Comments on: Obama's NASA Plan Draws Furious Fire; The Prez Promises to Defend His Vision http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2010/03/10/obamas-nasa-plan-draws-furious-fire-the-prez-promises-to-defend-his-vision/ Mon, 22 Apr 2013 21:34:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Tommy Casanova http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2010/03/10/obamas-nasa-plan-draws-furious-fire-the-prez-promises-to-defend-his-vision/#comment-17016 Tommy Casanova Wed, 16 Mar 2011 20:57:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/?p=11449#comment-17016 John & Scribbler: We Human beings are the reason the world is losing its biodiversity. Out of all major extinction level events in the history of the world, human beings will ultimately cause the extinction of most life on earth. Human population size and growth is the root cause of all our environmental problems. If there were less people, we would not need to worry about infrastructure growth, habitat invasion, energy needs, etc. However, people have decided they want to continue down this unsustainable path until every life on earth ends in misery. If you want to save baby seals and the spotted owl, I suggest targeting the root cause--human population! We have reached the tipping point and I fear we will only try to make a course correction only after we've destroyed everything. Example: China implemented its one child policy only after they had destroyed their country's environment and could no longer sustain the existing population. John & Scribbler: We Human beings are the reason the world is losing its biodiversity. Out of all major extinction level events in the history of the world, human beings will ultimately cause the extinction of most life on earth. Human population size and growth is the root cause of all our environmental problems. If there were less people, we would not need to worry about infrastructure growth, habitat invasion, energy needs, etc. However, people have decided they want to continue down this unsustainable path until every life on earth ends in misery. If you want to save baby seals and the spotted owl, I suggest targeting the root cause–human population! We have reached the tipping point and I fear we will only try to make a course correction only after we’ve destroyed everything. Example: China implemented its one child policy only after they had destroyed their country’s environment and could no longer sustain the existing population.

]]> By: Tommy Casanova http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2010/03/10/obamas-nasa-plan-draws-furious-fire-the-prez-promises-to-defend-his-vision/#comment-17015 Tommy Casanova Wed, 16 Mar 2011 09:26:36 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/?p=11449#comment-17015 NASA is being dismantled so the Obama administration can play out some fantasy that private sector companies like SpaceX are more capable at producing manned spaceflight "cheaper". These leftist idiots want to walmartize NASA. The walmart business model has destroyed this countries wealth. Our greed has officially killed the middle-class. Systematically, we are being groomed to accept that we live in a global marketplace and will have to relinquish the superpower torch to someone else. I am disheartened and fearful of the future my children are going to have to live in. NASA is an expensive endeavor of human genius and achievement. Children should want to grow up being NASA engineers, scientists and Astronauts. I wanted to be an Astronomer through grade school until realizing they made less than dishwashers. Are you really prepared to hand these careers over to private companies that will see their labor costs as a mere expense that needs to be slashed? There are bus drivers, social workers, corrupt politicians in California that make much more money than most of the engineers and scientists at NASA!! We need to turn our eyes to the enormous size of our local and state governments. DCSF in CA has a 2 Billion budget alone. CPS or DCFS is the most destructive and counter productive of all government agencies. I'd rather deal with the consequences of not having this worthless organization than see even the coffee makers removed from NASA break-rooms! NASA is being dismantled so the Obama administration can play out some fantasy that private sector companies like SpaceX are more capable at producing manned spaceflight “cheaper”. These leftist idiots want to walmartize NASA. The walmart business model has destroyed this countries wealth. Our greed has officially killed the middle-class. Systematically, we are being groomed to accept that we live in a global marketplace and will have to relinquish the superpower torch to someone else. I am disheartened and fearful of the future my children are going to have to live in. NASA is an expensive endeavor of human genius and achievement. Children should want to grow up being NASA engineers, scientists and Astronauts. I wanted to be an Astronomer through grade school until realizing they made less than dishwashers. Are you really prepared to hand these careers over to private companies that will see their labor costs as a mere expense that needs to be slashed? There are bus drivers, social workers, corrupt politicians in California that make much more money than most of the engineers and scientists at NASA!! We need to turn our eyes to the enormous size of our local and state governments. DCSF in CA has a 2 Billion budget alone. CPS or DCFS is the most destructive and counter productive of all government agencies. I’d rather deal with the consequences of not having this worthless organization than see even the coffee makers removed from NASA break-rooms!

