Poll: Back to the moon

[SPIKER]

I had to vote Yes to going back.  as just a couple posts up it is a stepping stone to mars.  the probes are great going over mars now and more on the way.   they really don't do US much good other than to get better information right now, but in 40 years we will probably have this poll up and only difference will be MARS as the landing point.   then there is EUROPA? (Spelling?)  Jupiters moon.  probably not in our grand kids lifetime, unless warp drive and or some other sort of propulsion is designed.   I'm sure once we get more space established we will be able to find better ways of moving through space. (I believe very shortly there is going to be a SPACE SAIL test launch to see if the sun can push the space ship effectively.) 

I do believe that we need to spend our money over HERE, and stop buying made in china every things.  get our technology and manufacturing plants back to work making rockets space trucks ect.

people thing we need a 100 MPG car, truth is that would be a moped.  not a CAR, engine tech can't do it period...   there is no 100 MPG carb invented the power in gas simply is not there period.  it is a simple fact that it takes XXX amounts of energy to move XXX lbs XXX miles.   granted we need to push these 20 mpg new trucks/cars off the assembly line, start building 35~50 mpg 3~4 cyc diesel powered mini cars...   with the tech we now have this is an easy task, heck ya can buy cars/trucks in Europe now that do this.  it is the US buiers and Manufactures who are not building what the planet NEEDS.   PEOPLE need to move back and forth as efficiently as possible.  Hydrogen cars would be great but for now the tech is here that needs to be taken advantage of to use as little fuel as possible to prolong the reserve as well as prevent further pollution.   Granted going to space will use some fuel it won't be nearly a drop in the bucket that is being wasted every day right now.

as for NASA: they have helped the environment a LOT just by cleaning up JET engines making them better cleaner more fuel efficient.   

as for poking holes into the space bubble!?  nope it don't work that way.   not gonna pop our Ozone balloon .   gravity is what hold every thing stuck to the earth, other wise those poor Australians would have to be holding onto the roots to keep from falling off :D

pretty much everything has mass and mass is effected by gravity.  bigger the mass the more gravity.   only reason earth doesn't fall into the sun or hurl into outer space is because gravity...   while physics was my favorite class and I got all A's I still would never figure out some of this stuff that those engineers are working on now, sub-atomic partials, studying quarks, sprites ect.  those things don't lend themselves to normal physics and understanding the science behind this stuff is what will help us, so I say "TO THE MOON ALICE"

Mark M

[Patty]

I would love to see us put a man on Mars, Venus, Jupiter, and even Saturn. Imagine the possibilities! As soon as we can quit piddling around with the antique shuttle program, and the disfunctional space station things will progress. Personally I think if we would commercialize space exploration, and folks could profit from it, I think the progress would be amazing. Until then, as long as we have to depend on the government and all the politicians, it will continue at a snail's pace.  I say have the government step aside, and let the games begin!  8)

[submarinesailor]

I voted yes, because I would like to see the new technology that could come out of the program.  We went to the moon using 1960's computers, some say the semiconductor, or was it the integrated circuit, was invented for NASA.  Can you just imagine how far we could push some of this newer technology?

Bruce

[DWM II]

I'm with you Norm, pretty neat how folks just help out. This is a very neat place to hang out and learn as well grow as folks.

[mike_van]

I didn't vote - I read this whole thread and still can't - I'm old enough to remember Sputnik being launched - When  we landed on the moon, I was in the Air Force - I'm one of those "kids of the 50's" - I believed every sci-fi movie I ever saw, but today, I just don't know. Until we have some faster mode of space flight - warp speed, whatever, it seems pointless. I  think one of the Voyagers took 12 years to get to Saturn? It's just too long.  We need a faster rocket -  I see a lot of things here that money could be spent on, old toxic dumps, schools that need help, there's never enough money for those. Some around here have "pay to play" sports now, it costs each kids parents 450.00 to play a school sport. Not enough funds. I know a lot of good things came out of NASA, but the price tags seem terrible. My daughters robotics team is trying to raise 6000.00 for the 1st Robotics Compitition in Atlanta, whats that? One tile on the space shuttle?  I'm a little lost in the 50's I guess -

[Tom]

A model T was good for about 45 MPH but the roads wouldn't allow that much speed.  Now the cars will go over a hundred and we have a lot of roads that would stand it.  We wouldn't have either if the model T hadn't mushed along in the mud.

[DanG]

I still maintain that, all other considerations aside, it would be great for the economy.  It would create many, many high paying jobs, and those people would be paying taxes.  They would also be buying stuff, and that would generate even more tax dollars.  It would not only help the Federal coffers, but the States and local governments would realize more income, too.  Money is nothing if it doesn't circulate.

[SwampDonkey]

I agree Dang, but trouble is some states will be left behind and some prosper. It's the way of the world.

