Eliminate NASA, Privatize the Space Program

[mykevermin]

Tired of the government wasting your money?

Appalled by stimulus spending?

Want to reign in government?

End the Space Program now. End NASA.

You want Buck Rogers and Darth Vader? Find some private interests to capitalize it. I didn't say "privatize space," but "privatize the space program."

We spend a lot of money on something, and what do we get to show for it? Some photographs and two people to step foot off the planet. Big fuckin' deal.

So let's reduce government waste. Let's eliminate NASA now; walk the walk, small-federal-government supporters.

[redline]

Even if it were privatized you'd still have to have the government to regulate it, so I'm sure NASA would still be around in some form. I've been saying the space program needs to end for years now, it's just not worth the risk and cost sending people into space to live in an aging, failing space station. Or to keep repairing an aging, failing telescope. I can't wait to see what the next "Hubble" project is that NASA is cooking up. Or how about sending people to Mars, are they still talking about doing that??

[DarkSageRK]

No, no. You wanted to make a "Privatize the Army" topic. That'd get your point across better.

[speedracer]

The City of Houston stands ready to neutralize mykevermin and take defensive actions against the aggressive stance of anyone else that wants to fuck with one of our sacred cash cows.

[JolietJake]

I thought Blackwater was our private army?

[UncleBob]

I agree with this post.

[fatherofcaitlyn]

Welcome, mykevermin.

NASA has been a waste since we left the moon.

We should have colonized it in the 80s and created Cape Canaveral II at the Southern Pole.

In the 90s, we could have constructed a Lunar Solar Power system that could have replaced every coal and nuclear power plant and provided cheap renewable energy to every person of the world.

In the 00s, we could have colonized Mars and Venus. On Mars, we could have used greenhouse gas generating tech to form a CO2 based atmosphere that would allow the steady conversion to O2 with plants. On Venus, we could have used helium3 and abundant solar power to keep a large orbiting platform over the planet extracting carbon from the atmosphere to generate a graphite sunblocker to make Venus habitable.

After that ... lots of scifi shit. Colonies under the ice in the craters of Mercury, colonies on most of Jupiter moons. Then ... leaving the solar system.

...

Fortunately, we kept ourselves in low earth orbit and started more wars to secure finite resources. The money that could have been spent on better orbital telescopes was spent maintaining an old one. We've used the most expensive way to send people and goods into space via the shuttle for decades past its usefulness instead of developing cannons to launch ice and other basic goods for 1/50th of the cost or just a cheaper reusable vehicles.

[mykevermin]

No, no. You wanted to make a "Privatize the Army" topic. That'd get your point across better.

I figured NASA would be a better choice for a gaming forum. Too many motherfuckers reading TOR published novels, playing Dead Space, and debating the finer merits of "Star Wars" gaffes being presented with the proposal of losing the one glint of hope in the form of a large program that might bring them one step closer to being a real, true, honest to goodness Jedi Knight.

Gamers enlist in the military? Pish-posh. Those are statistical anomalies.

The City of Houston stands ready to neutralize mykevermin and take defensive actions against the aggressive stance of anyone else that wants to fuck with one of our sacred cash cows.

Move to Kentucky and grow weed. Legalizing the cultivation and sale of marijuana is my next proposition.

Stop going into space literally, start going to space metaphorically.

Not a very good bumper sticker idea, is it?

[fatherofcaitlyn]

Move to Kentucky and grow weed. Legalizing the cultivation and sale of marijuana is my next proposition.

Stop going into space literally, start going to space metaphorically.

Not a very good bumper sticker idea, is it?

Getting high. About as productive as WOW.

[mykevermin]

A money maker for you and your state.

I can't stand the stuff, personally. I thrive on a perpetual state of anxiety (who'd have guessed?), so being "mellow" pisses me right the fuck off.

But there's no real good reason to keep it a criminal offense other than to acknowledge the philosophies and laws of our predecessors who also thought things like Jim Crow laws were good ideas.

Back to privatizing NASA!

[UncleBob]

Back to privatizing NASA!

Again, I'm all for it! Where do we start?

[Ruined]

Again, I'm all for it! Where do we start?

John Carmack? :)

[camoor]

I thought Blackwater was our private army?

They are, until someone makes a better offer.

[homeland]

Only if Lord British leads this new NASA.

[fatherofcaitlyn]

A money maker for you and your state.

I can't stand the stuff, personally. I thrive on a perpetual state of anxiety (who'd have guessed?), so being "mellow" pisses me right the fuck off.

But there's no real good reason to keep it a criminal offense other than to acknowledge the philosophies and laws of our predecessors who also thought things like Jim Crow laws were good ideas.

Back to privatizing NASA!

No, I'm in Indiana now. I only work in Kentucky.

I understand you're being facetious, but do you have any ideas for pushing a real agenda for NASA?

