Help NASA return to the Moon : Sign the Petition.

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the potential cancellation of NASA's Constellation project due to funding cuts proposed by President Obama. Participants express their views on the implications of this decision for the USA's space capabilities, the value of manned versus unmanned space exploration, and the motivations behind space missions.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants argue that cutting NASA's funding will leave the USA without a space vehicle, impacting its ability to contribute to the International Space Station.
  • Others express skepticism about the value of manned space exploration, suggesting that it is a financial drain with little return given current technology.
  • A few participants advocate for private companies to take the lead in space exploration instead of relying on government funding.
  • Some express concerns about the implications of returning to the Moon, suggesting that it could lead to unnecessary environmental impacts and questioning the motivations behind such missions.
  • There are mixed feelings about national pride in space exploration, with some participants emphasizing the importance of scientific discovery over nationalistic motivations.
  • Several participants express distrust regarding the potential for other countries, particularly China, to claim the Moon, raising concerns about competition and economic implications.
  • Humorous and sarcastic remarks are made regarding the motivations for signing the petition and the nature of space exploration.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally disagree on the value and necessity of manned space exploration, with some advocating for it and others opposing it. There is no consensus on the petition's merits or the future direction of NASA's space program.

Contextual Notes

Participants express a range of opinions on the financial implications of space exploration, the role of private companies, and the environmental considerations of lunar missions. The discussion reflects a variety of assumptions and concerns that remain unresolved.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to individuals concerned with space policy, funding for scientific research, and the implications of international competition in space exploration.

Aquafire
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As most of us know, President Obama intends to cut NASA's funding to such an extent that the Constellation project is going to be cancelled.

What is implicated in this decision is the fact that it will leave the USA without any space vehicle of any kind to get into space.

This means the USA will be the only country footing the bill for the International Space Station; but it will be the only one unable to get there under its own space program.

So in order to get the government to think again, a petition has been set up.

Please note :

1. Only sign it if you agree.

2. Don't use profanity or vandalise the petition.

3. Use your own name.

I hope you will agree and sign it.

Respectfully

Aqua Fyre

Code: 
http://www.petitiononline.com/NASAMOON/petition.html
 
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Sorry, no go from me.
 
No go from me either. It's a huge financial drain with little return with current technology.

What is implicated in this decision is the fact that it will leave the USA without any space vehicle of any kind to get into space.

NASA is investing in private companies (Xspace in particular) that could send people into space.
 
No go from here too. I'm Canadian mind you.
 
what a waste of money.
 
I have more faith in China reaching the Moon than NASA
 
Country pride fail.

I signed that shizz up.
 
I'll pass.

I'd rather they never went back to the moon. All they're going to do is investigate the possibility of setting up a station on the moon over where they found the water, which IMO is INCREDIBLY stupid. Although in my opinion, messing with the moon in any way, shape, or form is a bad idea. It plays such an important role in how the Earth functions, I don't know why anyone would even consider anything like that.
 
Imagine if they wanted to study the Marianas trench, but instead of sending robots, they insisted that humans must walk on the bottom of the ocean for national pride.

Wouldn't you roll your eyes at that?
 
  • #10
i would only sign it if i get to choose which humans to send away, otherwise, it's a waste of money
 
  • #11
Proton Soup said:
i would only sign it if i get to choose which humans to send away, otherwise, it's a waste of money

Then you'd pick me right?
 
  • #12
  • #13
DavidSnider said:
Imagine if they wanted to study the Marianas trench, but instead of sending robots, they insisted that humans must walk on the bottom of the ocean for national pride.

Wouldn't you roll your eyes at that?


Hell no I wouldn't. I'd be the first to sign up.
 
  • #14
zomgwtf said:
Then you'd pick me right?

no, not cost effective
 
  • #15
Proton Soup said:
i would only sign it if i get to choose which humans to send away, otherwise, it's a waste of money

That reminds me one of the Bill Maher lines about the death panel stuff.

