Comments on: The Next Giant Leap For Mankind

60 Minutes Reports On NASA's Plans To Return Men To The Moon In Preparation For A Manned Flight To Mars

[radi0rat]

AWESOME!
I''m so glad NASA is finally going to mean something more than Need Another Seven Astronauts. Joke aside, I actually was WATCHING LIVE when The Challenger exploded. I did not lose faith. If I''d had what it takes, I would have signed up to replace one of those astronauts the next morning!
Its pathetic that my average tax money going to NASA is 15c/day ... space exploration to my mind is part of the purpose of being a sentient being capable of toolmaking and abstract thought and writing etc. Nothing beats GOING somewhere to explore and understand. And frankly, humans are doing a lousy job as shepherds of Planet Dirt. We need a backup!
WHICH BRINGS ME TO THE QUESTION: CBS: Why didn''t you asks about the "Space Elevator" ? Once built it would literally take a few thousand watts of electric energy to tow people and cargo into orbit several times a DAY! And no more riding a barely controlled explosion into orbit with all the pollution involved. That''s what we should be building, not a new Saturn 5, ver 2.0

[thomwalsh]

Sorry kids, I can remember what life was like before PC''s, I-Phones and life expectancy wasn''t even close to the 77 years it is now. Yeah, I%u2019ll agree NASA didn''t invent all the technology we have today, but they did fund the R&D which was too costly for the open market to see a return on then. From that (and the work of others) they ended up creating a lot of the seed concepts underlying so much of what we take for granted today. As for the open market back then and today, when it comes to safety I%u2019d trust what comes out of NASA over any consumer driven manufacturer. Are they perfect? Hell no, there are no perfect organizations. But to blindly say there%u2019s no value there when NASA was the impetus for so much of what effects every part of our lives today is ridiculous. Granted, it%u2019s NASA tooting their own horn, but I suggest everyone who%u2019s down on NASA visit
http://techtran.msfc.nasa.gov/at_home.html to put things into perspective.

P.S. I am not now, nor have ever been (or wanted) to be employed by NASA or any of their contractors. So it%u2019s no skin off my nose beyond listening to those spouting off about things they know little or nothing about.

[stratocirrus]

"...When you send humans, you have to solve all sorts of new problems that will make us more efficient on Earth. Anyone see an Exxon between here and Mars? Nope. No extension cords either. No Water towers, no air conditioning. We have to solve some great challenges on the way which will teach us to appreciate the conveniences of Earth, and help us be a more efficient human race. Thanks to the space program, we have fuel cells, tankless water heaters, and numerous medical technologies that save lives. All because we needed to power the space station, let the astronauts take hot showers, and make sure those folks were healthy while they did their research.

Think of robots as our Lewis and Clark. Humans were given minds so we may explore. Every step we have taken so far has brought us new gains, new knowledge. This step will be no different.

Oh--and by the way--investing in space has generated a n industry with around $240 Billion in revenue -- They pay lots of taxes so we can pay for Obama''''s preschool program, and all those Congressional earmarks, and still go to Mars!"

DITTO! -- Everything You Said!

And to quote Neil deGrasse Tyson, astonomer, philosopher and all around genius:

%u201CThe urge is to believe that all your solutions to your problems on Earth can be found by only looking at Earth. That is shortsighted, bordering on delusional.%u201D

[starwards]

A comparison of NASA budget expenditures with those of the multitude of expensive U.S. entitlement programs suggests that we should give great credit to those who implement our national space program. NASA achievements in space starting with the rapid incease in applications following WWII have served to demonstrate to the world that this nation can summon the will and the courage to undertake technologically difficult challenges in order to explore our cosmic environment. We will do a disservice to the human spirit should we unduly look inward.

[b_sigmon]

I think that after we solve the global climate change crisis here on Earth and implement single payer health coverage and make sure our bridges are safe that going to Mars would be a grand idea!