[Bill Johnson]

We should go, we had the "One small step for man" lets get the "One giant leap for mankind". I remember when the first lunar landing occurred, I just happened to be on a trip organized by our high school at the time of the landing we were in Russia.  I still remember the in-tourist guide getting on the bus that morning telling all us Canadian students how proud mother Russia was of our cosmonauts. ;D 

She seemed a little disappointed when someone pointed out we were from Canada. :D

Having said that lets go, yes its terribly expensive, but the returns could easily outweigh the costs.

[leweee]

Log Earth first ....the other planets latter. :D

[maplewoman]

Did no one hear me? space crafts tear holes in the ozone layer :'( Causing catastrophic effects on the earths delicate atmosphere. Like the dog with the bone who saw his reflection in the water, the water magnified the size of the bone so the dog tried to get the bigger bone in the waters reflection, loosing his real bone. Would you all be willing to risk this planet for a mere vacation/self gratification. Shame Shame Shame

[Tom]

I don't believe that hole in ceiling from the rocket ships, junk.

[SwampDonkey]

When you drive your car down the road, is there a permanent hole in the air. I really don't think gases or particles within the influence of earth are static. They move from a high concentration to a low. That so called hole gets healed over from it's surroundings like water would flow around the bow surfaces of a sub as it speeds along.

For some reason you've decided to go on an environmental stint in your most recent posts. Maybe your looking for attention, who knows. You'll probably not get much fan fare. But, I'll just leave it at that.

Have a good evening. 

[Jeff]

Did no one hear me? space crafts tear holes in the ozone layer :'(

Your seriously misinformed.  Thats like saying if enough planes fly through a cloud it will look like swiss cheese, or if you jump in the lake that you will make a hole and if someone jumps in after you in the same spot they will hit the lake bottom, that if a car drives first into the fog, that every car behind it has a clear tunnel.

[Jeff]

Oops, great minds donk... ;)

[SwampDonkey]

 ;D

[Furby]

Maplewoman, do you know how the ozone in the stratosphere, also known as the ozone layer, is formed?

[estiers]

I think that maplewoman has a point.  The ozone will be AFFECTED by the shuttle going through it, just like the cloud is affected when the plane goes through it.  If enough planes go through a single cloud the cloud will disseminate....  I think that even though the shuttles will affect the ozone layer, that little amount of traffic make the point moot.  Now when the time come for regular space travel, we may need to reopen the discussion.

[Patty]

I am guessing we should all move back into caves where we won't do any more "harm".  Except maybe the bats will be mad.  :

Fly me to the moon!

[OneWithWood]

I am glad we went to the moon and I have no problem with the space program.  The benefits everyone have described are real and tangible.  Consider this for a moment:  The same benefits would accrue if we turned all that exploration inward and made a serious attempt to inhabit the oceans.    ( t really wanted a scuba smiley)
In addition to all the aforementioned bennies we would gain a much better understanding of this planet and may even be able to mend some of the damage done.  Not to mention that if we don't do something soon about the population we are going to run out of real estate  ;)

[Tom]

You're right OWW.

I've always been interested in what is down there.  It might not have the intrigue of the infinity of outerspace but is full of questions that have never been answered.   

There is a lot of available power there too.   I remember one effort to put big generators in the Gulf Stream.  Even their maintenance would have been minor because of the lack of light to grow barnacles and algae.  Some folks jumped on it with arguments like "The turbines will kill fish", much like they jumped on windmills with "the blades will kill birds", and the project went to the wayside.  If folks are quick to jump on "Blue Sky" projects, they can kill them before they ever get off of the ground.

I'll bet that a highway to Europe could be handy too.  Can't you imagine  it runing along the ocean floor with places where you could pull over and see the sights through a big window and lit ocean floor?  School students could see the great ocean rift in person.  Hotels and motels along the way to make the trip easier.  It might even be electric and you just hook your car to a hook and program it to start and stop when you want.

The wrecks could all be found and historically appraised.  The species of the deep could be studied.  I think it would be fun to go to the bottom of the Marianas Trench and be able to sight-see.

I wonder if you drilled a well at the bottom of the ocean would you hit fresh water?

Yep, that would be a worthwhile venture.  I'd vote for it. 

We might even find seaweeds that taste as good as turnip greens with a little fatback and diced roots thrown in.  :D :D

[DWM II]

Now were talking!! 8). I think there's a better chance for me to see the bottom of the ocean than mars.

[tcsmpsi]

I like caves.  A lot.   ;D

[Tom]

I've always wondered, If you are spelunking, are you tresspassing? :D

[SwampDonkey]

The Nova Scotia government is in the initial phase of constructing a hydro generating farm in the Bay Of Fundy. The initial phase is experimental/developmental of the technology and they have set a goal of 1 megawatt output. This is the first step toward a large farm of generators.

Where else can you go in the world and look out toward the ocean during low tide, as far as the eye can see, and see nothing but ocean floor?  If I were somewhere else and that happened, I'd be headed toward the highest peak.  ;D :D