Comments on: Wahoo. Robots. http://www.sundriesshack.com/2006/02/24/wahoo-robots/ Delivering the Best of the New Media Since 2004. Tue, 22 May 2012 02:51:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Jimmiehttp://www.sundriesshack.com/2006/02/24/wahoo-robots/comment-page-1/#comment-164975 Jimmie Mon, 27 Feb 2006 13:21:08 +0000 http://sundriesshack.com/?p=2293#comment-164975 Mr. Science Guy - I think we'd both agree that imagination is where NASA sorely fails us. We certainly could return to the moon. We know how to do it, and building the tech to get there would not be a very difficult feat. The trick is that NASA - or someone with some control over the process (since they won't actually let go of the process very much) has to start thinking, and talking, big. They have to speak to our love of exploration, our daring spirits. I can't imagine a bureaucracy doing that and President Bush just doesn't think in that direction. Cassandra - Yeah, I know. Barbarism abounds. :) Mr. Science Guy – I think we'd both agree that imagination is where NASA sorely fails us. We certainly could return to the moon. We know how to do it, and building the tech to get there would not be a very difficult feat. The trick is that NASA – or someone with some control over the process (since they won't actually let go of the process very much) has to start thinking, and talking, big. They have to speak to our love of exploration, our daring spirits. I can't imagine a bureaucracy doing that and President Bush just doesn't think in that direction.

Cassandra – Yeah, I know. Barbarism abounds. :)

]]> By: Cassandrahttp://www.sundriesshack.com/2006/02/24/wahoo-robots/comment-page-1/#comment-164579 Cassandra Sun, 26 Feb 2006 12:50:55 +0000 http://sundriesshack.com/?p=2293#comment-164579 WE have become so risk-averse as a nation now. Given that we've already been there, can you imagine the screeching if we *gasp* lost a human life? Plus, there are starving children in Africa and religious icons that have not yet been immerse in various human bodily fluids and placed on public display at taxpayer expense. How can we possibly justify spending this amount of money on mere space exploration, you barbarian? WE have become so risk-averse as a nation now. Given that we've already been there, can you imagine the screeching if we *gasp* lost a human life? Plus, there are starving children in Africa and religious icons that have not yet been immerse in various human bodily fluids and placed on public display at taxpayer expense.

How can we possibly justify spending this amount of money on mere space exploration, you barbarian?

]]> By: Mr. Science Guyhttp://www.sundriesshack.com/2006/02/24/wahoo-robots/comment-page-1/#comment-163471 Mr. Science Guy Fri, 24 Feb 2006 14:36:48 +0000 http://sundriesshack.com/?p=2293#comment-163471 There actually are some technical barriers, though as you've evidently realized, most of them are political. We can't build carbon copies of Apollo equipment--the blueprints aren't complete, and the engineers who built them are pretty much gone. Plus, in modern terms, the hardware is pathetic. The Shuttle can't get to the moon and back--not enough fuel. Thus, new vehicles <b>have</b> to be designed and built. NASA, given its status as a political entity, is taking the conservative path, and essentially trying to build up human spaceflight based on the unmanned spacecraft industry. But that's just not enough to capture the public imagination--NASA still hasn't figured out how to do that, and unfortunately its funding depends on it. There actually are some technical barriers, though as you've evidently realized, most of them are political. We can't build carbon copies of Apollo equipment–the blueprints aren't complete, and the engineers who built them are pretty much gone. Plus, in modern terms, the hardware is pathetic. The Shuttle can't get to the moon and back–not enough fuel. Thus, new vehicles have to be designed and built.

NASA, given its status as a political entity, is taking the conservative path, and essentially trying to build up human spaceflight based on the unmanned spacecraft industry. But that's just not enough to capture the public imagination–NASA still hasn't figured out how to do that, and unfortunately its funding depends on it.

]]> By: Jimmiehttp://www.sundriesshack.com/2006/02/24/wahoo-robots/comment-page-1/#comment-163469 Jimmie Fri, 24 Feb 2006 13:12:22 +0000 http://sundriesshack.com/?p=2293#comment-163469 I look back at the 1960's, see all the people who were almost killing each other to become astronauts and get a chance to fly in a craft and on a mission that was immensely more perilous than a similar trip today and I think....man we're <i>wusses</i>! I look back at the 1960's, see all the people who were almost killing each other to become astronauts and get a chance to fly in a craft and on a mission that was immensely more perilous than a similar trip today and I think….man we're wusses!

]]> By: Robbiehttp://www.sundriesshack.com/2006/02/24/wahoo-robots/comment-page-1/#comment-163468 Robbie Fri, 24 Feb 2006 12:56:11 +0000 http://sundriesshack.com/?p=2293#comment-163468 I don't see why we can't send people back to the moon. Certainly there will be no shortage of victi ... I mean, nominees ... for the first flight. I don't see why we can't send people back to the moon. Certainly there will be no shortage of victi … I mean, nominees … for the first flight.

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