Discussion
Can't beleive the poor state the US space programme is in. They have the engines liquid fuel and solid,they have the ability to build the space frames and the biological support systems.
They have the technology right now to build a lifter more powerfull than the Saturn 5 and launch a spaceship far more sophisticated than the Apollo.
Why then are they spending billions redesigning and developing motors they already make and researching technology they already have on file. They could be there in 3 years if they really wanted to do it and at far less cost than they are proposing.
Jobs for the boys time again
They have the technology right now to build a lifter more powerfull than the Saturn 5 and launch a spaceship far more sophisticated than the Apollo.
Why then are they spending billions redesigning and developing motors they already make and researching technology they already have on file. They could be there in 3 years if they really wanted to do it and at far less cost than they are proposing.
Jobs for the boys time again
Not at all. Go with the technology they have and do some proper space exploring - manned and unmanned.
NASA's problem over its 47 year life is that it has consistently tried to reinvent the wheel every decade or so. As a result, programmes cost too much, get cancelled, get reinststed, get cancelled again or dumbed down to try and achieve some elements of the original mission objective.
The Russian programme has followed a philosophy of sticking with its original launcher platforms and spacecraft designs and developing them incrementally rather than chucking whole systems out the window every ten years or so. This has allowed them to achieve results way beyond what they should really should have been able to.
NASA is an organisiation with a very broad set of aims. It not only manages numerous space projects but it is also the US government body which provides resources and opportunities to the US aerospace industry to experiment and develop new technologies for both atmospheric flight and spaceflight.
The development of new technologies is a separate objective to the exploration of space.
>> Edited by Eric Mc on Thursday 29th September 09:46
NASA's problem over its 47 year life is that it has consistently tried to reinvent the wheel every decade or so. As a result, programmes cost too much, get cancelled, get reinststed, get cancelled again or dumbed down to try and achieve some elements of the original mission objective.
The Russian programme has followed a philosophy of sticking with its original launcher platforms and spacecraft designs and developing them incrementally rather than chucking whole systems out the window every ten years or so. This has allowed them to achieve results way beyond what they should really should have been able to.
NASA is an organisiation with a very broad set of aims. It not only manages numerous space projects but it is also the US government body which provides resources and opportunities to the US aerospace industry to experiment and develop new technologies for both atmospheric flight and spaceflight.
The development of new technologies is a separate objective to the exploration of space.
>> Edited by Eric Mc on Thursday 29th September 09:46
NASA have nothing on us.. The uni I was at had a big hand in developing the beagle 2 lander. They had a big meeting there to discuss whether the proposed deployment (chuck it into the ground hard with balloons stuck to it, hope it bounces and lands on flat ground, and unfolds correctly). Their conclusion - odds were very slim of successful deployment. So they did it anyway, and the probe was mished upon arrival. What a surprise..
I always thought the infamous story of NASA's $1million pen compared with the Russians using Pencil pretty much summed up either sides attitude. The Americans high tech for high techs sake, the Russians just getting on with the job as best they can.
I noticed the Russians have joined up with the Europeans now in their 'space plane' program, should be interesting. Suddenly the Americans who have had little to no competition for ages suddenly have everyone banging on their door.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4286086.stm
I noticed the Russians have joined up with the Europeans now in their 'space plane' program, should be interesting. Suddenly the Americans who have had little to no competition for ages suddenly have everyone banging on their door.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4286086.stm
I hardly think Africa is in a fit state to start a space programme is it John...? r988 said:
I always thought the infamous story of NASA's $1million pen compared with the Russians using Pencil pretty much summed up either sides attitude. The Americans high tech for high techs sake, the Russians just getting on with the job as best they can.
Don't believe everything you hear
www.snopes.com/business/genius/spacepen.asp
That pencil v' pen story is total nonsense. It never happened.
Even during the height of the Apollo missions there were many people who felt that the money should be spent elsewhere. Indeed, the Reverend Abernathy led a contingent of poor back people on a march to Cape Kennedy to protest against the launch of Apollo 11.
Well, they got their way in the end. The money for Apollo and other space ventures was stopped, and now there are no more poor people in the US (I'm being ironic, by the way).
>> Edited by Eric Mc on Thursday 29th September 15:57
Even during the height of the Apollo missions there were many people who felt that the money should be spent elsewhere. Indeed, the Reverend Abernathy led a contingent of poor back people on a march to Cape Kennedy to protest against the launch of Apollo 11.
Well, they got their way in the end. The money for Apollo and other space ventures was stopped, and now there are no more poor people in the US (I'm being ironic, by the way).
>> Edited by Eric Mc on Thursday 29th September 15:57
Eric Mc said:
No.
Manned missions are only a waste of time if they are confined to earth orbit. Manned missions to the moon and the rest of the solar system are actually feasable NOW and should be pursued.
No ones going beyond Mars without a huge shift in technology.
Manned missions to the moon and mars could be of some use if we build a base on one of them (using robotics?), it would be a little pointless to send a couple of astronauts all that way so they could drive around in a buggy for a few hours.
Please shut up about the " moon hoax" 
. It is so tiresome and pretty much done to death by now.
Going back to the moon must be seen as a first step to getting back into manned Solar System exploration. We are very fortunate in that we have a large heavenly body "only" 250,000 miles away. This means that we can develop the technology relatively close to home. The techniques eventually developed for travelling to the moon and staying there for reasonable periods of time will be invaluable when trips to Mars and the outer planets and their moons finally get going.
. It is so tiresome and pretty much done to death by now. Going back to the moon must be seen as a first step to getting back into manned Solar System exploration. We are very fortunate in that we have a large heavenly body "only" 250,000 miles away. This means that we can develop the technology relatively close to home. The techniques eventually developed for travelling to the moon and staying there for reasonable periods of time will be invaluable when trips to Mars and the outer planets and their moons finally get going.
Eric Mc said:
Please shut up about the " moon hoax"
Going back to the moon must be seen as a first step to getting back into manned Solar System exploration. We are very fortunate in that we have a large heavenly body "only" 250,000 miles away. This means that we can develop the technology relatively close to home. The techniques eventually developed for travelling to the moon and staying there for reasonable periods of time will be invaluable when trips to Mars and the outer planets and their moons finally get going.
..been on the happy baccy again Eric?
supaspark said:
They should go back to the moon and take pictures of those buggies to end all the conspiracy theories!
That would actually yield some results. Not to disprove the hoax but to see what the long term effects on the metal of the base of the LIM and other pieces has been.
ErnestM
ErnestM said:
They should go back to the moon and take pictures of those buggies to end all the conspiracy theories!
That would actually yield some results. Not to disprove the hoax but to see what the long term effects on the metal of the base of the LIM and other pieces has been.
ErnestM
Aren't the Japs planning to send spy satellite to do just that?
Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff