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end of the space shuttle - 7/21/2011 5:18:58 AM

hardcybermaster

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Well Atlantis has come back safely and that is the end of 30 years of the space shuttle. What does it mean to you and was it worth it?
Was it a tribute to mans thirst for knowledge and an amazing show of ingenuity and imagination or was it a massive waste of money?

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RE: end of the space shuttle - 7/21/2011 5:47:49 AM

GreedyTop

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I think it was, and is, a tribute to the pursuit of knowledge, whether that knowledge was garnered from outside our atmosphere, or the technology developed in the pursuit.

I'm sorry to see the program end, before a new program is well in place.

(I actually got weepy watching the footage )

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RE: end of the space shuttle - 7/21/2011 6:39:25 AM

Muttling

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Definitely worth it. What bothers me is the direction (or lack there of) that NASA is getting now. Return to the moon and a Mars shot are far more than we can afford but that seems to be the focus. We can get a LOT more bang for our buck with unmanned explorations going deep and staying in orbit with manned craft.

On an even more discouraging note, the idea of NASA ending construction of rockets entirely has been suggested several times and is being seriously considered. They would rely on commercial and foreign rockets to lift payloads into space while focusing everything else on developing technology for manned explorations beyond earth orbit.

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RE: end of the space shuttle - 7/21/2011 7:06:42 AM

Termyn8or

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FR

The way I see it, just ending it like that makes it a waste. If it were to continue it would support alot more research and development, which was one of our strongest suits.

It's a fucking shame they need all that money for war and spying. I can understand why some people get emotional about this, because it displays what has happened to this country in the last few decades. This didn't happen overnight. They didn't go back to the drawing board, they scrapped the drawing board. They have beaten our plowshares into swords, and you know what they say about those who live by the sword.

I think I've said enough at this point.

T^T

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RE: end of the space shuttle - 7/21/2011 7:10:59 AM

GreedyTop

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*blink*

Termy! are you feeling ok?
the post.. it was so short!! *grins*

I totally agree with this:

quote:

The way I see it, just ending it like that makes it a waste. If it were to continue it would support alot more research and development, which was one of our strongest suits.

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RE: end of the space shuttle - 7/21/2011 7:34:24 AM

Termyn8or

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LOL

I'm OK, there's just not much sense in dwelling on it. It's the world that's not OK.

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RE: end of the space shuttle - 7/21/2011 7:37:12 AM

LillyBoPeep

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i have to say, i'm sad to see it end. =(

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RE: end of the space shuttle - 7/21/2011 9:53:22 AM

GreedyTop

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I just realized the original link for footage that I posted just sucked... here's a MUCH better youtube vid.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLDG5sNMX2M

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RE: end of the space shuttle - 7/21/2011 11:11:24 AM

LadyConstanze

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In a way I am sad to see it end, but considering the costs, there are actually more worthwhile pursuits right down on this planet, the fact that the rain forest is disappearing at an alarming rate and every day plants and species are just exterminated bugs me a great deal more...

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RE: end of the space shuttle - 7/21/2011 11:56:23 AM

Iamsemisweet

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I think that some advances in technology and knowledge came out of it that were wonderful. Too bad we can't afford that kind of thing anymore, and LadyC is right, we have more pressing problems in the 21st century.
My son dreamed of being an astronaut when he was a little kid, as well as a train engineer. Oddly, the occupation that came out of the 19th century innovation is still a possibility, the other is not. Now what will little kids dream of being when they grow up? Sad, really. Hell, I think I dreamed of being an astronaut when I was a little kid.

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RE: end of the space shuttle - 7/21/2011 8:03:27 PM

TheHeretic

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Muttling

On an even more discouraging note, the idea of NASA ending construction of rockets entirely has been suggested several times and is being seriously considered. They would rely on commercial and foreign rockets to lift payloads into space while focusing everything else on developing technology for manned explorations beyond earth orbit.

I don't find this discouraging at all, Mutt. It's a sign that all of our intial investment is paying off. Government was able to pull off an enormous and ambitious project, and the torch has been passed to the private sector. Now we start breaking into the next round of hard stuff, at least on the whiteboards, and in the labs. This is progress.

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RE: end of the space shuttle - 8/7/2011 5:42:25 AM

Manawyddan

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Also, remember the shuttles themselves were embarrassingly old technology. Most of us don't buy cars that old! They are past due for retirement ... but it's a shame we can't afford to build 21st century models.

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RE: end of the space shuttle - 8/7/2011 10:10:36 AM

Termyn8or

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"but it's a shame we can't afford to build 21st century models. "

Thinking about it realistically, there is a national defense issue involved, in that we could go put up anyhting on a satallite we want. But really, most of what they do is commercial in nature so why should the government do it ?

But yes, most of us don't even want cars that age, they were junk. But then if you have a 1957 Chevy..........

If a spaceship lasts fifty years, so what ? Are we that caught up in this disposable society that no matter how good something is we need a new one whether we need it or not ? When the seals went bad and killed those astronauts and that teacher, they were practically new. For some reason it seems that by the time we get all the bugs worked out of something it is obsolete.

Is that the right way ? Conspicuous consuption ?

Seems so. In my opinion, yes they are quite old, but if you have an old car that runs you don't scrap it until you buy another one. I see this as a situation in which we USED to be able to do something and now we can't.

That just doesn't seem logical does it ?

