So, I was just as shocked as everyone else when what had become almost "routine" for the U.S. suddenly revealed it's very dangerous side once again. NASA proposed the shuttle program because it was supposed to be cheap, easy and very safe. However, it has proved anything but. NASA's original proposal was supposed to gear up to the point where a shuttle would be taking off every week. However, at its peak, the shuttle program managed to have eight missions in one year. That was cut back to a mere four missions after the Challenger disaster. While Columbia's life-span was only half over (shuttles are supposed to last 40 years) now that the U.S. has lost a second shuttle, the whole program is called into question.
So, should the shuttle program be scrapped? replaced? with what? What would you do if you ran NASA or were on the U.S. Senate space commission? Will the "final frontier" remain elusive or is there a way in which space can be effectively, safely and profitably conquered?
__________________ With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censored, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably.These words were uttered by Judge Aaron Satie -- as awisdom, and warning. The first time any man's freedom is trodden on, we're all damaged.
"One ought never to turn one's back on a threatened danger and try to run away from it. If you do that, you will double the danger. But if you meet it promptly and without flinching, you will reduce the danger by half.-----Sir Winston Churchill
Gender: Male Location: Huntington Beach, California
Space should be explored just like Oceans were explored. Yes people will die and yes it is tragic. Space exploration is essential to the evolution of our species.
no, space exploration si more than an adventure..it might prove to be our existential salvation one day.
I'm sure nasa knows what they're doing and they have no gain by reducing the missions number. They're just playing it safe, like they should. The columbia was a nasty turn on things, proof that they have to be even MORE careful
Yes its sad that people have died in the space program but then that is the risk pioneers take and space travel is still a pioneering technology.
If I was in charge of it all I would put forward funds to develop/explore new ways to escape gravity to make take and landing safer.
I also agree that it is sad that people have died in the space program, but people have died during pretty much all types of exploration. Exploration is risky, but it is how we learn about our world and our universe. I am definitely for the space program continuing. When I was younger, I used to dream of going into space. Now, I'm so afraid of heights, I'm not sure I could ever do it - even if it became routine for regular individuals to go out there. I do think it would be incredible, though, to experience that!! I hope someday to watch feed from a probe sent to planets besides Mars. Maybe even something sent beyond our galaxy when it becomes possible. Ok, ok, I know it's cheesy, but this post brought this song to mind.......
It's been a long road
Getting from there to here
It's been a long time
But my time is finally near
And I will see my dream come alive at last,
I will touch the sky
And they're not gonna hold me down no more
No, they're not gonna change my mind
Cause I got faith of the heart
I'm going where my heart will take me
I got faith to believe
I can do anything
I got strength of the soul
And no one's gonna bend or break me
I can reach any star
I got faith
Faith of the heart...
As of right now we are just studying space, we don't necessarily have a purpose. We just explore, so we can improve on are technology, improving are technology improves exploration which will eventually lead to discovering great helpful things to the human race. We do some testing in space, for various medical improvements. Space is necessary if we want to keep on top of things and people dieing while in space is a risk that NASA is aware of, but sometimes a very helpful thing to improve technology, so the same problems wont repeat.
well think about this for a second... the space shuttles are made by a contractor with the LOWEST bid. so everything in that shuttle, from labor to parts, is the cheapest NASA can find. if i ran NASA, it would spend so much money, they would have to sell alaska back to the russians...
I swear, I'm going to smack the next person who dismisses something as "just a theory."
I mean, I don't want to be rude, but have you ever heard of the theory of relativity? Germ theory?
__________________ "Men curse the Communist Party, but eventually it may release them. If hell were endless, then God would be worse than our Secret Police."--Pastor Valentin
KMC Community Forums
Mar 8th, 2004 06:48 PM
space exploration is just an adventure, just to see what else God created