NASA seems content to crawl when we've already walked.

[mykevermin]

Dunno. I looked at their FY2009-2010 budget. It's about 18 Billion.

Small potatoes, man.

[Paco]

Fuck Nasa, get me a Catgirl android!

[fatherofcaitlyn]

Dunno. I looked at their FY2009-2010 budget. It's about 18 Billion.

Small potatoes, man.

I think NASA is in the way of exploration. NASA should be demoted to a regulatory agency.

Somebody wants to launch a satellite? Clear it through NASA.

Somebody wants to travel to the moon, Mars, Europa or another galaxy? Clear it through NASA.

[ananag112]

I agree to some extent. Not that I think that the money is being wasted, but because stupid politics gets in the way of making progress. Things like the X-Prize and DARPA Grand Challenge are a step in the right direction.

[RAMSTORIA]

in a few years there might be private space programs that have bigger budgets than nasas 18 billion. virgin galactic is set to get underway in the next couple of years with seats selling for 200k a pop on their little 6 seater ships, thats a million a trip.

i think nasa has useful (military) applications, but lets be honest here, the last 10 years havent been pretty. nasa is like a space plumber, they make trips to fix things into orbit. they occasionally they drop off or pick someone up from the ISS. not to mention we lost the space shuttle columbia.

but whats your point here myke, just trying stick it to the small government crowd? when i think of small government i dont think of nasa (though maybe i should given what i said above), i think of programs like the California Hearing Aid Dispensers Bureau, California Republican Caucus, California Tahoe Conservancy, California Democratic Caucus, California Opinion Unit and the Lieutenant Governor's Commission for One California.

just take a look at the state agencies we now have and think about have many could be reduced, combined, or eliminated. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_California_state_agencies

[fatherofcaitlyn]

but whats your point here myke, just trying stick it to the small government crowd?

I'm waiting for his point, too.

Has NASA decided to take the day off from sucking and accomplish something that should have been done 30 years ago?

[spmahn]

I think the future of humanity is out there in space somewhere. This planet isn't always going to be habitable, and who knows, the end could very well come sooner than we all think, given the possibility of North Korean or Iranian nukes. We may not see the fruits of our labor from the space program in our lifetime, or even in the next several lifetimes, but it's an investment in the future. Now if the day ever comes when we are able to say beyond a shadow of the a doubt that all the research we do in space will NEVER have any practical application for humanity, then by all means end it, but for the moment, NASA's bidget is really just a drop in the bucket.

[thrustbucket]

I saw this thread title and saw who posted it. Wanted to come in here and argue against it. Alas, I can't, because I must agree with it.

Damn it. Can't someone create a thread this week I disagree with so I don't have to work?

[Liquid 2]

Putting a man on the moon or mars is really a huge waste of time and resources. I've always thought we had little use for NASA since we showed the Soviets what's up.
Even the international space station is a waste.

The only merit NASA has is in the technology it has developed, and that would have been found by others anyways.

No, no. You wanted to make a "Privatize the Army" topic. That'd get your point across better.You're a little retarded, aren't you?

The point of the government is to, uh, you know, protect your rights and property.

[Liquid 2]

By the way, why did you think those of us who dislike how god damn huge our government is would disagree with this, myke? It seems to me like you had a shitty day and decided to cry about it by (trying) to troll CAG.

Kinda super lame. :-|

[camoor]

It will probably eventually happen anyway. IMO Fight Club really nailed it.

When deep-space exploitation ramps up, it will probably be the megatonic corporations that discover all the new planets and map them.
The IBM Stellar Sphere.
The Philip Morris Galaxy.
Planet Denny's.
Every planet will take on the corporate identity of whoever rapes it first.
Budweiser World.

[HotShotX]

Tired of the government wasting your money?

Appalled by stimulus spending?

Want to reign in government?

End the Space Program now. End NASA.

You want Buck Rogers and Darth Vader? Find some private interests to capitalize it. I didn't say "privatize space," but "privatize the space program."

We spend a lot of money on something, and what do we get to show for it? Some photographs and two people to step foot off the planet. Big fuckin' deal.

So let's reduce government waste. Let's eliminate NASA now; walk the walk, small-federal-government supporters.

To start: http://science.howstuffworks.com/ten-nasa-inventions.htm

To date, NASA holds about 6,300 patents.

Secondly, NASA receives less than 1% (close to .5%) of the national budget, whereas the military receives close to 25-30%.

Granted, the Space Shuttle program overall really has nothing going for it except the Space Station, where the low gravity experiments being performed there could lead to leaps and bounds in the medical field. With the recent addition of the Kibo Space Lab, up to 12 experiments can be performed in the vacuum of space.

