Constellation cancelled = UberEpic Fail. Yes orbo?

**Macktheknife** · 30th January 2010, 12:03

Originally Posted by DangerousBastard

Theres no OSH on the moon, fool..

Steve

No, but there is sudden death by stupidity

which I can see definite benefits to!

Seriously though, the technological and scientific benefits aside, giving up on manned space exploration is a foolish thing to do. Give them a really difficult task and leave them to it, the ISS is a good example.
Lots of international cooperation, heaps of innovation and mountains of knowledge comes from it.
Not to mention all the business spin-off that is created by it.

**Winston001** · 30th January 2010, 12:55

There are technological barriers to going back into space not the least being escaping Earth's enormous gravity well. However if the space program was reactivated by the Americans we could see another race with huge benefits for us all. It would spark enthusiasm in physicists and engineers which is what is needed to get ideas percolating. Plus we can share information and ideas so much more easily than decades ago.

Going to Mars is not an easy task. We need to establish a moon base to get used to working in alien environments and build up resources. A Mars landing would sling-shot around Venus and require an enormous fuel payload. Plus there is the problem of placing 3 or 4 people in close proximity for at least a year without them going mad. Some of the extras such as a Mars buggy, food, water etc could be sent ahead to the designated landing site.

**Hans** · 30th January 2010, 13:07

Shit. Right now I'm feeling physically sick. That's not some dumb metaphor. I'm actually trying not to throw up. I can't find the words to describe what I feel towards Obama now. Proof, if we needed any, that western civilisation is finished.

**mashman** · 30th January 2010, 15:47

The only thing hampering these expeditions is the lack of finance to do it.

"I can't finish the project"
"Why not?"
"Money!"
"Ah! want some more?"
"Please."

Takes some time to get it, project slows to reflect cash flow available, add inflation on to regularly used components.

"I have a dream"

There is a remedy however. But it's to be taken with caution: there is a way to sort out the funding issues and may well have some other side effects... stop the idea of currency, stop money, no more yen, pounds, dollars, lira, francs etc... none. Everything in this world becomes valueless.

Give people 2 years to get used to the idea, answer their questions, tell them that this will allow us to move forwards in sooooo many fields. We have the infrastructure to pull this sort of thing off on a global scale. Governance (albeit when they have money to govern it's bad for all concerned) is in place, both locally and internationally. Communications are all in place apart from several sectors of the world and on and on. Only proviso is that everyone just keeps going to work for the time being, so that businesses can be classified as to their contribution towards humanity. Those businesses that close, will allow every employee to go back to university and do what the hell they want to do. Only they can now specialise. Financial workers become social workers, nurses, cops, doctors, physicists, firemen etc... if you follow it through to you and your communitys lives... Theft - Why? financial gain? greatly reduced i dare to venture... and that's just 1 example... could save a tonne on power usage (all those 24/7 financial computers and their cooling units just being switched off, as well as the desktops.)

You can now go ahead and be anything you like, build anything you like, do whatever you want (within the confines of the law, for your fellow man), go into space, look after your mum/neighbour, there are no financial barriers, everything is just resources now.

or something like that anyway...

**Winston001** · 30th January 2010, 16:21

Originally Posted by mashman

There is a remedy however. But it's to be taken with caution: there is a way to sort out the funding issues and may well have some other side effects... stop the idea of currency, stop money, no more yen, pounds, dollars, lira, francs etc... none. Everything in this world becomes valueless.

Give people 2 years to get used to the idea, answer their questions, tell them that this will allow us to move forwards in sooooo many fields......

Mate, I think you've just fallen down the rabbit hole. Say hi to Alice.

**mashman** · 30th January 2010, 16:37

Originally Posted by Winston001

Mate, I think you've just fallen down the rabbit hole. Say hi to Alice.

Like i said, I have a DREAM!

just stating the root cause and a potential solution for the boys in NASA. No rich, no poor, just brain and braun and Darwin candidates!

If it costs nothing to go into space, then there's only resources to stop us. I just happen to think that in this day and age we're well equiped enough for a fundamental shift in how we live and think.

Mad Hatter sends his regards by the way...

he scares me!

**Winston001** · 30th January 2010, 16:57

Originally Posted by Macktheknife

And the propulsion technology is moving froward too, the VASIMR unit is scheduled for its first space test in 2013. This technology should cut the travel time to Mars from about 18 months, to just a few weeks! True it is not warp speed, or even light speed, but it's close!

Ah - thought this was something new but sadly, not. The VASIMIR engine is clever certainly but it doesn't get over the fundamental problem of escaping Earth's gravity. The engine is only useful away from Earth - for example a trip to the Moon would take 11 days but use 1/8 the propulsion chemical rockets require. However because this engine can fire continuously for a long time it would make a Mars mission much quicker. The VASIMIR will be trialled on the ISS soon.

In the meantime we are still at the bottom of the well trying to get out. A space tether is an answer but a long way off. Controlled nuclear detonations contained inside a bell shape would work but kinda brutal and nasty.

**Swoop** · 30th January 2010, 18:05

Originally Posted by DangerousBastard

Theres no OSH on the moon, fool..

Unfortunately, to get to the moon you have to build your rocket on earth... where the osh monster lives...

**Mr. Peanut** · 30th January 2010, 18:54

I dont get why it's so hard to go to the moon. If you can have a space station, and you have a space shuttle, isn't it a case of just sending up a bit more fuel and a lander?

**piston broke** · 30th January 2010, 19:56

UBER EPIC FAILS,

we landed on the moon,
one man killed JFK,
twin towers wasted by planes,
war on terror.

just a couple.

pffft, sounds like bs to me.
conspiricy,,, i think not.
only my opinion though

**Winston001** · 30th January 2010, 20:15

Originally Posted by Fumeux

I dont get why it's so hard to go to the moon. If you can have a space station, and you have a space shuttle, isn't it a case of just sending up a bit more fuel and a lander?

Well....yes. No problem. Except unbelievably the blueprints for the Apollo rockets were destroyed so NASA would have to design a new booster.

The problem is political - at least within the USA. There is no will to go back into space at present. Thus there is no money. As pointed out earlier other countries have active space programs.

**jonbuoy** · 30th January 2010, 20:59

How many long range probes, experimental rockets and research could be done for the same cost as a manned trip to the Moon?

**oldrider** · 30th January 2010, 22:08

Even New Zealand has a space programme and it is very high tech by world standards too!

NASA wouldn't share technology so they developed their own and now sell it NASA, beat that!

**scissorhands** · 30th January 2010, 22:39

Frisbees fly really well, they just go for ages....and gravity attraction magnification technology is just rubbish, right?

About the size of a small bus, and really smooth and shiny, with tiny 35kg people

Have you ever noticed how a hippie can get about with a shoulder bag but a fat American tourist has like 2 massive suitcases?

Take me to your leader. ( i knew they would come for me )