The Official Space Exploration Thread

[Force Guy]

Way to go, Dubya.    

We're spending billions in Iraq, billions in Afghanistan, billions in tax cuts that cater to the wealthy, so why not spend billions in space?  Screw the fact that schools around this country could use extra funds, and screw the fact that the amount of money that is being spent could put a great number of Americans through college.  Let's go to Mars...

[Darth Broem]

Yep, personally I would love to see us return to the moon and eventually go to Mars.  Great idea.  I think there would be plenty of nifty inventions from it.  I actually kind of like Bush more than others seem to, but I just can't see how it would be paid for at this time.  To be honest I'd rather see the money go to things that Force Guy mentioned.  

It's a bitchin idea don't get me wrong.  I think NASA and other space agencies are actually better suited when it comes to going for stuff like manmed missions to the moon.  They seem to get into that more than a space station or rovers IMO.  Not that they are not already, but you would probably see more people want to get into science and such to rally behind a project like that instead of rovers and robots.  There is a lot of benefit that could come from this.  But I don't think now is the time.  Someone could change my mind though

[DSJ™]

Well todays the big day.

Bush to seek billions for moon, Mars treks

I wonder what this "Crew Exploration Vehicle" will look like. Maybe something like this?



LUNOX Scenario Concept Images

Any ideas on what the Moonbase will look like?

[Angry Ewok]

You know, it would be cool to see another moonwalk televised and all - since the government's special effects department has improved so much since the 70's.

[DSJ™]

You know, it would be cool to see another moonwalk televised and all - since the government's special effects department has improved so much since the 70's.

Ah, the Capricorn One syndrome.  

So its laid out.

BUSH SPACE INITIATIVE
•Spend $12 billion on new space exploration plan over next five years. $1bn will be new money, the rest reallocated from existing NASA programs.
•Retire shuttle program by 2010
•Develop new manned exploration vehicle
•Launch manned mission to moon between 2015 and 2020
•Build permanent lunar base as "stepping stone" for more ambitious missions
•Complete commitments to  International Space Station by 2010
 
Bush unveils vision for moon and beyond

[OrionSlaveLotion]

Any ideas on what the Moonbase will look like?

[DSJ™]

The Hubble Space Telescope is now a casualty of NASA.  

Hubble casualty of Bush space plan

[Ben]

Force Guy brings up a good point about education. But, what does our children's educations matter to a man who just wants to get into history books?

[Darby]

The Hubble shows you much they don't care about education.  The telescope has been and will be an invaluable tool to astronomers and scientists, but now it's too risky?  Not nearly as risky as going to Mars.

[Scott]

Oops

NASA team loses contact with Mars rover

This is EXACTLY why I don't think we should be spending 100's of Billions of Dollars on a Mars Mission quite yet...

[DSJ™]

Moon, maybe. Mars no. Hubble Space Telescope, keep it, it has proven its worth many times over & will amaze us more in the future.

Hope they do get some contact with Spirit. Opportunity is to land this weekend.

[Darth Broem]

All is not lost yet.  They could still get contact from Spirit.  Well, ok, not likely.  We'll see if they have better success with Opportunity or not.  

With Bush putting an emphasis on moon missions I'd assume NASA may get some better resources for their missions now instead of little robots.  The robots don't seem to be all that reliable afterall.  If one thing goes wrong that's it apparently.  

[DSJ™]

All is not lost yet.  They could still get contact from Spirit.  

Apparently they did!  

NASA gets 20-minute signal from Mars rover

The little robot that could!  

[Scott]

Yeah that is good news!  Hopefully all is well, perhaps there is a huge duststorm on Mars right now

[DSJ™]

Opportunity, the second of NASA's twin rovers, has made the descent to the surface of Mars, touching down successfully at about 0505 GMT Sunday.

Opportunity lands on Mars

Spirit 'upgraded from critical to serious', The rover is probably "three weeks away from driving.