With the next program however, America regains its capability to return to the Moon and possibly beyond. Now, the Moon overall doesn't sound that exciting, I understand that, but here's what we get in return:

*Training and Practice for missions to Mars.
*Additional low gravity research capabilities.
*Natural Resource Harvesting

Now, you might ask what Natural Resource could the moon possibly offer, and the answer is: Helium-3.

On earth, Helium-3 is rather rare, but on the Moon, is rather abundant. Why does this matter, you ask?

Fusion.

Both Helium-3 and Hydrogen-3 can be used to maintain a Fusion reaction (with H-3 being the more productive than He-3). For those who aren't familiar, Fusion is essentially the next big step in energy production after Nuclear energy (that is to say, it is magnitudes more powerful than Nuclear).

Reserves of helium-3 on the moon are in the order of a million tons, according to some estimates, and just 25 tons could serve to power the European Union and United States for a year.

The technology is still in its infancy, but a federal push (and budget) in that direction could accelerate the growth of technology akin to what we had in the Apollo era, potentially solve the energy problem, and it starts with getting back to the moon.

Now, whether NASA or a private company could do it best is debatable, but I think with 50 years under its belt, an Astronaut as administrator, the 2nd coming of John F. Kennedy, and maybe the Russians kicking our ass in space again, I believe NASA has this covered better than any private company for profit could.

~HotShotX

[fatherofcaitlyn]

*Training and Practice for missions to Mars.
*Additional low gravity research capabilities.
*Natural Resource Harvesting

Now, you might ask what Natural Resource could the moon possibly offer, and the answer is: Helium-3.

On earth, Helium-3 is rather rare, but on the Moon, is rather abundant. Why does this matter, you ask?

Fusion.

Both Helium-3 and Hydrogen-3 can be used to maintain a Fusion reaction (with H-3 being the more productive than He-3). For those who aren't familiar, Fusion is essentially the next big step in energy production after Nuclear energy (that is to say, it is magnitudes more powerful than Nuclear).


Helium 3 needs to be save for starships. 10 pounds of it can power London for a year. The Moon has about 100 million tons of it. Since early starships are going to be slow and voyages to other star systems may take a generation, 100 pounds of that could power a colony/research ship for a long time.

Lunar Solar Power is much easier than Helium 3 anyways.

[Liquid 2]

I can't believe y'all are talking about mining Helium 3 like it's a reasonable solution when fusion is literally decades away.

And starships, foc? Please.

[fatherofcaitlyn]

I can't believe y'all are talking about mining Helium 3 like it's a reasonable solution when fusion is literally decades away.

And starships, foc? Please.

Interstellar starships are decades away. Just build a ship around a fusion reactor when the reactor tech is ready and you're done.

For the time being, solar cells and a little plutonium are fine for colonizing the Moon and Mars. Venus? That's a magic trick.

[Liquid 2]

The thing is, we don't need to colonize those planets at all. I don't know why y'all want to at all.

And there won't be an interstellar starship for centuries, if not millenia. Not only are the technical limitations unbelievably huge; the need is even lesser than the need to colonize other planets in our solar system.

[HotShotX]

Helium 3 needs to be save for starships. 10 pounds of it can power London for a year. The Moon has about 100 million tons of it. Since early starships are going to be slow and voyages to other star systems may take a generation, 100 pounds of that could power a colony/research ship for a long time.

Lunar Solar Power is much easier than Helium 3 anyways.

Easier, yes, but the difference in power output would be phenomenal. Solar however, might be sufficient in powering a mining operation.

As for resources, I'm finding reports online that only estimates are placing the amount of He-3 at 25-50 million tons. Starships aside, using the resources to power the planet and future technological advances is too tempting to pass up.

I can't believe y'all are talking about mining Helium 3 like it's a reasonable solution when fusion is literally decades away.

And starships, foc? Please.

Yes and no. Attempts are developing fusion reactors are already under way, with 2 sites in the world attempting it. One is in New Jersey, and has been around for several years already.

The Space Program's current path also has us establishing a moon base around 2020 (by ambitious, if not exaggerated, estimates), which might place a successful mining operation by 2025-2030.

A search online places one estimate for successful Fusion reactors around 2050, but I suspect their going to need the resources readily available for testing before then.

Starships themselves are far off in the horizon, and not entirely relevant to the current topic.

~HotShotX

[Liquid 2]

Yes and no. Attempts are developing fusion reactors are already under way, with 2 sites in the world attempting it. One is in New Jersey, and has been around for several years already.

The Space Program's current path also has us establishing a moon base around 2020 (by ambitious, if not exaggerated, estimates), which might place a successful mining operation by 2025-2030.

A search online places one estimate for successful Fusion reactors around 2050, but I suspect their going to need the resources readily available for testing before then.

Starships themselves are far off in the horizon, and not entirely relevant to the current topic.

