Disaster In Current Direction For NASA

[halman]

I think that part of the reason that the general public is ignorant of what is happening in space is that they have no idea where we are talking about. They understand the Moon, because they can see that. But Low Earth Orbit and Mars are pretty much the same in the minds of many, just somewhere 'out there'. This is one of the reasons that I believe a return to the Moon is so important, because it would put space exploration back into a context which the average person can understand.

But we are going to need a better spaceship to make returning to the Moon possible, because we need to send more than 3 or 4 people at a time there. Hauling up a reasonable crew for an exploration mission would take several launches by any existing vehicle, except the shuttle, and it can only carry 4 or 5 non piloting crew. We need a bus to LEO, so that we can get people up there and have them start working.

 

[arkady]

Socialist Communist administration in Washington

Get over yourself man! Being a socialist communist Euro fanboy let me tell you ... you guys wouldn't know what it was if it bit you in the ...

But hey, if thats the level of debate over there, might aswell start referring to the GOP as Nazi-fascists.

<sigh>

 

[Gravity_Ray]

People still don’t care. The hoopla is only on these pages. Ask any 10 random Americans, and 8 will not be able to tell you what NASA stands for, I did that once in a party (by the way one of the 2 that ‘knew’ was my wife and ONLY because I talk about them every day, and she said “North American Space Administration”). However, all new who Kim Kardashian was dating

Not to disrespect your wife but that is how that lesser and uneducated are they feel like knowing who some wealthy person is dating makes them feel superior to the person when they talk about them in gossip dens or rumor shacks. Most people on Earth do not want to engage in a meanigful discussion because it would take to much effort and energy to do so. These types of people feel like their have control over these peoples lives by talking about them. Basically for these types of people it is easier to not think then it is too think and logically understand the importance of space exploration.
The other reason why people glamourize and roleplay people like Kardashian is that they want to live that type of lifestyle where they think that if they are as beautiful as the person they are emulating they will receive the same type of status and wealth as the person in question. Who wants to roleplay an astronaught, scientist or engineer, yeah they may make alot of money because of their job which requires work and learning to be intelligent but how does that draw the frat boys and girls to your dorm so you can form your social network just to be the center of attention without really having to do anything? Everyone wants everything now without having to put forth to much effort which only breeds stupid people and not the people that are needed to become a space faring planet. Let the stupid breed and feed them they will multiply like gremlins in the machine of life eating more and breeding twice as fast. Get rid of the glit and glam is a start to curing the planet of this problem, but then capitilsim will die so which is the better style of government?

Socialism or Capitilism - regardless both styles will be populated by idolic worshippers that can be paid alittle or alot to beleive what you want them to beleive or not beleive.

Dryson
Before we get too haughty let me clarify a few things. The people in that party that I questioned are neither “lesser” nor “uneducated”. They were mostly lawyers, doctors, and people in the television industry. Actually I am one of the “dumber” people in that group.

They are not interested in the space program not because they are “stupid people” as you say, but because their lives are very full and fulfilled. They all have careers and families and rightly their attention is where it needs to be.

The reason they knew who Kardashian was dating is also not because they want to be like her; most of these people I was speaking about are probably richer than her. They knew about her because that is what our “news” is filled with.

The media I am sorry to say has a very self-centered view of our world – their own pocket book. So they go with small one-liners that will generate the most controversy. They play with people’s emotions and sadly (since we are an emotional species) they are usually able to get us to react, just look at CNBC or Fox News (they are opinion programs not news programs).

The next astronauts need to be in the private realm so that unlike a public program they can by pass these emotional grenades that the media lobs over the head of the politicians. The politicians control the public space programs not the engineers or scientists. Once the space program moves into the private sector it will be ruled by other constraints such as profitability. My hope is, since the public space program in the past 60 years has got us no where, the private sector will, and if the private sector can not get us into space then maybe as a species we were never meant to go into space. We will see how that goes by the end of this year or next.

By the way, I didn’t take any disrespect about your comment about my wife, but let me assure you, she is very smart when it comes to her sphere of influence. Because she and many Americans don’t care about space does not make them less smart, just makes them busy.