Mars Rover Spirit Falls Silent ...

[yavoon]

Originally posted by Sprayber


Well inform me ole mighty one


How has this little trip to Mars helped me

well for the most obvious you assume that NASA is comprised entirely of one unmanned mission to mars.

I think the laffability of that should speed u on ur way to a more detailed investigation of ur woeful inadequacies.

[GePap]

Hey. my thread begun with an article and a link!

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthrea...hreadid=107037

Go there, the better thread!

[Eli]

How has this little trip to Mars helped me

The whole point is to do lots of expensive and off stuff and hope you hit gold.

You can spend money on nothing and more nothing and then bam, you have a Steam Engine, or the Internet and the world has changed.

[Japher]

Hey. my thread begun with an article and a link!

We don't want to bring facts into this now do we?

[MrFun]

Sigh -- one of the problems is that some people have this instant gratification attitude, that if NASA does not change our society in some dramatic way in a couple of weeks, they must be failing.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by bfg9000
Well, since you're fond of making wild assumptions about the usage of federal tax money without Bush's guidance,

Yeah, cuz the Democrats have sure spent so much money on the poor. When has the United States ever had any kind of social democratic pretentions? The only time the U.S. came close, the so-called War on Poverty, it got derailed, not by the space program, but the WAR ON VIETNAM!

The money that would have been available if NASA wasnt using it would go a long way towards building a social safety net.

If it wasn't being used for NASA, it would be used, most likely, for pork-barrel projects. It certainly wouldn't be used for helping the poor. That or it would be gven to the rich as a tax cut. You'd be better off *****ing about the billion dollars a day we spend in Iraq.

No I didnt spend my tax cut. I'm middle class - I didnt get one.

You got one, just not much of one.

You always act like it's this either or propoistion. Either we explore space or we feed the poor. NASA gets a pittance. Half the Federal budget is taken up paying for past and future wars (some of which goes to NASA). Then there's all the money spent on corporate welfare. If you kvetched abuot the moeny we spend on everything else, maybe you'd at least be logically consistent when it comes to NASA's budget. As it is, you only trot out this argument for NASA.

[Sprayber]

I would settle for them building things that actually work. How much money was spent by the US, the UK and the Japanese to send those probes to Mars and what new information have we gotten from.

[chequita guevara]

How much money did Columbus bring back to Spain from the Americas? How much better off is the world that he blunder over here?

[yavoon]

Originally posted by Sprayber
I would settle for them building things that actually work. How much money was spent by the US, the UK and the Japanese to send those probes to Mars and what new information have we gotten from.

what an inane objection.

[Japher]

Sigh -- one of the problems is that some people have this instant gratification attitude, that if NASA does not change our society in some dramatic way in a couple of weeks, they must be failing.

that is so true, and is the reason a lot of ppl have beef with a lot of different programs. Gimme, gimme, gimme!!!

what new information have we gotten from.

That those ideas didn't work?... We, at least, got some very expensive pictures

[Kramerman]

without NASA, we ouwldnt have Postropedic Matresses!!! Or those pens that can write upside down! How dare you ask what has NASA done for you

[MrFun]

Actually, the manufacturers of TempurPedic claims that their matresses are based on technology used by NASA.

[Kramerman]

lol, i am glad someone knew what the hell i was trying to talk about

[MrFun]

Apolytoners are here to help each other out after all - when we're not at each other's throats.

[Japher]

without NASA, we ouwldnt have Postropedic Matresses!!! Or those pens that can write upside down! How dare you ask what has NASA done for you

Actually, the space program has down a lot more than just matresses... Like TANG!@!!@#

Seriously, rockets are not just used for sending peices of sheit to mars, but also send up satelites which are invaluable as communication tools (and for spying). Creating more efficient rockets encourages developments in material science (plastic, ceramics, conductors), electronics (microwave communication), and computers/programming (navigation and tracking systems)...

The space program has put out a lot of very useful tools that many people just take for granted these days. Because it is a "what have you done for me lately" buisness, though many ppl are to blind to see.

[Jac de Molay]

Screw Mars. Build a Space Elevator instead. The payoffs would be far better than pelting some desolate rock with expensive TinkerToys.

[Sprayber]

Originally posted by yavoon


well for the most obvious you assume that NASA is comprised entirely of one unmanned mission to mars.