~HotShotXDear HotShotX,

Plenty of sites are attempting it, but no site has managed to sustain it. We haven't found a way to create fusion without a constant input of energy, and it'll be a long time before we do.

As for your mining ambitions, no such operation will be successful unless it's profitable. Sure, we can do it (especially considering we even made it to the moon in the 60s, before the advent of modern computing power), but it'll be SO expensive it won't be worth it at all. Dream all you want; we won't be mining the moon for a long, long time.

~LIQUID 2

[spmahn]

I guarantee you however if it were discovered that there were somehow vast petroleum reserves on the moon or mars, or some other celestial body, someone somewhere would begin work on figuring out how to mine it, and would likely do so within 10 years.

[Liquid 2]

Do y'all have ANY idea how hard it is to get to the moon, much less how much it costs? Jesus.

[HotShotX]

Do y'all have ANY idea how hard it is to get to the moon, much less how much it costs? Jesus.

The Apollo Program cost only about $22 Billion in the 1960s, and the program ran for 13 years. Today that amount would be ~$135 Billion in 2005's value (inflation).

I don't know the current/estimated cost of the Constellation Program, or what program might replace it (if any) after the Augustine Commission, but you convert some of these bailouts, and we can run 6-10 Apollo Programs back to back.

As for difficulty, I can assure you that there is a team of highly talented, educated, and dedicated engineers, technicians, and scientists willing to do it.

~HotShotX

[ananag112]

Getting back to the moon will not be as difficult as a lot of the work done for the Apollo programs could be reused. Colonizing the moon however will be extremely difficult and costly.

[ITDEFX]

Then who will we send to protect us from a giant asteroid!?!?!?

[UncleBob]

Did Myke have a point here? Or did we all ruin it by pretty much agreeing with him?

[detectiveconan16]

That giant asteroid was a pre-existing condition. It's not the private sector's problem.

[itachiitachi]

Easier, yes, but the difference in power output would be phenomenal. Solar however, might be sufficient in powering a mining operation.

Actually collection of solar energy is much more efficient in space. It gets 6-8 times more power 24 hours a day. It may be able to provide energy for the entire world.

Some other space benefits not mentioned.
zero-g production, if perfected could make alloys thousands of times stronger.
Mining of asteroids for minerals and water.
Dump site for radio active waste.

[Liquid 2]

Do you guys know where we can mine for materials and dump radioactive waste for a lot, lot cheaper? EARTH.

The Apollo Program cost only about $22 Billion in the 1960s, and the program ran for 13 years. Today that amount would be ~$135 Billion in 2005's value (inflation).

I don't know the current/estimated cost of the Constellation Program, or what program might replace it (if any) after the Augustine Commission, but you convert some of these bailouts, and we can run 6-10 Apollo Programs back to back.

As for difficulty, I can assure you that there is a team of highly talented, educated, and dedicated engineers, technicians, and scientists willing to do it.

~HotShotX Dear HotShotX,

Quadruple $135 billion and I'll believe the government can do it. And yeah, we know it's possible; we did it 40 years ago, remember?

What you've failed to do is give a valid reason for going. Mining? Please.
If you try to drop "science for the sake of science" (something which I agree with), then you have to think how much more can be learned if you allocate those funds to researchers here on Earth instead of waving our dicks around and landing on the moon again.

~LIQUID 2

Did Myke have a point here? Or did we all ruin it by pretty much agreeing with him?My take on it:

By the way, why did you think those of us who dislike how god damn huge our government is would disagree with this, myke? It seems to me like you had a shitty day and decided to cry about it by (trying) to troll CAG.

Kinda super lame. :-|

[fatherofcaitlyn]

What you've failed to do is give a valid reason for going. Mining? Please. If you try to drop "science for the sake of science" (something which I agree with), then you have to think how much more can be learned if you allocate those funds to researchers here on Earth instead of waving our dicks around and landing on the moon again.

1. Cheaper launch pad than the earth.

2. Lunar solar power array/Death Ray/Intrastellar vessel propeller/refueler.

3. Back up colony in case the wrong person gets the bomb, a plague wipes out a huge chunk of humanity or any large NEO decides to hit the planet instead of skimming past.

[evanft]

You forgot because it's really fucking cool.

[HotShotX]

Actually collection of solar energy is much more efficient in space. It gets 6-8 times more power 24 hours a day. It may be able to provide energy for the entire world.

Some other space benefits not mentioned.
zero-g production, if perfected could make alloys thousands of times stronger.
Mining of asteroids for minerals and water.
Dump site for radio active waste.

Valid points, though the solar energy would have to be packed into batteries and the batteries transported to Earth, which would require multiple launches, which tend to be expensive, due to volume and weight.

The harvesting and transport of He-3 for Fusion would be much cheaper to transport and process here on Earth.

The Zero-G production is a valid point, as both the "Zero-G" of space and 1/6th G of the Moon allow for further advances in material and medicinal production, something the ISS has already broken ground in.

