Restore NASA funding?

[WouldaShoulda]

Originally Posted by SloopJonB

Those are inventions, not accomplishments.

... we've done nothing since except continue to degrade the planet and embarrass ourselves as a species (if anybody is watching).

1) Nit picker!!

2) Speak for yourself, please!!

[SloopJonB]

I just remembered a famous quote that may explain my attitude better than I have been able to - unfortunately I don't know who said it.

"Mans reach should exceed his grasp, else what's a Heaven for."

[Rick486]

Originally Posted by SloopJonB

I didn't suggest doing it again, I didn't suggest ANY specific mission. I'll leave that to the specialists and scientists at places like the JPL.

Asking "what is the purpose" and stating "It was a useless mission and a huge waste of resources" means there is no way to answer you. You either know the answer instinctively or you will never understand.

Sir Edmund Hillary, in reference to climbing Everest said "Because it's there" which I always felt described it well but only in a way that meant anything to those who already understood. My father never understood the drive to climb mountains, regarding it as dangerous and purposeless (which it is) and Hillary's statement did nothing to change that.

Sir Francis Chichester, when asked why he sailed around the world alone, an equally dangerous and purposeless exercise, said "Because it intensifies life" which is probably a better description, certainly easier to grasp for those who don't already "feel" it.

NASA, the Moon shots, the continued exploration of Space, goes to the very core of our reason for being. We are not here simply to make our lives better or more comfortable. We are here to understand "WHY" in all its permutations.

Putting a man on the Moon was not done for a "reason" or a result, it was done to pursue the age old dreams of Humanity. Obviously such things as Cold War rivalry fueled it - there were a number of factors that drove it but that takes nothing away from the accomplishment. That it was accomplished in my lifetime is something I am eternally grateful for. I really WAS "born at the right time". It made me profoundly proud to be a human being.

I stand by my statement - it was the single greatest accomplishment in the history of mankind.

Since you disagree, what would YOU say the single greatest accomplishment of our species was?

Your words are truly inspirational. I only wish that our presidential candidates, even one of them, had such an uplifting message. the developed world, never mind just the US, needs inspirational leadership. We in the US need something to rally around to unite the country and focus on a grand plan. Right now the country has been divided by incompetent and uncaring politicians and interest groups, who own the politicians. It will take a 100 year leader to emerge and right now I can't see him/her. I'd love to see a Maggie Thatcher or John Kennedy show up on the scene to blow away all the partisan bs. Space could be a rallying point but the money just isn't there to fund a grand plan to put people on Mars or Jupiter. As someone said earlier in this thread, we can't be borrowing money (from the Chinese) to build spaceships.

[SloopJonB]

Originally Posted by Rick486

Your words are truly inspirational. I only wish that our presidential candidates, even one of them, had such an uplifting message. the developed world, never mind just the US, needs inspirational leadership. We in the US need something to rally around to unite the country and focus on a grand plan. Right now the country has been divided by incompetent and uncaring politicians and interest groups, who own the politicians. It will take a 100 year leader to emerge and right now I can't see him/her. I'd love to see a Maggie Thatcher or John Kennedy show up on the scene to blow away all the partisan bs. Space could be a rallying point but the money just isn't there to fund a grand plan to put people on Mars or Jupiter. As someone said earlier in this thread, we can't be borrowing money (from the Chinese) to build spaceships.

Thanks for the kind words. I'm glad others understand. Think I should throw my hat in the Republican ring?

As to the cost, someone pointed out that even at its height the old Space program only cost 0.5% of the budget. I know it cost about $20 billion in old dollars from the start of Mercury to the end of Apollo. With it's current budget and some diverted from the DOD budget NASA could easily have enough for a "flight to orbit craft" program and after that a proper space station. Things like Mars are WAY off but a steady stable program of progress is what is needed.

It wouldn't have to be done on debt, it only needs the will.

[poopdeckpappy]

Sloop, your post #11 was purfect

[SloopJonB]

Originally Posted by poopdeckpappy

Sloop, your post #11 was purfect

Thanks Pappy, glad we agree on something.