May 02, 2005
Mars and NASA
The above picture is is the latest color panorama of the martian landscape from a ridgeline vantage point overlooking slopes, valleys and plains, taken by NASA's Mars Rover, Spirit.
Science news of the year: NASA's Mars Exploration Rovers' discovery of evidence of past water on Mars was named the top scientific "Breakthrough of the Year," by The Journal of Science.
Although I love space exploration, I often wonder if that money would serve a better purpose for our country if we paid down our deficit. What do you think?
Posted by Michele at May 2, 2005 09:55 AMYeah, it's just dirt & rocks...
... but it makes me tingle to see it :-)
Posted by: Harvey at May 2, 2005 10:38 AMHarvey, everything makes you tingle!
Posted by: michele at May 2, 2005 12:05 PMCouple of quick thoughts: NASA is only a very small fraction of the budget, somewhere around one percent if memory serves. It is by Congressional standards, chump change and far more goes to pork each year than to NASA. That said, when has any program been eliminated and had its money get used for anything other than pork? No matter what is promised, it never goes as said.
Second, consider all that has come out of space research: modern electronics (arrived much faster because of the need for miniaturization and reliability); advanced firefighting equipment and safety gear; advanced protective systems for law enforcement and military; medical diagnostic and treatment systems including but not limited to ultrasound and advanced cancer treatments, not to mention monitors and telemedicine capabilities; and, many modern fabrics came about by or were improved through the program. NASA will very gladly list any and all spin offs, would that they paid as much attention to the spin-ons that have come from commercial space activities: new treatments for cancer, advanced water purification systems for hikers and cities, and even a new perfume.
That said, a great deal of the current budget is not well spent in my opinion. A huge amount of it goes not into breaking new territory, but in maintaining the kludge that is the Shuttle.
If we want to see the same-pace of technological advancement, and a host of new products that come from companies making use of space and microgravity, then NASA needs to get out of the Shuttle business and start pushing commercial launch such as Space Ship One, XCOR, and the others.
Just a few thoughts... :)
Posted by: Laughing Wolf at May 3, 2005 08:37 AMWolf's got a point. Although NASA is a waste of money compared to the private sector, it's less of a waste than, say, mohair subsidies :-)
Posted by: Harvey at May 3, 2005 10:32 AMI'm not so sure that NASA is a waste of money. To me it's more that they're mis-directed. NASA is better at research and development style projects, whereas in the recent past they've had to do more business-oriented tasks. Business will always do business better than the government.
Posted by: Ted at May 3, 2005 11:36 AMI agree 100% with this "Laughing Wolf" guy, whoever he is....
Posted by: _Jon at May 3, 2005 12:15 PMThanks LW,
You raised some very important points which I had forgotten. If I look around my home I can see 5 things that are currently making my life easier and that have come as a direct result of space exploration and research.
As for its budget, it's currently over 1%, but you are absolutely right and dead on target when you talk about the obscenity that is pork barrel funding.
Thanks for the reminder!
Posted by: michele at May 3, 2005 12:33 PM