Speaking of which, I haven't found the video online yet, but one of the videos I've seen for the ISS shows an astronaut performing an experiment using 3 robotic spheres, which were designed to track one another using GPS, maneuver in formation, and dock with one another without human control.

Do you guys know where we can mine for materials and dump radioactive waste for a lot, lot cheaper? EARTH.

Dear HotShotX,

Quadruple $135 billion and I'll believe the government can do it. And yeah, we know it's possible; we did it 40 years ago, remember?

What you've failed to do is give a valid reason for going. Mining? Please.
If you try to drop "science for the sake of science" (something which I agree with), then you have to think how much more can be learned if you allocate those funds to researchers here on Earth instead of waving our dicks around and landing on the moon again.

~LIQUID 2

My take on it:

It's not mining itself that we are interested in, but the materials that we mine. He-3 cannot be found in abundance on Earth, but on the Moon it can.

What exactly are you basing the Quadruple comment on? In the 60s, NASA proposed they could reach the moon for $10-20 Billion, and the entire Apollo program (including 6 Moon Landings & Days of Lunar Experimentation) ran $22 Billion over 13 years. It's entirely reasonable to say they could do it again for the same cost after inflation.

As for "Science for the sake of science", you need a good understanding of the technology that has been created either for or in the wake of the American Space Program. I recall you made a point that someone would "eventually invent it anyway", but I can assure you that our society would greatly be lagging behind where it is today if for every milestone in technology we had to wait an extra 10-15 years because there wasn't a mission to apply it to, or a team of engineers dedicated to the cause.

And that's not even taking into account the amount of inventions that came about our of sheer luck or chance in the program, and just simply because of the environment.

You forgot because it's really fucking cool.

NASA needs a bumper sticker with this quote.

~HotShotX

[itachiitachi]

Valid points, though the solar energy would have to be packed into batteries and the batteries transported to Earth, which would require multiple launches, which tend to be expensive, due to volume and weight.

I don't think sending batteries back to earth would cost that much, but it's kind of inefficient. The plan now is send the energy back as lasers or microwaves, but it doesn't appear to be known how much energy would be lost by this method.

[fatherofcaitlyn]

I don't think sending batteries back to earth would cost that much, but it's kind of inefficient. The plan now is send the energy back as lasers or microwaves, but it doesn't appear to be known how much energy would be lost by this method.

Thank you.

Physically sending batteries back and forth wouldn't be efficient. If a pallet of gold was sitting on the Moon, it wouldn't be profitable to scoop it up and ship it back to Earth.

[HotShotX]

Hence transporting back He-3 would be more efficient in terms of energy generated per kg used.

In other news, I found a good list of space-derived inventions and technology:

360 Degree Camera
3-D Synthetic Vision Flight Displays
Advanced Hydrogen Sensors
Advanced Lubricants
Advanced Welding Torch
Aerodynamic Bicycle Wheels
Air Catalysts for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Aircraft Collision Avoidance
Aircraft Design Analysis
Airline Wheelchairs
Airliner TV Transmission Via Satellite
AiroCide TiO2 Air Purifier
Anthrax Smoke Detector
Arteriosclerosis Detection
Artificial Heart
Astronaut Plant Bag
Athletic Shoes
Audiometric System for Hearing Assessment
Automated Urinalysis
Automatic Insulin Pump
Automotive Design
BAFCO Linear Actuators
Balance Evaluation System
Biomass Production System for Education
Bioreactor Demonstration System
Bioreactor Human Tissue Growth
Bone Analyzer
Breast Biopsy
Breast Cancer Screening
Bridge Safety Improvements
Cabin Pressure Altitude Monitor and Warning System
Camera on a Chip
Cardiac Pacemaker
Cataract Surgery Tools
Chemical Warfare Hood
Chromosome Analysis
Clean Room Apparel
Clean Water for Homes
Coastal Zone Color Scanner
Compact Blood Diagnostic Equipment
Compact Fire and Rescue Extraction Devices
Composite Forceps
Composite Materials Development - Golf Clubs
Computer Joysticks
Computer-Aided Tomography (CAT Scanner)
Convection Oven
Cool Vest Therapeutic Suits
Cordless Power Tools and Appliances
Corporate Jet Wing Designs
Corrosion Protection Coating
Crop Dusting Improvements
Crop Growing Improvements
DeBakey Heart Pump
Dental Arch Wire
Digital Mammography
Diving Optical Profiler
DMI Remote Sensing Fish-Finding Service
Doppler Radar
Ear Thermometer
Edible Toothpaste
Electric Car
Emission Testing
Emulsified Zero-Valent Iron Remediation
Energy Storage Systems
Engine Coatings
Engine Design
Engine Lubricant
Failsafe Flashlight
Fetal Heart Monitor
Fire Detection Systems
Firefighter Breathing System
Firefighter Radios
Firefighting Equipment
Fireman’s Air Tanks
Fitness Equipment
Flame Detector
Foam-In-Place Seating Technology
Freeze Drying Technologies
Gas Detector
Gasoline Vapor Recovery
Geosynchronous Orbiting
Golf Ball Aerodynamics
GPS Navigation
Helmet Padding
High Temperature Soldering Blocks
High-Pressure Waterstripping
Historical Document Condition Analysis
Home Insulation
Human Tissue Stimulator
Implantable Heart Aid
Improved Aircraft Engines
Inertial Motion-Tracking for Virtual Reality
Infrared Camera
Infrared Thermometer
Insulation
Insulin Pumps
Interactive Computer Training
InTime Agricultural Remote Sensing
Invisible Braces
Kidney Dialysis
Land Mine Removal Device
Laser Angioplasty
Laser Heart Surgery
Laser Wire Stripper
Lead Poison Detection
Lifeshears - Emergency Rescue Cutters
Lightning Protection
Low Vision Enhancement System (LVES)
Lubricant Coating Process
Machine Tool Software
Magnetic Bearing System
Magnetic Liquids
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Medical Gas Analyzer
Methane-Powered Vehicles
Microelectromechanical Systems
Microlasers
Miniature Accelerometers
Modified Carbon Nanotube Materials
Ocean Fluorometer
Ocular Screening
Oil Spill Control
PackBot Tactical Mobile Robot
Palate Surgery Technology
Personal Storm Warning System
Pesticide-Free Mosquito Killing System
Phenotype MicroArray
Photodynamic Therapy
Physical Therapy
Pill Sized Transmitter
Plantronics Wireless Communications Devices
Portable X-Ray Device
Precision Lightning Strike Location System
Programmable Pacemaker
PRO-SAN Non-Toxic Microbicidal Santizer
Prosthesis Material
Protective Clothing
PureSense Water and Air Purification Systems
Quartz Clock
Radiant Barrier Technology
Radiation Hazard Detector
Real-Time Emergency Action Coordination Tool
Remote Controlled Light Switch
Remote Command and Control Appliances
Ribbed Swimsuit
Robotic Arms
Robotic Hands
Satellite Computer Data Transmission
Satellite Computer Image Transmission
Satellite Crop Growth & Monitoring
Satellite Fishing Technology
Satellite Stabilization
Satellite Telephone Signal Transmission
Satellite TV Transmission
School Bus Improvements
Secure Mobile Router System
Self-Locking Fasteners
Self-Righting Life Raft
Ski Boots
Skin Care Product Effectiveness Technology
Smoke Detector Improvements
Smoke Penetrating Forest Fire Analysis
Solar Power Technologies
Solid State High-Power Transmitters
Space Pens
SpiraFlex Resistance Exercise Device
Stadium Roofing Fabric
Standing Wave Reflectometer Wire Analyzer
Studless Winter Tires
Sunglasses Blocking Harmful Rays
Surgical Brain Tumor Probe
Temper Foam Technology
Temperature Pill
Thermal Gloves and Boots
Thermal Protection Insulation
Tire Deflating Devices - MagnumSpike
Tollbooth Air Purification
Ultrasound Scanners
Ultrasound Skin Damage Assesment
VEGGIE - Deployable Vegetable System
Vehicle Brake Improvements
Vehicle Tracking
Velcro
Video Stabilization
Virtual Reality
Vision Screening System
Voice Controlled Wheelchair
Warfighter Accelerated Recovery
Waste Heat Energy Conversion
Waste Water Purification
Water Purification
Weight Saving Composite Materials
Welding Sensor System
Whale Tracking Technologies
Windshear Prediction
WindTracer for Tracking Aircraft Wake Vortices
Wireless Communications
ZipNut

You can find more at http://www.keepamericainspace.com/, and while you're there, check out the "Benefits of Exploration" section on the left, and you'll get some good data as to what we get from Space Exploration.

~HotShotX

[fullmetalfan720]

Hence transporting back He-3 would be more efficient in terms of energy generated per kg used.

