I completely agree. It's a total shame that we went to the moon nearly 35 years ago, and never followed it up. Considering all of the technological advances that came out of Mercury and Apollo, that's reason enough to go again, but this time with different goals. The moon base that may be proposed later this month is a good first step in learning how to prepare for extended missions to other places.

NASA gets a bad rap for sucking up federal dollars. As government programs go, they get an extremely small portion of the federal budget and end up doing quite a bit of important work with it. But the space shuttle has been an albatross around its neck for over 20 years. It takes up such a huge portion of the NASA budget that there's little left for research. Most people forget that the shuttle is mid-1970's technology and aerodynamic design.

It's time to phase out the shuttle, and move on to other goals. I'm very pleased that the President has recognized the issue. Many here disagree with the President's vision on a lot of matters, but he's certainly forward-thinking. What I've read so far indicates that he was directly involved with this decision, personally meeting with the NASA administration to develop a plan.

i'd love to see a terraformed mars in my lifetime, an extraterrestrial society that could maintain a level of autonomy, free from colonial ties with USA, China or Europe, would be a great fait accompli for humanity, it reminds me of this nihilistic quote:

quote:

No one really wants to swim in shit, but It's going to take a little more than chlorine to clean out this pool. Try drain and refill

A clean slate state, where humanity can hopefully learn from their mistakes and not piss in their new pool. That been said, it will probably become an extension to the missile defense shield, and an extra rock to drill for fossil fuels

I completely agree. Out with the shuttles and in with exploration.

I was actually just discussing with someone the other day about when we would start going to the moon again with the purpose of landing and educating ourselves further about the universe.

With our advances in technology, who knows? We may be able to visit other planets besides the moon in a few (10,15,10 or so) years. But with how things are going, who knows if we'd want to anymore?

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i think we should only try and get to the moon when the terrorist gather up their resources and try to get to the moon

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I am too, glad to see the U.S. returning to the moon, either for natural resources, exploration or both. But I think the U.S. is more concerned about the Chinese getting to moon, which is said to happen around 2020. Apparently, we do not want our so called "strategic competitor" to pass us in the development of space technology. With that in mind, ambitions are raised to have a permanent base on the moon and dismantle the I.S.S. totally. I suppose this move would be a prudent one according to the top minds in D.C.

quote:

Originally posted by PHALPAX I am too, glad to see the U.S. returning to the moon, either for natural resources, exploration or both. But I think the U.S. is more concerned about the Chinese getting to moon, which is said to happen around 2020. Apparently, we do not want our so called "strategic competitor" to pass us in the development of space technology. With that in mind, ambitions are raised to have a permanent base on the moon and dismantle the I.S.S. totally. I suppose this move would be a prudent one according to the top minds in D.C.

Yeah, I agree that China is the only reason the US space program is getting powered up again. Well, as long as there's increased spending on space programs, I'm all happy.

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yeah and it would be great for the economy here in so-cal as well since they have so much of the aerospace industry based here

it would be awesum if they decided to do it but i think it would requie a huge amount of money, money which really could be better spent at this point in time elsewhere...in short i think before we can look at other planets + satellites we need to take care of things here on our home planet the money could be spent on welfare and education, for instance, where it is def. needed right now

yes i know sum1's gonna say sumthing like "oh thats so ignorant how can you say sumthing like that" lol but i still think its true

i want to go

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how about we feed the hungry first

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[/IMG]http://i54.tinypic.com/ngycqo.png[/IMG]

geez silly...the moon is made of cheese...we get our hands on it again...the hungry will have a feast!

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didnt we all sign up? http://www.marsrepublic.net/

i mean i thought we were just waiting to go home?????

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