|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
mises
Joined: 05 Nov 2007
Location: retired
|
 Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 12:43 pm Post subject: Bush unveils vision for moon and beyond |
 |
|
They only have one playbook:
| Quote: |
| WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Saying "the desire to explore and understand is part of our character," President Bush Wednesday unveiled an ambitious plan to return Americans to the moon by 2020 and use the mission as a steppingstone for future manned trips to Mars and beyond. |
http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/01/14/bush.space/
| Quote: |
Obama sets Mars goal for America
Barack Obama says it should be possible to send astronauts to orbit the planet Mars by the mid-2030s and return them safely to Earth. |
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8623691.stm
When Bush proposed this the idea died in a few weeks. I expect the same here. More distractions. More lofty goals. A complete disregard for the real problems facing the country. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
AsiaESLbound
Joined: 07 Jan 2010
Location: Truck Stop Missouri
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 2:53 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| It already is possible to send man to Mars, but that is not the priority right now. Right now, the priority is fighting these wars and maintaining a setting that benefits the wealthy to get richer. There is no intention of American continuing the journey to space so no argument about America having it's priorities screwed up over putting a space program before people. Either way you look at it, America is going for broke and isn't going to fix its' problems. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mises
Joined: 05 Nov 2007
Location: retired
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 3:00 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| AsiaESLbound wrote: |
| Right now, the priority is fighting these wars and maintaining a setting that benefits the wealthy to get richer. |
That's right. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mithridates
Joined: 03 Mar 2003
Location: President's office, Korean Space Agency
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 8:43 pm Post subject: Re: Bush unveils vision for moon and beyond |
|
|
| mises wrote: |
| When Bush proposed this the idea died in a few weeks. I expect the same here. More distractions. More lofty goals. A complete disregard for the real problems facing the country. |
Last week an asteroid was discovered three days before it flew by us at a distance less than that from Earth to the Moon. Asteroid 2008 TC3 actually hit the Earth and was discovered just 20 hours before impact. Luckily it was small enough to mostly burn up in the atmosphere. Here's what happens when an asteroid is just a bit larger:
http://apod.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/0711/tunguska_kulik_big.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tunguska.png
In no other field do people complain so much about a 6% increase to less than 1% of the budget that has the capability to save the entire planet.
On the subject of real problems, let's discuss malaria. NASA satellite data given for free to countries in sub-Saharan Africa allows them to predict mosquito outbreaks and lets them spend their tiny budgets on wiping out mosquitoes before they breed instead of just spraying willy-nilly. NASA data saves millions of people per year.
Here's a list of some of the technology developed from early NASA programs:
| Quote: |
* Foldable walkers. Made from a lightweight metal material developed by NASA for aircraft and spacecraft, foldable walkers are portable and easy to manage.
* Personal alert systems. These are emergency alert devices that can be worn by individuals who may require emergency medical or safety assistance. When a button is pushed, the device sends a signal to a remote location for help. To send the signal, the device relies on telemetry technology developed at NASA.
* CAT Scans and MRIs. These devices are used by hospitals to see inside the human body. Their development would not have been possible without the technology provided by NASA after it found a way to take better pictures of the Earth�s moon.
* Muscle stimulator device. This device is used for � hour per day to prevent muscle atrophy in paralyzed individuals. It provides electrical stimulation to muscles which is equal to jogging three miles per week. Christopher Reeves used these in his therapy.
* Orthopedic evaluation tools. Equipment to evaluate posture, gait, and balance disturbances was developed at NASA, along with a radiation-free way to measure bone flexibility using vibration.
* Diabetic foot mapping. This technique was developed at NASA�s center in Cleveland, Ohio to help monitor the effects of diabetes in feet. These efforts helped
* Foam cushioning. Special foam used for cushioning astronauts during liftoff is used in pillows and mattresses at many nursing homes and hospitals to help prevent ulcers, relieve pressure, and provide a better night�s sleep.
* Kidney dialysis machines. These machines rely on technology developed by NASA in order to process and remove toxic waste from used dialysis fluid.
* Talking wheelchairs. Paralyzed individuals who have difficulty speaking may use a talking feature on their wheelchairs which was developed by NASA to create synthesized speech for aircraft.
* Collapsible, lightweight wheelchairs. These wheelchairs are designed for portability and can be folded and put into trunks of cars. They rely on synthetic materials that NASA developed for its air and space craft
* Surgically implantable heart pacemaker. These devices depend on technologies developed by NASA for use with satellites. They communicate information about the activity of the pacemaker, such as how much time remains before the batteries need to be replaced.
* Implantable heart defibrillator. This tool continuously monitors heart activity and can deliver an electric shock to restore heartbeat regularity.