"And you know what, Sarah Palin? I got news for you, honey. If we were going to get rid of useless people, you would be the first to know."

Is Alaska or say north pole, closer to the moon?
 
  • #16
I think a group of intelligent individuals with a passion for discovery should form a corporation with a sole purpose of reaching all the planets in our solar system. The business model could include anything from computational analysis, engineering and fabrications, accounting, consulting, etc, so that they could also work on the main goal. This may seem like an impossible idea, but in reality its not so complicated. It takes the most important resource a corporation can have - human capital. If you have a group of individuals who are willing to work hard for a common goal, with a group dynamic that strives for optimal performance and thrives from being with other like-minded people, then you have yourself a successful start-up.

NASA was a good idea, but their budget is set by a corrupt government who left us all in debt. A private organization is not bound by land masses, local silly laws, and financial turmoils for the most part. If you want to launch a satellite into orbit, do it from international waters using Sea Launch or some other custom built design. Expecting a hand out from the government is just pathetic. If you want something done, do it yourself
 
  • #17
I agree with the majority of the posters in this thread. Manned space exploration is not cost effective. I would much rather see robotic missions. But unfortunately the general public and the US government are not motivated by the same things we (the members of the forum) are. Where would we stand right now in our unmanned space exploration program if the 1960's moon race had never happened? I would think that if the members of this forum wanted to look for non cost effective government spending they would look someplace other than manned space flight.
 
  • #18
Proton Soup said:
no, not cost effective

Well since I would do this job for free... you must be... calling me REALLY fat?

:cry: :cry: :cry:
 
  • #19
Nope.
 
  • #20
MotoH said:
Country pride fail.

I signed that shizz up.

What does that petition have to do with pride in one's country?
 
  • #21
The only reason that we went to the Moon is to prove that we could go to the Moon. There is no reason to go back and lots of reasons not to. Most people would cite the cost of returning and ask what kind of return we could get out of our investment. I would instead point out that we have never developed shielding that can protect humans from solar storms once outside the Earth's magnetic field. We are incredibly lucky that the Sun never threw a tantrum during the Apollo missions or we would have been bringing back crew members dying of radiation poisoning - not a pleasant death, I understand.
 
  • #22
Dembadon said:
What does that petition have to do with pride in one's country?

Indeed! I would hope that a person could find many reasons to be proud of this country without the need for novelty.
 
  • #23
Do you want the Chinese to lay claim to the moon? You can never trust those people I tell you!
 
  • #24
Does it matter?
 
  • #25
MotoH said:
Do you want the Chinese to lay claim to the moon? You can never trust those people I tell you!
How would they enforce their claim? Silly argument.
 
  • #26
instead of more moon landings, i say we have more Bring Your Child to the Flight Control Tower Days. and they should put it over the speaker system so everyone in the plane can hear their permission to take off from a grade school kid. let the chinese beat that.
 
  • #27
Proton Soup said:
instead of more moon landings, i say we have more Bring Your Child to the Flight Control Tower Days. and they should put it over the speaker system so everyone in the plane can hear their permission to take off from a grade school kid. let the chinese beat that.

Haha, I got that reference.
 
  • #28
MotoH said:
Do you want the Chinese to lay claim to the moon? You can never trust those people I tell you!

I completely agree! We can't let the Chinese waste their money so that they can say they finally did something we did 50 years ago! (by that I mean by the time they're there...) Then again, all those economic opportunities on the moon sure would be falling into the wrong hands...??
 
  • #29
Pengwuino said:
I completely agree! We can't let the Chinese waste their money so that they can say they finally did something we did 50 years ago! (by that I mean by the time they're there...) Then again, all those economic opportunities on the moon sure would be falling into the wrong hands...??
Really! Can you imagine all the low-cost sweat-shops that they would set up to compete with our industries? They would crush us!
 
  • #30
turbo-1 said:
Really! Can you imagine all the low-cost sweat-shops that they would set up to compete with our industries? They would crush us!

Although it would be quite nifty if I bought a tshirt that said "Made on the Moon".
 

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