It's ultimately a waste of resources at this point in time. I know the US is rich, but can they afford their military operations and a space program? Personally I'd rather see the US re-enter the Kyoto pact and spend money on helping save this planet before exploring others. Anyway, I'm skirting very close to politics here...

On the subject of machines vs humans, is it necessary yet to risk human life? It becomes much more expensive because you can't ethically send someone out to space and never bring them back like you can with probes. A lot of food and oxygen is required for a long journey if it is to Mars. The craft has to be larger to transport humans and therefore more fuel is required to accelerate the craft. Ultimately machines are cheaper and safer and capable of gathering more information than a human.

i was trying not to mention the US and their war plans/issues/tactics in regards to certain middle-eastern countries, but yeah that's true i suppose.
i stole the cookie



Edited by - cookiemonster on 5/29/2004 5:54:37 AM

Oy! Stop being political CM. It's not a good idea; trust me .

While space exploration would be great, it is not feasible until a decent propulsion system is designed. Well, either than or flawless long-term cryogenics or stasis, etc.

cryogenics like in the opening of FL..... that's too good to be true!

Cryigenics is not as reliable as people think. And getting the polititions to quit wasting money on usless projects and studys to have some to help people, is about as possible as warp drive. The Rodenberry Idea is only a dream, nice one, but only a dream. We spend so much money when the items we buy are so over priced, its not funny. It would be nice to have all the tax dollars to use as needed, but they are wasted.

/what Rec and FD said.

..how I dearly wish I was not here..

Folks, just as a matter of perspective here, with all this moaning about NASA being a big waste of money, please take note:

Fiscal Year 2003 -

NASA budget: $8.8 Billion
US Department of Transportation: $55 Billion
US Department of Defense: $192 Billion.

Tell where the wasted money is guys.

"NASA budget: $8.8 Billion"

I don't believe that figure at all.


..how I dearly wish I was not here..

You're right. I exagerrated. Congress was trying to reduce it last I heard. Probably less now.

Now that we're going to Mars, the 2004 budget is just under $18 Billion.

Edited by - Indy11 on 5/29/2004 1:09:01 PM

you're just pulling my leg. It's more like US$88 billion. They couldn't even fuel a Space Shuttle for 8 billion. Considering that the Mars Artoo's cost 3/4 of a billion, that doesn't leave much for anything else.

You're seriously trying to convince me that they maintain the Shuttle fleet, all the satellites, the DSR network, the remote probes, the research and training programmes, the rocket launchers and everything else? on 8 billion? rot.

..how I dearly wish I was not here..

this country spends all its money on things not all that important like who got his schlong sucked by a secretary...(long time ago...) but the space budget is on the increase because of the 2 proposed plans...1. that going back to the moon project and 2. the mars project. if we werent too busy fighting someone elses wars for em we would probobly be spending tax dollars more wisely.

Sadly though, the government here has this hard on for smiting 3rd world countries and weaker countries....i am not saying Iraq was not a threat but i am nto saying they were....the only true threats are China, N.Korea, and those damn Al Quieda.

i have abad feeling that the true purpose other than freeing the iraqi citizenry, (by the looks of things they don't like it) it seems that out government is trying to monopolize the oil industry...but hey thats what i guess you do when you have the assumption you are the richest country in the known world....even though we are 3 trillion in DEBT!!!!....how many zero's is that??

"To live is to die....but living is to die slowly..why waste time on trivial things just play as hard as you can"

8 billion is a lot of money taw, more than everyone thats a member of TLR put together will ever see or spend during their lifetimes

Official 2005 Budget Proposal PDF File Plus Review of FY2003, Discussion of FY2004.

Discussion of Reallocating FY 2003 Budget

Its still a waste of money when so many other things could use the funds. Heath, wealfare of all. The infrastuction needs money too.