[dan9111]

Every single dollar spent *outside* of a NASA monopoly structure has lifted more weight into orbit by a hundredfold. Granted these are not all "big science". But whether one uses the Russians or more local contractor (deregulation in the USA), it has to be truly competitive to get a good return and include a business-sense in the endeavor. This means no tax dollars and no violence on the part of the government to acquire the money. NASA has consistently blown it, milking Apollo for 40 years, all the while Congress is using an earmark results-dont-matter spending style.

Of all the American citizens who would like to see humans on Mars, it is important to realize the NASA model will cost the most, and deliver the least. Not to mention, those who do not share your dream would rather waste the money on "Operation Desert Boondoggle" or whatever it''s called now. Give the government instructions to steal our money, and surely they will waste it. Private organizations can do the job better. If only the government did not take half our income, the real pioneers would not be shackled to the ground. The folks who favor NASA have been living in fantasyland.

[fuzzybear9]

Oh also in passing might I just add that there has been no useful Technology derived from NASA
Fuel Cells were first envisioned by
German Scientist in 1944 as well as computing techniques, all the math and science for any of the modern technicals came in the early 1930''s
long before NASA`s useless existance.
All NASA exists for is a useless wayplace for Texan and California wannabee scientist,
Much like Los Alamos the only science achieved at Los Alamos was by Oppenheimer 50 years ago
nothing Else worth public funding justifies its existance.

sincerely trying to keep America on the right Track Bear
Fuzzy

[fuzzybear9]

Hello COncerned Tax Payers and Laymen

Let me just say at the outset that any further funding of the NASA bueracracy is a complete and total waste of public monies.
You will note in reading this article on the first page no mention of sqawdering Billions of precious tho valueless U.S. dollars is mentioned.
As for science all moon base hopes where destroyed with the Nixon administration a close cohort to the Bush administration. any funding that could have been used is now in Iraqi hands.
As for science there is no science that currnetly justifies this expendature that can`t be achieved thru observation and funding could be used to clean up the only planet in the solar system where we know life does exist right here on earth.
So by the powers invested in me by Einstein and Newton I declare NASA Missions as being a waste at present.

Sincerely your Quantum Bear
Fuzzy

[gfalbel]

In response to your piece on NASA''s upcoming moon mission, presented below is an email I sent to Dr. Wendell Mendell of NASA Houston:

Hi Wendell,

As you may remember, we worked together on the Lunar IR Radiometer on Apollo 17. You are managing a manned lunar mission as a way station to Mars exploration. I''m sorry, but I consider the proposed manned Mars exploration part a massive, trillion dollar waste that will never be funded by thinking US taxpayers (unfortunately, the last three words are an oxymoron.)

For over 28 years I have been pursuing a Quixotic quest proposing a lunar solar power station, which has also been promoted by Dr. David Criswell of the University of Houston. Unlike, Dr. Criswell, who has been recycling his paper, with cartoon pictures of lunar solar power stations over many years, without defining how they are going to be paid for, my technical paper (Appendix A) shows realistic drawings and calculations extrapolated from the NASA/DOE 1977-1980 SPS studies of solar energy from geosynchronous solar satellites. More importantly, I believe I show how this can be paid for without any increase in US taxes, while at the same time stopping and ultimately reversing global warming and reducing US taxes, without any job layoffs, or change in life styles on anyone''s part.

I look forward to hearing your comments and criticism.


Best regards,

Gerry Falbel
472 Westover Road
Stamford CT 06902

203-357-0626

[grammawhamma]

"The average American%u2019s bill, if you will, for the space program, is 15 cents per person, per day," says Griffin. "I don%u2019t know about you, but I spend more than that on bubble gum."

That comes to $54.75 per person, per year, which could do alot of good right here in our own backyard. And BTW...what adult do you know that chews more than $0.15 of bubble gum a day?

[grammawhamma]

Just great...we''ll go find aliens on Mars and then they will follow us home and immigrate here. (just joking)

I am no scientist but I do have a bad feeling about "blasting holes" in the moon''s surface to look for hydrogen. Here we go...meddling with nature again...it''s not bad enough we already almost ruined this planet?

[shanev137]

Why do we need to put a person on Mars when millions are dying of disease and starvation everyday?

