I hope some can correct me here, but it is my understanding that the James Webb Telescope is currently eating up a ton of NASA's funding and will continue to do until it is launched in 2015 or 2016. See http://www.space.com/9510-nasa-webb-space-telescope-mired-budget-woes-start.... http://www.nature.com/news/2010/101027/full/4671028a.html Though well worth the cost, and baring a major failure during launch and deployment, the scientific gains will be huge from the Webb. Yet Webb suffers from a lack of proper accounting and realistic costs and I think that hurts NASA and it will hurt the manned flight program. Currently Webb's cost is causing other telescopes and projects to be put behind. I do think one of the things NASA faces is a public that is demanding more control of government spending. I don't think that Webb's improper estimates and rising costs help the public to see a need to invest more into man flight at this time. I'm probably wrong, but the image has to be counter-productive and I don't think that the public truly sees a need for expensive missions to put man back into space right now. I think the public is content with the output by current telescopes and probes and they are delivering lots of gain for their dollars. NASA is seen as a luxury, not a necessity in today's world in my opinion. Thus why pursue man flight? I think that is something that NASA and the companies that stand to benefit financially from man flight have to make and sell to the American Public. Unfortunately many in the industry are great engineers, but not so great at selling. I'm not sure what is going to change the perception of the American public or when that will happen and I firmly believe and hope that we as a country return to exploring space with man flight. The next ten years will be very interesting to see the direction(s) that NASA takes. On Mon, Mar 28, 2011 at 8:43 PM, Dave Gary <davegary@me.com> wrote:
Good riddance. The ISS has been of little or no scientific benefit. What have we learned? Mold grows in man-made “sort of” space environments and ISS crew members suffer bone loss on extended free falls. For the time being, manned missions are a waste of valuable resources. One Voyager flyby (pick a flyby) has given us immensely more scientific data than all the ISS free falls put together. And that’s just one Voyager. Going to Mars with the propulsion systems we have, currently, is a pipe dream. Anywhere further (just within this solar system) is pure delusion. Hey, I’m all for exploration if sound judgement is involved. ISS was an experiment in how not to allocate resources. We should learn from our mistakes and go on. As my Grandfather always told me. ‘You don’t learn anything the second time you’re kicked by a mule.’
Dave
On [Mar 28], at [Mar 28] 7:45 PM, Steve Fisher wrote:
I don't know about "vilified" you are entitled to your opinion. You are wrong but you are entitled to that opinion. ;) God forgive me for even thinking this but if a Soyuz fails to make it to orbit or to return our astronauts to earth what do you think will happen then? We can just sign over the title to the ISS because we won't be going back. Steve
From: kimharch@cut.net To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:38:06 -0600 Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Astronaut talk
I expect to be vilified, but what the heck... I disagree that nationalism is an acceptable argument. If the ISS is supposed to promote cooperation, then why not cooperate to a limited extent (ride Russian vehicles) and use the opportunity to pursue our own goals?
Kim
-----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Steve Fisher Sent: Monday, March 28, 2011 7:32 PM To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Astronaut talk
Downside?
Loss of pride? Degradation of American exceptionalism? Should I go on? While I agree with you that the ISS has probably not been a huge bennefit, it has at least been an oppirtunity for the United States to Lead, not follow. Lets stand back and do nothing for a while longer and maybe we can pay the French for a ride. Just my two cents worth. Your opinion may vary. Steve
From: kimharch@cut.net To: utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2011 18:58:02 -0600 Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Astronaut talk
Interesting read, Joe. Thanks. Rather than post my comments at the DesNews site, I thought I'd share with this list.
What's the downside of using a tried-and-true Russian vehicle for further ISS missions? Doesn't this allow us to go on to develop the next phase without having to develop and build (or re-use existing technology) a payload system just to service the ISS?
A bit unrelated to your blog: I personally think the ISS is a waste of our time. In my opinion, US/NASA goals should have been (1) return to Moon,
and
(2) go to Mars, without the stopover at the ISS. I've not read any convincing justification for it (the ISS). Other thoughts?
Kim
-----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Joe
Bauman
Sent: Monday, March 28, 2011 6:14 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Astronaut talk
Astronaut Kent Rominger spoke Saturday at Clark Planetarium; here's my
blog
about it (with Cory's interesting photo):
http://www.deseretnews.com/blog/47/10011698/Nightly-news-astronomy-The-Need-
to-Explore.html
Thanks, Joe
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