]]> By: Ryan http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2010/03/10/obamas-nasa-plan-draws-furious-fire-the-prez-promises-to-defend-his-vision/#comment-17014 Ryan Sat, 14 Aug 2010 23:12:32 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/?p=11449#comment-17014 I agree with you chris, our nation has come to far to just give up. Our planet is being constantly polluted by "we the people".If we are going to continue destroying our, we might as well be searching for a new residence. Everyday 14,000 people die a day due to water pollution , its no wonder global warming has become the topic of discussion.@ John I hate to say it but if change doesn't occur ,"yesterdays frontiers" will be extinct. Manned space flight is the essential meaning for the word "exploration". Did Christopher Columbus need an avatar to sail into the unknown? Its this type of courage that is needed to journey to the unknown as well.... space. I agree with you chris, our nation has come to far to just give up. Our planet is being constantly polluted by “we the people”.If we are going to continue destroying our, we might as well be searching for a new residence. Everyday 14,000 people die a day due to water pollution , its no wonder global warming has become the topic of discussion.@ John I hate to say it but if change doesn’t occur ,”yesterdays frontiers” will be extinct.
Manned space flight is the essential meaning for the word “exploration”. Did Christopher Columbus need an avatar to sail into the unknown? Its this type of courage that is needed to journey to the unknown as well…. space.

]]> By: Chris Berman http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2010/03/10/obamas-nasa-plan-draws-furious-fire-the-prez-promises-to-defend-his-vision/#comment-17013 Chris Berman Wed, 24 Mar 2010 04:18:22 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/?p=11449#comment-17013 When two plus two equal five, you know that something is amiss. Mr. Obama does not believe that private enterprise can accomplish anything. It is evident in heathcare, the auto industry and dozens of other programs that the Obama administration feel are best handled by central government planning...except space exploration. To date, no commercial launch company has put anything into orbit except Sea-Launch and that is funded in the most part by the Government of Ukraine. This is like asking a small boat yard to build teh Queen Mary! This is not workable. Right now we have the discovery of water ice on the Moon, perfect for a lunar colony. We have China with an aggressive military space program telling the world thsy will be on the Moon by 2017. Watch out for that because the Chinese will hold the ultimate high ground. Infact they already plan to orbit two manned military space stations this year. America must remain a first rate space power and not lose our advantage to the Chinese. Domination of the resources of space is the potential next battle ground. This is not something I want to see us come in to in second or third place. When two plus two equal five, you know that something is amiss. Mr. Obama does not believe that private enterprise can accomplish anything. It is evident in heathcare, the auto industry and dozens of other programs that the Obama administration feel are best handled by central government planning…except space exploration. To date, no commercial launch company has put anything into orbit except Sea-Launch and that is funded in the most part by the Government of Ukraine. This is like asking a small boat yard to build teh Queen Mary! This is not workable. Right now we have the discovery of water ice on the Moon, perfect for a lunar colony. We have China with an aggressive military space program telling the world thsy will be on the Moon by 2017. Watch out for that because the Chinese will hold the ultimate high ground. Infact they already plan to orbit two manned military space stations this year. America must remain a first rate space power and not lose our advantage to the Chinese. Domination of the resources of space is the potential next battle ground. This is not something I want to see us come in to in second or third place.

]]> By: scribbler http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2010/03/10/obamas-nasa-plan-draws-furious-fire-the-prez-promises-to-defend-his-vision/#comment-17012 scribbler Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:20:31 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/?p=11449#comment-17012 Couldn't we axe something besides space exploration, John? Couldn’t we axe something besides space exploration, John?

]]> By: John http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2010/03/10/obamas-nasa-plan-draws-furious-fire-the-prez-promises-to-defend-his-vision/#comment-17011 John Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:41:43 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/?p=11449#comment-17011 The money we invest in the space program should be invested in wilderness protection. I find space exploration fascinating and am astounded by the creative hurdles we've overcome in our ventures into space. And yet, while we look for microbes in distant, dusty rocks, incredible and diverse forms of nature are being carelessly wiped out. Biodiversity on Earth is dropping at an alarming rate. Why practice scientific discovery at all if you don't care whether the natural discoveries are still around in the future? Sure, space is the last frontier. But let's turn our attention to yesterday's frontiers. The most amazing discoveries we've found anywhere in the universe are literally in our backyard. The money we invest in the space program should be invested in wilderness protection.

I find space exploration fascinating and am astounded by the creative hurdles we’ve overcome in our ventures into space. And yet, while we look for microbes in distant, dusty rocks, incredible and diverse forms of nature are being carelessly wiped out. Biodiversity on Earth is dropping at an alarming rate. Why practice scientific discovery at all if you don’t care whether the natural discoveries are still around in the future?

Sure, space is the last frontier. But let’s turn our attention to yesterday’s frontiers. The most amazing discoveries we’ve found anywhere in the universe are literally in our backyard.

