What do you think of the space program?

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Originally Posted by perkyskirt

I dont understand how a block of "foam" can rip tile off the space shuttle. Is it like foam you would typically think of, or something more like a large brick? I'd imagine that shuttle is pretty tough to deal with all the friction and heat so how could "foam" rip a hole in the wing?

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I think it's, like, mega foam.
What I'm more worried about is that bird the shuttle hit on takeoff, the last thing we need is a PETA/NASA war.

I'm shaving the top portion of my head as we speak to look like Picard.

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Originally Posted by voltz

From what I figure, we don't have the motivation to do anything with both the problems of the shuttle staying together, bush's program cuts (let's leave the hubble out to rot), and the war in Iraq, which we are more concerned with. Also without other countries setting out to one-up the us in terms of space exploration, we'll just likely sit there playing politics till something important happens.

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Yet another ridiculous voltz post. The Hubble telescope has always had problems, we should probably have cut our losses a decade ago, the war in Iraq doesnt affect NASA and their budget in any way (NASA's budget has expanded about $1.1 billion since 2003), and plenty of other countries are working on space programs, especially China.

As for the foam, its foam that hardens, I am sure, and becomes bricklike.

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Originally Posted by voltz

Nasa in itself is pretty much used up in terms of ideas and it's time to get some new corporations started in order to see any form of innovation again.

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Orbiting Saturn isn't innovative?

Smashing into a comet isn't innovative?

A Mars rover that lasts over a year and a half, travels a handful of miles and provides evidence of long-term water isn't innovative?

I agree with part of your other statement, though. Without competition from the Soviets, there would have been little impetus for us to land on the moon in the short timeframe that we did. China, at this phase in their manned space program, is about where the US and Soviets were in the early-mid 60's, so the American public isn't concerned with it (yet). As their ambitions intensify, so will the public's scrutiny. Renewed competition could possibly drive our future efforts in space.

http://www-users.kawo2.rwth-aachen.d.../wg/picard.jpg

I haven't shaved in a few days, I should look enough like Riker.

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Originally Posted by g0zen

Umm, there's plenty already. Many planets, while uninhabitable, contain vast quantites of untapped mineral reserves. The problem would be mining them and transporting them without the costs being prohibative (which as of now they are in the extreme).

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If you set up a base capable of sustaining itself with limited supply dropoffs then mining things and sending it back via unmanned modules is super-feasible in the future. I can't wait for the Japanese to get to work on their robotic moon base.

e3 should be held on the moon in the future.