular driven by the need to survive and the desire to thrive on earth (given religion has nothing to offer with regards to how that might occur on such an abused planet), while some of those in space would become increasingly mystical (new space religions FTW! lol)

 

[Brickjectivity]

Yay space programs!

 

[InformedIgnorance]

Actually I'd really like to know if the JWST (James Web Space Telescope for those who didn't know) can once fully deployed fold back up to limit damage from minor impacts but I cannot find any info on it Y_Y help me interwebs!!! lol

 

[Reverend Rick]

Let me ask a question, why does Canada, Germany, France, England, or Australia not have a space program?

 

[Revoltingest]

Let me ask a question, why does Canada, Germany, France, England, or Australia not have a space program?

They get to watch ours for free.

 

[InformedIgnorance]

Because Australia does not have a population sufficient to generate the economy necessary to support the cost of such a program; the others you listed should probably get their but in gear.

Actually Australia should probably be approaching the chinese to try and get on their good side by partnering with them on this... but i think the would be more likely to go with the russians

 

[Reverend Rick]

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!"

What extra money dust1n? We borrow over a trillion dollars a year, there is no "extra money".

 

[Ouroboros]

Let me ask a question, why does Canada,

Canadian Space Agency - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Germany,

German Aerospace Center - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

France,

CNES - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

England,

UK Space Agency - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

or Australia

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

not have a space program?

Mostly, they work together in joint efforts. One country providing engines, another other parts, etc.

Like ESA, European Space Agency.
Galileo IOV take-off

Next takeoff: May 4th.

I'm not sure how many they've done, but they've been doing this for many, many years now.

 

[Ouroboros]

Because Australia does not have a population sufficient to generate the economy necessary to support the cost of such a program; the others you listed should probably get their but in gear.

But they can afford 40 million.

AUSTRALIAN SPACE RESEARCH PROGRAM - Australian Space Research Program

Actually Australia should probably be approaching the chinese to try and get on their good side by partnering with them on this... but i think the would be more likely to go with the russians

Most countries are in partnerships for the space program.