]]> By: m http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2010/03/10/obamas-nasa-plan-draws-furious-fire-the-prez-promises-to-defend-his-vision/#comment-17010 m Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:49:04 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/?p=11449#comment-17010 The president has only a short term to decide changes.. so generally programs are cut whenever they need to be. The one and only thing I would like to see from the space program is a realiable vehicle that can fly people to anywhere in the world around the planet. I would concentrate the majority of funding on that until that was reached if i had the power. Secondly I would always make sure i was be able to maintain what i had done previously. thirdly I would have a country with no debt,100% employment through government jobs. The Americans are stupid....the only reason the USA avhieved so much in 1969 is because...there werent Americans behind it. Be good if they actually realised this...and i think they are coming around to it slowly. The president has only a short term to decide changes.. so generally programs are cut whenever they need to be.

The one and only thing I would like to see from the space program is a realiable vehicle that can fly people to anywhere in the world around the planet. I would concentrate the majority of funding on that until that was reached if i had the power.

Secondly I would always make sure i was be able to maintain what i had done previously.

thirdly I would have a country with no debt,100% employment through government jobs.

The Americans are stupid….the only reason the USA avhieved so much in 1969 is because…there werent Americans behind it.

Be good if they actually realised this…and i think they are coming around to it slowly.

]]> By: scribbler http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2010/03/10/obamas-nasa-plan-draws-furious-fire-the-prez-promises-to-defend-his-vision/#comment-17009 scribbler Fri, 12 Mar 2010 02:24:40 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/?p=11449#comment-17009 Technology will advance. To me, that isn't a question. The main variable will be by how much and at what speed. Certainly, when challenged, we have exceeded all expectations. Are we still as capable today? I think we are... Great posts guys! Y'all have the minds that solve such problems as we will face. I'm not worried... Technology will advance. To me, that isn’t a question. The main variable will be by how much and at what speed. Certainly, when challenged, we have exceeded all expectations. Are we still as capable today? I think we are…

Great posts guys! Y’all have the minds that solve such problems as we will face.

I’m not worried…

]]> By: Andy W http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2010/03/10/obamas-nasa-plan-draws-furious-fire-the-prez-promises-to-defend-his-vision/#comment-17008 Andy W Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:07:48 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/?p=11449#comment-17008 It's been estimated that human spaceflight has historically put seven to ten dollars back into the economy for each dollar spent. There is no reason why space science cannot be well funded along with a robust and active human exploration program. Both provide great scientific, technological and national benefits. The budget, as proposed, fails to provide either continuity or a clear framework of goals on the human exploration side. This must and should be corrected. This country spends more on video games and DVDs than it does on human space exploration. If you don’t think that trying to sustain a human crew for years on a fifty million mile trip won’t generate a slate of new technological advancements, then you don’t understand how innovation works. The Bloom Energy Fuel Cell, so much in the news, was a partial offshoot of early NASA research into surviving on Mars by an ex-NASA engineer. It is only when we try to do things that are beyond the practical and necessary can we learn what is truly possible. It’s been estimated that human spaceflight has historically put seven to ten dollars back into the economy for each dollar spent. There is no reason why space science cannot be well funded along with a robust and active human exploration program. Both provide great scientific, technological and national benefits. The budget, as proposed, fails to provide either continuity or a clear framework of goals on the human exploration side. This must and should be corrected. This country spends more on video games and DVDs than it does on human space exploration. If you don’t think that trying to sustain a human crew for years on a fifty million mile trip won’t generate a slate of new technological advancements, then you don’t understand how innovation works. The Bloom Energy Fuel Cell, so much in the news, was a partial offshoot of early NASA research into surviving on Mars by an ex-NASA engineer. It is only when we try to do things that are beyond the practical and necessary can we learn what is truly possible.

]]> By: amphiox http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2010/03/10/obamas-nasa-plan-draws-furious-fire-the-prez-promises-to-defend-his-vision/#comment-17007 amphiox Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:56:40 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/?p=11449#comment-17007 <blockquote> Repairing the Hubble: human necessary, but maybe if we’d sunk all the money wasted on shooting humans up there we could have invented robots to take care of that by now. </blockquote> Not even necessary. With the same amount of money we could have simply built and launched 10 or maybe even 20 replacement Hubbles, each an improvement on the last, with the old ones still at least partly in working order (so multiple telescopes could have been used in tandem), providing probably at least 100X as much scientific data as the single Hubble has given us, over the same period of time.

Repairing the Hubble: human necessary, but maybe if we’d sunk all the money wasted on shooting humans up there we could have invented robots to take care of that by now.

Not even necessary. With the same amount of money we could have simply built and launched 10 or maybe even 20 replacement Hubbles, each an improvement on the last, with the old ones still at least partly in working order (so multiple telescopes could have been used in tandem), providing probably at least 100X as much scientific data as the single Hubble has given us, over the same period of time.

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