I think the laffability of that should speed u on ur way to a more detailed investigation of ur woeful inadequacies.

You assuming that I assume anything is a big mistake. Assumptions can be major ****ups


Just because I don't have a hard on everytime NASA sends up a probe doesnt mean you can act all smug and think you are somehow connected to the pulse of science. Sure space exploration is good, but perhaps we could start making life here on this planet a little happier.

[lord of the mark]

It almost certainly makes sense to spend a certain amount of money on pure science. Within that it makes sense to spend a certain amount on space exploration and planetary science. Arguing for zero space exploration until every domestic social problem is solved is probably not a good idea - nonetheless there IS a real opportunity cost to space exploration - whether you want to use the money for social programs, in Iraq, or to return to the taxpayers. In that sense, NASA must show a good return in science for the money.

The ISS as currently configured almost certainly does not meet any reasonableness test. Hubble, and most earth orbit research sats certainly do. I suspect the comet probes, solar probes, and deep interplanetary probes, which dont have the costs associated with landing, etc do as well.

The real questions get to landing manned or unmanned on the moon and Mars. I suspect a very good case could be made that a man mission to Mars within the next 15 to 20 years doesnt make a lot of sense. The unmanned missions looked promising - but it must be admitted that the cost benefit ratio is looking pretty poor - I think someone is soon going to have to figure out WHY Mars landing missions are so difficulty prone, before we look to invest more in that direction. Besides, if youre commited to space science, I suspect there are many other space projects other than Mars landings that need funding as well.

[Sprayber]

Originally posted by lord of the mark
It almost certainly makes sense to spend a certain amount of money on pure science. Within that it makes sense to spend a certain amount on space exploration and planetary science. Arguing for zero space exploration until every domestic social problem is solved is probably not a good idea - nonetheless there IS a real opportunity cost to space exploration - whether you want to use the money for social programs, in Iraq, or to return to the taxpayers. In that sense, NASA must show a good return in science for the money.

The ISS as currently configured almost certainly does not meet any reasonableness test. Hubble, and most earth orbit research sats certainly do. I suspect the comet probes, solar probes, and deep interplanetary probes, which dont have the costs associated with landing, etc do as well.

The real questions get to landing manned or unmanned on the moon and Mars. I suspect a very good case could be made that a man mission to Mars within the next 15 to 20 years doesnt make a lot of sense. The unmanned missions looked promising - but it must be admitted that the cost benefit ratio is looking pretty poor - I think someone is soon going to have to figure out WHY Mars landing missions are so difficulty prone, before we look to invest more in that direction. Besides, if youre commited to space science, I suspect there are many other space projects other than Mars landings that need funding as well.

Exactly

[Arrian]

Damn, I hope they get it working again.

-Arrian

[mrmitchell]

NASA officials work around the clock to get this problem fixed, costing taxpayers $$$ in overtime.

In a related story, old person freezes to death in a rundown innercity dwelling without heat in the Northeast because of insufficient funding of social programs to reach her and give assistance.

But did you know that giving people things is COMMUNISM!!!?

[chequita guevara]

You know I'm not opposed to setting up an extensive social safety net, don't you bgf9000?

[rah]

What would the world be like without velcro?

[Japher]

a lot quieter, except for the screaming children as they crack their heads on the sidewalk when they trip over their shoe laces?

[The Mad Monk]

We have to keep advancing, or we will lose it all. Not might, will.

Every step we take that leads us off this planet leads us away from catastrophe.

[MrFun]

Originally posted by rah
What would the world be like without velcro?

Er . . . . .


ferrets and raccoons would not get along as well as they do now??

[rah]

Originally posted by Japher
a lot quieter, except for the screaming children as they crack their heads on the sidewalk when they trip over their shoe laces?

And MrFun, I don't get it.

[MrFun]

Velcro would stick to fur right??

So if ferrets and raccoons got stuck together, obviously they would have to find some way to get along.

[Japher]

MrFun actually had a pretty good role with all his jokes being semi-funny... I think he's taken a step back with this one...

NOT FUNNY!!!

[Agathon]

Originally posted by MrFun
Velcro would stick to fur right??

So if ferrets and raccoons got stuck together, obviously they would have to find some way to get along.

You owe us all ten bucks compensation for having to read that.