NASA Needs a Revamp

Odin · December 23, 2002, 20:18

I think NASA in geting to much into the Comercalization of Space. Leave comercial satalites to the private sector and concentrate on space exploration. Stop focusing on earth orbit, we need to send an interstellar space probe, send a probe to Pluto, go to Mars, etc. Why is NASA stuck in earth orbit? we sould be colonizing the moon by now if it wasn't for the freaking buget cuts in the 80's.

Provost Harrison · December 23, 2002, 20:22

The interstellar space probe would certainly be a 'long term investment' considering it wouldn't get to the nearest star for tens of thousands of years

Basically it is far more cost effective to observe from orbit. Realistically the only advantage sending probes has is for real close stuff within the solar system. For other star systems, completely useless. Besides we have reached a point where we can discern planets around other stars (albeit very large planets). And I am sure it will improve over time.

Apocalypse · December 23, 2002, 20:26

NASA needs money for commercialization. While they send up a sat, they use money from that to pay for various experiements they perform while out in space.

Skanky Burns · December 23, 2002, 21:06

They are also busy helping set up the ISS, which will enable future missions to be done at a much cheaper price than they currently are able to. Nasa can't do everything everyone wants to do - there simply isn't enough budget - but what they can do is try to get as many different missions out of that budget as possible.

Odin · December 23, 2002, 22:14

The interstellar probe isn't for checking Alpha Centari out, its to observe the pure cosmic medium without contamination by the solar wind. Stuying the dust in interstellar space will help us study the birth of the solar system, and the origin of life since there is organics like formaldehyde out there.

I've heard that in 2009 they will be launching a special telescope to the orbit of Jupiter to look for earth-like planets. It is actually 4 telescopes connected to a central computer by a metal beam, like the ones supporting the solar panels on the ISS. This "superscope", called an interferometer, finds earth-like planets by canceling out the light from the star and studying the infrared signature of the planet. If a planet's IR signature says there is oxygen on the planet, we've found photosynthetic life.

Lonestar · December 23, 2002, 22:34

I've been saying this for years. Adopt "Mars Direct", NASA!

(And give 'em the money, guv'ment!)

Thrawn05 · December 23, 2002, 22:53

If you want to get NASA more money, you need to get it in the news, and what better way of getting NASA into the news then to send one of those Flat Earth leaders to the moon.

That would be great!

Lonestar · December 23, 2002, 22:55

I'd favor orbital Ion Cannons, myself.

Inverse Icarus · December 23, 2002, 23:52

NASA needs an EUNASA or a CHINASA to make them have a reason to do it.

Odin · December 24, 2002, 00:20

Quote:

Originally posted by UberKruX
NASA needs an EUNASA or a CHINASA to make them have a reason to do it.

That is exactly my pont, you shouldn't need a damn space race for the politicians to fund NASA, Space is our Future for Heaven's sake. (get the pun?)

Inverse Icarus · December 24, 2002, 02:11

Quote:

Originally posted by Odin

That is exactly my pont, you shouldn't need a damn space race for the politicians to fund NASA, Space is our Future for Heaven's sake. (get the pun?)

this is the problem:

america is the major space power, we can agree on this i hope.

american presidents are in for 4 year or 8 year terms, tops. space programs are long term. a planned misson to mars could take a decade, especialy if we're waiting for the right planetary alignment and stuff.

not to mention the money. it's a sinkhole. if you're going to pour hundreds of billions of dollars into a project, you betetr hope in 4 years, come re-election time, your project has somethign to show for it, and a space program probably wont.

missions to the moon are of limited value from an economic standpoint. it's expensive, and pointless. best source of income would be tourism or selling moon rocks on ebay.

if all of a sudden china started a colony on mars (or started plans to) for some reason or another, america would be hard pressed to follow suit and beat the dirty commies to the red planet, and then change it's color