In other news, I found a good list of space-derived inventions and technology:

360 Degree Camera
3-D Synthetic Vision Flight Displays
Advanced Hydrogen Sensors
Advanced Lubricants
Advanced Welding Torch
Aerodynamic Bicycle Wheels
Air Catalysts for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Aircraft Collision Avoidance
Aircraft Design Analysis
Airline Wheelchairs
Airliner TV Transmission Via Satellite
AiroCide TiO2 Air Purifier
Anthrax Smoke Detector
Arteriosclerosis Detection
Artificial Heart
Astronaut Plant Bag
Athletic Shoes
Audiometric System for Hearing Assessment
Automated Urinalysis
Automatic Insulin Pump
Automotive Design
BAFCO Linear Actuators
Balance Evaluation System
Biomass Production System for Education
Bioreactor Demonstration System
Bioreactor Human Tissue Growth
Bone Analyzer
Breast Biopsy
Breast Cancer Screening
Bridge Safety Improvements
Cabin Pressure Altitude Monitor and Warning System
Camera on a Chip
Cardiac Pacemaker
Cataract Surgery Tools
Chemical Warfare Hood
Chromosome Analysis
Clean Room Apparel
Clean Water for Homes
Coastal Zone Color Scanner
Compact Blood Diagnostic Equipment
Compact Fire and Rescue Extraction Devices
Composite Forceps
Composite Materials Development - Golf Clubs
Computer Joysticks
Computer-Aided Tomography (CAT Scanner)
Convection Oven
Cool Vest Therapeutic Suits
Cordless Power Tools and Appliances
Corporate Jet Wing Designs
Corrosion Protection Coating
Crop Dusting Improvements
Crop Growing Improvements
DeBakey Heart Pump
Dental Arch Wire
Digital Mammography
Diving Optical Profiler
DMI Remote Sensing Fish-Finding Service
Doppler Radar
Ear Thermometer
Edible Toothpaste
Electric Car
Emission Testing
Emulsified Zero-Valent Iron Remediation
Energy Storage Systems
Engine Coatings
Engine Design
Engine Lubricant
Failsafe Flashlight
Fetal Heart Monitor
Fire Detection Systems
Firefighter Breathing System
Firefighter Radios
Firefighting Equipment
Fireman’s Air Tanks
Fitness Equipment
Flame Detector
Foam-In-Place Seating Technology
Freeze Drying Technologies
Gas Detector
Gasoline Vapor Recovery
Geosynchronous Orbiting
Golf Ball Aerodynamics
GPS Navigation
Helmet Padding
High Temperature Soldering Blocks
High-Pressure Waterstripping
Historical Document Condition Analysis
Home Insulation
Human Tissue Stimulator
Implantable Heart Aid
Improved Aircraft Engines
Inertial Motion-Tracking for Virtual Reality
Infrared Camera
Infrared Thermometer
Insulation
Insulin Pumps
Interactive Computer Training
InTime Agricultural Remote Sensing
Invisible Braces
Kidney Dialysis
Land Mine Removal Device
Laser Angioplasty
Laser Heart Surgery
Laser Wire Stripper
Lead Poison Detection
Lifeshears - Emergency Rescue Cutters
Lightning Protection
Low Vision Enhancement System (LVES)
Lubricant Coating Process
Machine Tool Software
Magnetic Bearing System
Magnetic Liquids
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Medical Gas Analyzer
Methane-Powered Vehicles
Microelectromechanical Systems
Microlasers
Miniature Accelerometers
Modified Carbon Nanotube Materials
Ocean Fluorometer
Ocular Screening
Oil Spill Control
PackBot Tactical Mobile Robot
Palate Surgery Technology
Personal Storm Warning System
Pesticide-Free Mosquito Killing System
Phenotype MicroArray
Photodynamic Therapy
Physical Therapy
Pill Sized Transmitter
Plantronics Wireless Communications Devices
Portable X-Ray Device
Precision Lightning Strike Location System
Programmable Pacemaker
PRO-SAN Non-Toxic Microbicidal Santizer
Prosthesis Material
Protective Clothing
PureSense Water and Air Purification Systems
Quartz Clock
Radiant Barrier Technology
Radiation Hazard Detector
Real-Time Emergency Action Coordination Tool
Remote Controlled Light Switch
Remote Command and Control Appliances
Ribbed Swimsuit
Robotic Arms
Robotic Hands
Satellite Computer Data Transmission
Satellite Computer Image Transmission
Satellite Crop Growth & Monitoring
Satellite Fishing Technology
Satellite Stabilization
Satellite Telephone Signal Transmission
Satellite TV Transmission
School Bus Improvements
Secure Mobile Router System
Self-Locking Fasteners
Self-Righting Life Raft
Ski Boots
Skin Care Product Effectiveness Technology
Smoke Detector Improvements
Smoke Penetrating Forest Fire Analysis
Solar Power Technologies
Solid State High-Power Transmitters
Space Pens
SpiraFlex Resistance Exercise Device
Stadium Roofing Fabric
Standing Wave Reflectometer Wire Analyzer
Studless Winter Tires
Sunglasses Blocking Harmful Rays
Surgical Brain Tumor Probe
Temper Foam Technology
Temperature Pill
Thermal Gloves and Boots
Thermal Protection Insulation
Tire Deflating Devices - MagnumSpike
Tollbooth Air Purification
Ultrasound Scanners
Ultrasound Skin Damage Assesment
VEGGIE - Deployable Vegetable System
Vehicle Brake Improvements
Vehicle Tracking
Velcro
Video Stabilization
Virtual Reality
Vision Screening System
Voice Controlled Wheelchair
Warfighter Accelerated Recovery
Waste Heat Energy Conversion
Waste Water Purification
Water Purification
Weight Saving Composite Materials
Welding Sensor System
Whale Tracking Technologies
Windshear Prediction
WindTracer for Tracking Aircraft Wake Vortices
Wireless Communications
ZipNut

You can find more at http://www.keepamericainspace.com/, and while you're there, check out the "Benefits of Exploration" section on the left, and you'll get some good data as to what we get from Space Exploration.