[mom_o_truth]

STOP...Just keep your feet on EARTH and spend the money to make it a better place to live. Spend the BILLIONS on those who need it HERE NOT ON MARS.

[comtnclimr]

When you take robots somewhere, you give them cameras, communication tools, and power. They do their job, and we learn interesting things. Robots are great.

When you send humans, you have to solve all sorts of new problems that will make us more efficient on Earth. Anyone see an Exxon between here and Mars? Nope. No extension cords either. No Water towers, no air conditioning. We have to solve some great challenges on the way which will teach us to appreciate the conveniences of Earth, and help us be a more efficient human race. Thanks to the space program, we have fuel cells, tankless water heaters, and numerous medical technologies that save lives. All because we needed to power the space station, let the astronauts take hot showers, and make sure those folks were healthy while they did their research.

Think of robots as our Lewis and Clark. Humans were given minds so we may explore. Every step we have taken so far has brought us new gains, new knowledge. This step will be no different.

Oh--and by the way--investing in space has generated a n industry with around $240 Billion in revenue -- They pay lots of taxes so we can pay for Obama''s preschool program, and all those Congressional earmarks, and still go to Mars!

[payasyougo]

"To the uninformed viewer you made it sound like the astronauts landed, planted a flag, had a picnic, and then returned home."

From what I recall, they also played golf.

[mcroft04]

I compliment you for your coverage on NASA%u2019s plans to return to the moon during your Sunday April 6 segment. However, your comment that the new lunar missions "will be more than putting flags in the sand" degrades the wonderful science program accomplished by NASA%u2019s Apollo lunar missions. Geophysical, astronomical, and much geological data were collected, including returning over 800 pounds of lunar material, all which has added a tremendous wealth of understanding about the moon, our earth, and its place in the universe. To the uninformed viewer you made it sound like the astronauts landed, planted a flag, had a picnic, and then returned home. Come on, I expect more from 60 Minutes!

[a88toto]

I don''t think anyone except a beleagered president and an out-of-touch NASA management want the U.S. to spend all that money to send humans back into space. I think the unmanned space exploration has been splendid, keep that up. I think manned space travel is full of stupidity and hubris.

Immediatly stop all monies going to test and build stuff for human space travel! This Earth is our home! If you continue to spend money on stupid wars and look to the stars only for glory and a new home, you will definately lose this one!

[rational_1]

rational 1:
why do you have to hide your intentions of your "vacation home" from your wife? If she doesn''''t agree with your thoughts, what are you doing?
Posted by locke10 at 03:52 PM : Apr 07, 2008

I''m not really hiding it from her. She knows that I think there is a possibility that things could go to he!! in a handbasket. When we''ve talked about buying land around Big Bend it is largely and truly for the purpose of being near great places like the Texas mountains and New Mexico, and that is the primary reason. We''re big into hiking and as our kids are getting older we want to do that with them and this part of Texas would make a great base. I don''t emphasize the fact that it would also probably be a great place to hole up in case things go badly (like a worldwide plague), just because there''s no point in freaking her out or making her think I''m being paranoid. I''m not not all sure (or even confident) that something really bad will happen, but with 6 billion people on the planet, and near instant transmission of disease via airlines, things could get bad quickly if some lethal virus mutates to be easily transmissible. So, I''m not really hiding anything from my wife - just considering bonuses with getting a place in the Texas mountains. I just stated it badly in my first message.

[locke10]

rational 1:
why do you have to hide your intentions of your "vacation home" from your wife? If she doesn''t agree with your thoughts, what are you doing?

[Robert Gowen]

I have great respect for Congressman Barney Frank, but I need to strongly disagree with his decision to not fund the Mars Program. The funding is not simply to prove we can go to Mars and back, but it is also a national security issue. There are many reasons, but here are two: 1) After the Shuttle retires, we are dependent on the Russians to get humans into orbit and the space station, 2) Biology Research funding for NASA, which has been cut, is necessary to combat radiation exposure in space, which solutions can have other uses on earth (such as helping us if we get hit with a nuclear terrorist incident). Our country needs leaders who dream big again.