*apologises to the all-powerful Jdot for taking over his journal momentarily O.o*
As a disclosure I should say I am by trade an astronomer.
We must have the space programme, and we must go to Mars. The whole idea of going to Mars is so we can figure out to have humans live there- something that will be vital in a few hundred years if we keep going at the pace on Earth that we have been for the past 130. But in order to start having people live there, we have to be sure what the planet is made of, what resources we have. We have to basically start from Plan Zero on it because we have no oxygen, no nitrogen, no wood, no fuel, no nothing. (and mostly- no water.)
If we can send a human being up to Mars within the next 50 years (and we will, there's no question that this will happen, unless suddenly NASA closes its doors and becomes a bread factory) we will be able to plainly see the effects that, that much travelling does on the human body, how it reacts being in such a different enviroment, how they are simply able to survive. It's a very long trip to Mars, longer than any human being has ever physically travelled. When we can figure out how to get a person to another planet (and back hopefully!), and not run out of resources- well that's a pretty big leap isn't it?
After doing all of this the obvious question is- "what good does it do on Earth?" The answer is simple. All of the science learned in the space programme effects earthlings on a daily basis. New technologies created to help refuel and reuse resources in space- where you literally can't get anymore after you leave- will help us on Earth. We will be able to come up with better ways of using what we have, and a thousand other sciences that haven't been conceived yet.
I agree with everything you're saying. The problem isn't with the scientifc validity of the trip. The problem is with the fact that this country cannot afford to do this at this time. Especially not under a President who has completely destroyed the first budget surplus we have had since his own father was Vice President.
This is the Wrong Time™ to be pushing $1billion that this country does not have.
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momijizukamori
Re: Please
As a disclosure I should say I am by trade an astronomer.
We must have the space programme, and we must go to Mars. The whole idea of going to Mars is so we can figure out to have humans live there- something that will be vital in a few hundred years if we keep going at the pace on Earth that we have been for the past 130. But in order to start having people live there, we have to be sure what the planet is made of, what resources we have. We have to basically start from Plan Zero on it because we have no oxygen, no nitrogen, no wood, no fuel, no nothing. (and mostly- no water.)
If we can send a human being up to Mars within the next 50 years (and we will, there's no question that this will happen, unless suddenly NASA closes its doors and becomes a bread factory) we will be able to plainly see the effects that, that much travelling does on the human body, how it reacts being in such a different enviroment, how they are simply able to survive. It's a very long trip to Mars, longer than any human being has ever physically travelled. When we can figure out how to get a person to another planet (and back hopefully!), and not run out of resources- well that's a pretty big leap isn't it?
After doing all of this the obvious question is- "what good does it do on Earth?" The answer is simple.
All of the science learned in the space programme effects earthlings on a daily basis. New technologies created to help refuel and reuse resources in space- where you literally can't get anymore after you leave- will help us on Earth. We will be able to come up with better ways of using what we have, and a thousand other sciences that haven't been conceived yet.
But to do this we need more money. Lots of money.
And I think I shall stop now. =)
Re: Please
I agree with everything you're saying. The problem isn't with the scientifc validity of the trip. The problem is with the fact that this country cannot afford to do this at this time. Especially not under a President who has completely destroyed the first budget surplus we have had since his own father was Vice President.
This is the Wrong Time™ to be pushing $1billion that this country does not have.
Re: Please
I could turn the argument, and say that the President should have made this decision in the first place forgoing War.
But he made a bad budget decision early on..
Which really doesn't matter to NASA or me (YSE! I am as big as NASA in its entirety XD) because we still need the money.
Re: Please