~HotShotX
Psssh. Computer joystick. I don't need that shit, I'm perfectly happy with my Sega Genesis controller.

[RAMSTORIA]

http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2007/mar/05/business/chi-0703050135mar05

article about nasa invention myths. turns out a lot of things credited to nasa were invented before and just gained fame because of nasa.

[HotShotX]

http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2007/mar/05/business/chi-0703050135mar05

article about nasa invention myths. turns out a lot of things credited to nasa were invented before and just gained fame because of nasa.

True, but you could still attribute their place in society today in part to the good PR it received from its use in the Space Program.

Nevertheless, a large number of the things on that list are inventions of NASA, which owns about 6,300 patents.

~HotShotX

[tivo]

I agree with HotshotX on this one. Although NASA may look like another government sinecure (look it up), its doing the research which could propel another giant leap for mankind. Its work is for everyone- not just Americans- to increase what little we know in the world in the universe.

In all, I have no problem with the federal government spending money on National Security or Scientific Funding (including NASA). But perhaps NASA should work more with reliable private companies as involving more intellectuals could foster improvements from its current state.


P.S. I was expecting more "intelligent life" believers here on the CAGs. That and a reference to Dr. Brackish Okun (http://nicegirlstv.com/images/BrentSpiner_IndDay.gif).

[bmulligan]

We can't get rid of NASA. Who would give us data to prove that we're warming the planet and making holes in the ozone layer? Computer modeling only dupes some of the people.

[dmaul1114]

I agree with HotshotX on this one. Although NASA may look like another government sinecure (look it up), its doing the research which could propel another giant leap for mankind. Its work is for everyone- not just Americans- to increase what little we know in the world in the universe.

In all, I have no problem with the federal government spending money on National Security or Scientific Funding (including NASA). But perhaps NASA should work more with reliable private companies as involving more intellectuals could foster improvements from its current state.


Agree 100%. Of all the things my tax dollars go towards, efforts toward science and improving knowledge are probably the ones I support the most.

[depascal22]

We can't get rid of NASA. Who would give us data to prove that we're warming the planet and making holes in the ozone layer? Computer modeling only dupes some of the people.

I think the best thing NASA did this year was fixing Hubble. That telescope has made a Copernican/Gailean type leap forward in understanding the universe and it's origins. Every picture I've seen from Hubble has been breathtaking and I can't imagine how we got by without it.

It's also lead to the greatest leap in precision mapmaking in human history. We've gone from rudimentary maps of our galaxy and those nearby to nearly 10X that scope. We now know that there's structure even larger than galaxies. We knew our Sun orbited the center of the Milky Way. Now we know that the Milky Way, Andromeda, and several other galaxies orbit a center of gravity known as the Local Group. Not only that, but the Local Group orbits with the Virgo Group and several other groups around a center of gravity known as the Virgo Supercluster.

But I guess none of that is real since the Earth is only 6000 years old and God created it in six days.

[HotShotX]

But I guess none of that is real since the Earth is only 6000 years old and God created it in six days.

You just took a description of distance, rotation, and location, and compared it against time. That was a pretty poor argument, and sarcasm aside, how did religion get interjected into this?

Also, in regards to bmulligan's post, it's already been scientifically proven that the Solid Rocket Boosters used by NASA contribute the largest destruction to the Ozone layer. The thing is, it's still so insignificant that it can hardly be called a threat.

Global Warming IS happening, but whether it's the effect of us coming out of an ice age, or whether we are actually having a significant effect on it is what's debatable.

All that aside, let's stay on topic.

~HotShotX

[depascal22]

I was just being a sarcastic ass.

That being said, Hubble has still provided us with some of the greatest scientific advances in the last 50 years but I guess that doesn't matter because I made one sarcastic remark to counter another sarcastic remark. My comments about Hubble are on topic. It was an engineering and scientific feat without comparison.

Besides, we're arguing on a gaming internet forum. The arguments don't have to pass a rhetorical purity test.

Oh, and didn't Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity prove that space and time are inextricably linked anyway? Guess that doesn't matter either a sarcastic remark about time and the age of the planet/universe can't have any bearing about an argument about the size, shape, and structure of the universe.