Nasa is a waste of funds!

[Docfeelgood]

Doc, FYI, Che isn't a teenager.

Really!

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Ramo
I agree that NASA is a waste of money. Yes, a lot of neat science has come from the space program, but it's practical research, as opposed to blue skies research. That means there's plenty of motivation from the private sector to figure this stuff out.

Except this isn't entirely historically accurate. The research wouldn't have been done if the governement wasn't doing it. Just like most drug research is funded by the government. Companies won't spend that much money on research which doesn't produce results right away. We wouldn't have the personal computer if it weren't for the government or the internet.

[Static Universe]

The same people who are crying "NASA is a waste" now will probably be the ones crying the loudest if America ever loses it's space superiority.

Hard to argue that defense spending is more or less important than space spending, since NASA itself is a major asset in America's defense system. Even though it rarely makes the news, shuttle flights are often involved in properly launching or repairing sensitive intel satelites.

Control of space is something that is very much on the Pentagon's agenda tight now, and has been for a long time. They are very much of the view that battles will at some point be fought in space, and are preparing to do so. On the ground, GPS systems and satelite mapping are the backbone of our modernized military.

The scientific community, the Pentagon and military contractors are very much behind NASA, so I doubt you will see a major reduction in our space commitment.

Check these links for the military's position on outer space

http://www.fas.org/spp/eprint/p187.pdf

http://www.space.com/news/dod_space_011008.html

http://www.dtic.mil/armylink/news/Dec1997/a19971216space.html

http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/library/report/1992/GJA.htm

Edit: repaired link

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Docfeelgood
Really!

I'm almost 36. I just get ornery when confronted by willful and continuing ignorance.

[Docfeelgood]

I do not mean to insult you in any way, but this stuff ain't exactly "rocket science," you know?

Now that is good




I should have come up with that one.

[Ramo]

Except this isn't entirely historically accurate. The research wouldn't have been done if the governement wasn't doing it. Just like most drug research is funded by the government. Companies won't spend that much money on research which doesn't produce results right away. We wouldn't have the personal computer if it weren't for the government or the internet.

I don't know if that's true. I'd say that businesses would start taking a greater share in practical research if the gov't stopped subsidizing it. They don't have much motivation to pay for it themselves since the gov't is footing the bill.

[Docfeelgood]

The same people who are crying "NASA is a waste" now will probably be the ones crying the loudest if America ever loses it's space superiority.

I git the feeling that space exploration is a pissingcontest with the rest of the world.


I ask again. Why should space be exclusive American domain?


Is this what it is all about?

I thought space exploration was to benefit mankind and all that BS.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Ramo
I don't know if that's true. I'd say that businesses would start taking a greater share in practical research if the gov't stopped subsidizing it. They don't have much motivation to pay for it themselves since the gov't is footing the bill.

Businesses have very short term vision in the US. If they can't point to immediate results, investors will demand the project be killed.

In any event, we all benefit, not just the corporations. All of us on this thread have directly benefits, as we're all using personal computers to have this discussion.
If it had been up to the major computer manufacturer in the US, IBM, personal computers never would have been persued. If it weren't for the minturization of transitors that was necessary for manned space flight, Apple couldn't have stepped in and found that there was a market for personal computers.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Docfeelgood
I git the feeling that space exploration is a pissingcontest with the rest of the world.

That's cuz you're not paying attention to what others have written in this thread and the other thread you started with the same topic.

Is this what it is all about?

Go back and reread this thread. If you still can't understand it, go find a five year old to read it and explain it to you.

[Velociryx]

Doc.....if you keep changing the question, nobody will ever be able to provide you with an answer....

-=Vel=-

[Static Universe]

Originally posted by Ramo


I don't know if that's true. I'd say that businesses would start taking a greater share in practical research if the gov't stopped subsidizing it. They don't have much motivation to pay for it themselves since the gov't is footing the bill.

At this point, the US government has no desire to release control of space into the public domain. They are working in conjunction with Lockheed to develop high atmosphere planes and several other smaller companies on similar ventures.

It's reached the point where private firms are becoming interested in developing these things on their own, and the government is about to shift more responsibilities to them. This is the history of nearly every technological innovation America has ever had.

[Static Universe]

Originally posted by Docfeelgood

I git the feeling that space exploration is a pissingcontest with the rest of the world.

I ask again. Why should space be exclusive American domain?

Is this what it is all about?

I thought space exploration was to benefit mankind and all that BS.

The beauty of NASA is that's it's a pissingcontest that benefits the rest of the world.

Space shouldn't be exclusively American, but the American gov't and military see it as vital to their security that it be so. They don't mind sharing it, but don't want it shared with them, know what I mean?

[Docfeelgood]

know what I mean?

Not really


What happened to benifiting mankind and all that sactomny BS?

[Docfeelgood]

I am glad that some of you are comming around to my way of thinkin

NASA is a waste of funds!

If space is for the military then lets just give the money to the military and cut out the middel man/NASA.


Right?

[chequita guevara]

God, you're a ****ing moron.