T^T

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RE: end of the space shuttle - 8/7/2011 3:15:47 PM

SneakerWorship

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The way I see it, we are being self destructive as a country by letting it go. Not only did the program create jobs, it created respectability. But it had many other latent functions, and spawned new inventions. What our country needs more than ever is to create a PRODUCT that other countries need and buy. We need a major product to rebalance ourselves in a global economy. Our space program created and fostered important opportunities for technology. Where the fuck would Apple be if they stopped at computers? Not only can they create a new product, but create a product with a plethora of products for that base product. It's called adaption. The US is in desperate need for brilliant inventors to save our ass. Perfect fucking time to pull the plug.

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RE: end of the space shuttle - 8/7/2011 3:46:49 PM

stef

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quote:

ORIGINAL: SneakerWorship

The way I see it, we are being self destructive as a country by letting it go. Not only did the program create jobs, it created respectability. But it had many other latent functions, and spawned new inventions. What our country needs more than ever is to create a PRODUCT that other countries need and buy. We need a major product to rebalance ourselves in a global economy. Our space program created and fostered important opportunities for technology. Where the fuck would Apple be if they stopped at computers? Not only can they create a new product, but create a product with a plethora of products for that base product. It's called adaption. The US is in desperate need for brilliant inventors to save our ass. Perfect fucking time to pull the plug.

You do realize that it's not the entire space program that was shut down, right? Just two days ago NASA launched the Juno spacecraft on it's five year journey to Jupiter. Before the end of this year we'll be sending another rover to Mars and SpaceX is on schedule to launch a capsule to dock with the ISS, further opening the opportunities for commercial space flight.

With several options in place to maintain servicing and resupply of the ISS until it reaches the end of it's mission, it just doesn't make sense to maintain the Shuttle platform any longer. As much as I mourn the loss of the Shuttle program, refocusing our efforts on getting out of low-earth orbit is the right thing to do now.

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RE: end of the space shuttle - 8/7/2011 4:06:43 PM

SneakerWorship

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quote:

With several options in place to maintain servicing and resupply of the ISS until it reaches the end of it's mission, it just doesn't make sense to maintain the Shuttle platform any longer. As much as I mourn the loss of the Shuttle program, refocusing our efforts on getting out of low-earth orbit is the right thing to do now.

quote:

ORIGINAL: stef

Look, according to some sources it's estimated that 23,000 will lose their jobs because of the decision. I don't think you understand my point at all. We need to make decisions that are good business decisions for our country and I am simply making the argument that the program's latent functions had many considerable benefits to our country at large. When a business has reached a decline in sales, they look towards niche markets and other new target areas. As a country, we have recognized this in a very narrow way, such as solar and wind energy.
As a country we should look at what fosters growth in a post industrial era. We have to figure out how to make ourselves viable in a global economy. We are caving in -- our financial structure is under extreme duress. A fucking bread company doesn't stop buying yeast because it has to cut costs. Get it? You say it's not all or nothing, which indicates that you really didn't understand my point at all.

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RE: end of the space shuttle - 8/7/2011 5:49:59 PM

lazarus1983

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I can't wait to see what private enterprise does.

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RE: end of the space shuttle - 8/7/2011 6:03:09 PM

Termyn8or

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"The way I see it, we are being self destructive as a country by letting it go. Not only did the program create jobs, it created respectability. But it had many other latent functions, and spawned new inventions. What our country needs more than ever is to create a PRODUCT that other countries need and buy. We need a major product to rebalance ourselves in a global economy. Our space program created and fostered important opportunities for technology."

My brain detector just went off/ Where'd ya get that ? This is what I am saying, build and SELL something.

"Not only can they create a new product, but create a product with a plethora of products for that base product. It's called adaption."

Maybe now, but when business was business it was called "Create a need and fill it". Another axiom of the past was "Nothing happens until something is sold".

We have seemingly abandoned these old notions, ideas that actually worked and made us strong, and healthy both mentally and financially. Don't wonder why I am half fucking nuts, it's because I know too much. I know they are destroying every fucking thing that was good. I am here to tellya, it wasn't always this way.

T^T

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RE: end of the space shuttle - 8/7/2011 6:14:02 PM

Kaliko

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Some light reading.

http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/510449main_SLS_MPCV_90-day_Report.pdf

(I haven't read the whole thing yet.)

ETA - sorry, that was fast reply.

And, the reason I posted it is on the NASA website, the link to it is entitled "What's Next for NASA? The end of the space shuttle program does not mean the end of sending humans into space." Seemed relevant. And interesting.

< Message edited by Kaliko -- 8/7/2011 6:18:12 PM >

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Post #: 19

RE: end of the space shuttle - 8/7/2011 8:11:20 PM

Termyn8or

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I skimmed it and I think they're blowing smoke. They want to look good or something.

Yeah, 130 tons, I think the Saturn five weighed more than that.

On one hand, there are no new propellants that can save the world. They can't get ion propulsion to work yet and I think we are about at the limit when it comes to chemicals. So really it is logical to keep making the trip ? Think of it, do you want smaller trucks on the road bringing in your new cars ? Sure would be nice but there would be gillions if them. Too much.

So they want the shuttle or whaqtever to be bigger. That is still going to leave us paying busfare to someone every time something breaks down and we have to fix it.

Typical shortsightedness.

T^T

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Post #: 20

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