House Panel Cuts Funds for NASA's Managed Space Exploration

[turbo]

You base that on what?

What can we possibly do in space that is so valuable and so impossible to do here on Earth that can justify the cost of us putting the equipment/procedure out in space? Years ago, we heard of pipe-dreams of new technologies that would blossom when we had test-beds in zero-G. Well, the ISS has been up for a while. Where are the new zero-G technologies, new drugs, new processes for making "unobtainium", etc? You might be able to theorize about some exotic technology that can be better-performed in zero-G (perhaps some thin-film coating done by vapor-deposition...) but by the time we have re-designed the process equipment and have lofted it and the requisite materials to orbit, processed it and returned it to Earth safely, the stuff will be more costly than cut diamonds. Let's spend our money on real science and not on Buck Rogers fantasies of "man in space".

 

[BAnders1]

You do not know NASA's budget. You are off by a factor of 5. NASA's budget is 0.6% of the federal budget.

Thank you for cutting my quote off short, but I said "I know NASA's budget is only 3% of the budget that the Dept of Defense." Unless the DoD gets 100% of the federal budget, it would appear that you didn't read what I said before you jumped to call me a liar.

 

[aquitaine]

What can we possibly do in space that is so valuable and so impossible to do here on Earth that can justify the cost of us putting the equipment/procedure out in space?

On just its sub orbital services virgin galactic has a waiting list 45,000 people long. Then, with people getting into space on a more regular basis, why wouldn't some people decide to put facilities up there to attract even more people? Eventually it will just get easier to built stuff straight in orbit, from materials taken from other parts in the solar systems.

Years ago, we heard of pipe-dreams of new technologies that would blossom when we had test-beds in zero-G. Well, the ISS has been up for a while. Where are the new zero-G technologies, new drugs, new processes for making "unobtainium", etc?

Comparing a badly mismanaged political project to what I am suggesting is hardly fair. Nothing has come out of the ISS because...no one has actually attempted to do anything with it.

You might be able to theorize about some exotic technology that can be better-performed in zero-G (perhaps some thin-film coating done by vapor-deposition...) but by the time we have re-designed the process equipment and have lofted it and the requisite materials to orbit, processed it and returned it to Earth safely,

Which is not at all what I was suggesting. When space is industrialized, the materials would come from elsewhere in the solar system. Most of the processed materials would then be used in space, only precious metals would be sent back to Earth (or if we actually do discover some new zero-g process that leads to some awesome new tech or materials then that would be sent back as well). It might not be cheap initially, but overtime economies of scale makes stuff less expensive.

Let's spend our money on real science and not on Buck Rogers fantasies of "man in space".

I'll remind you you said that when the Chinese or someone overtakes us in space.

 

[turbo]

I'll remind you you said that when the Chinese or someone overtakes us in space.

Oh, national pride as a reason to fund manned space-flight? Great reason to waste billions. (NOT) If the Chinese want to spend themselves into oblivion to "overtake" us, they're welcome to do so.

 

[drankin]

Actually, the driving factor for putting us on the moon was, in fact, national pride. Was it worth it? I think so. I think we need to cut spending everywhere right now. The only problem with that is I don't see a light at the end of tunnel for our economy. So, that budget may never be increased. That seems to be the real problem. Not so much where do we need to cut spending but how are we going to let capitalism put us back in business as a country. This should be our focus.

 

[Al68]

Oh, national pride as a reason to fund manned space-flight? Great reason to waste billions.

You got to love these strawman debates.

The issue is whether or not the program is a waste of money, not whether we should waste money. Despite assertions to the contrary, everyone agrees that wasting money is bad.

And wasn't this in response to privately funded enterprises, anyway?

 

[aquitaine]

Oh, national pride as a reason to fund manned space-flight? Great reason to waste billions. (NOT) If the Chinese want to spend themselves into oblivion to "overtake" us, they're welcome to do so.

Nice strawman. In reality one of the long term goals of the chinese space program is to stake out future resources. They've made no secret about that.