* EMS Communications. Technology used to communicate telemetry between Earth and space was developed by NASA to monitor the health of astronauts in space from the ground. Ambulances use this same technology to send information�like EKG readings�from patients in transport to hospitals. This allows faster and better treatment.
|
More NASA spinoffs here.
http://www.thespaceplace.com/nasa/spinoffs.html |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mises
Joined: 05 Nov 2007
Location: retired
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 8:47 pm Post subject: Re: Bush unveils vision for moon and beyond |
|
|
| mithridates wrote: |
| mises wrote: |
| When Bush proposed this the idea died in a few weeks. I expect the same here. More distractions. More lofty goals. A complete disregard for the real problems facing the country. |
Last week an asteroid was discovered three days before it flew by us at a distance less than that from Earth to the Moon. Asteroid 2008 TC3 actually hit the Earth and was discovered just 20 hours before impact. Luckily it was small enough to mostly burn up in the atmosphere. Here's what happens when an asteroid is just a bit larger:
http://apod.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/0711/tunguska_kulik_big.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tunguska.png
In no other field do people complain so much about a 6% increase to less than 1% of the budget that has the capability to save the entire planet.
On the subject of real problems, let's discuss malaria. NASA satellite data given for free to countries in sub-Saharan Africa allows them to predict mosquito outbreaks and lets them spend their tiny budgets on wiping out mosquitoes before they breed instead of just spraying willy-nilly. NASA data saves millions of people per year.
Here's a list of some of the technology developed from early NASA programs:
| Quote: |
* Foldable walkers. Made from a lightweight metal material developed by NASA for aircraft and spacecraft, foldable walkers are portable and easy to manage.
* Personal alert systems. These are emergency alert devices that can be worn by individuals who may require emergency medical or safety assistance. When a button is pushed, the device sends a signal to a remote location for help. To send the signal, the device relies on telemetry technology developed at NASA.
* CAT Scans and MRIs. These devices are used by hospitals to see inside the human body. Their development would not have been possible without the technology provided by NASA after it found a way to take better pictures of the Earth�s moon.
* Muscle stimulator device. This device is used for � hour per day to prevent muscle atrophy in paralyzed individuals. It provides electrical stimulation to muscles which is equal to jogging three miles per week. Christopher Reeves used these in his therapy.
* Orthopedic evaluation tools. Equipment to evaluate posture, gait, and balance disturbances was developed at NASA, along with a radiation-free way to measure bone flexibility using vibration.
* Diabetic foot mapping. This technique was developed at NASA�s center in Cleveland, Ohio to help monitor the effects of diabetes in feet. These efforts helped
* Foam cushioning. Special foam used for cushioning astronauts during liftoff is used in pillows and mattresses at many nursing homes and hospitals to help prevent ulcers, relieve pressure, and provide a better night�s sleep.
* Kidney dialysis machines. These machines rely on technology developed by NASA in order to process and remove toxic waste from used dialysis fluid.
* Talking wheelchairs. Paralyzed individuals who have difficulty speaking may use a talking feature on their wheelchairs which was developed by NASA to create synthesized speech for aircraft.
* Collapsible, lightweight wheelchairs. These wheelchairs are designed for portability and can be folded and put into trunks of cars. They rely on synthetic materials that NASA developed for its air and space craft
* Surgically implantable heart pacemaker. These devices depend on technologies developed by NASA for use with satellites. They communicate information about the activity of the pacemaker, such as how much time remains before the batteries need to be replaced.
* Implantable heart defibrillator. This tool continuously monitors heart activity and can deliver an electric shock to restore heartbeat regularity.
* EMS Communications. Technology used to communicate telemetry between Earth and space was developed by NASA to monitor the health of astronauts in space from the ground. Ambulances use this same technology to send information�like EKG readings�from patients in transport to hospitals. This allows faster and better treatment.
|
More NASA spinoffs here.
http://www.thespaceplace.com/nasa/spinoffs.html |
I appreciate that. Many technological leaps have been funded by the American state via the military, elite institutions (MIT, Cal Tech) and NASA. But going to Mars is a whole other story. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mithridates
Joined: 03 Mar 2003
Location: President's office, Korean Space Agency
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 9:19 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| I appreciate that. Many technological leaps have been funded by the American state via the military, elite institutions (MIT, Cal Tech) and NASA. But going to Mars is a whole other story. |
Ah. Well then you don't need to worry because I don't think we're going there (not to the surface, certainly) anyway. The reason is that the Moon is much easier and other nations (plus private companies) are going to be exploring there. Doubtful the US is going to be happy with just hanging out and watching other countries do their stuff.
See, even without a grand international plan for the Moon we still have nine missions in the works and over a dozen possible others before 2020. Even Korea should be able to make its own.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_and_future_lunar_missions#Under_development
Compare that to Mars:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploration_of_Mars#Timeline_of_Mars_exploration
Maybe a dozen total, and due to the launch windows that we have to wait for one delay in a mission means an extra 2.5 years to wait. That's what happened with NASA's current rover which was supposed to launch last year. The Moon, on the other hand, is always there and missions can be launched there as soon as they're ready.
One other reason is that the only way a trip to Mars will be feasible is if we have VASIMR to power it (the engine that can reduce trip times from 6+ months to 40 days), but launch windows to Mars are going to remain the longest in the entire Solar System and that means destinations like Ceres are going to be much better. Ceres would be about a 60-day journey, but launch windows are way more frequent, and Ceres is just as interesting a location. Plus we can actually land there; on Mars we don't even know how yet.
http://www.pagef30.com/2009/04/why-ceres-might-be-better-location-for.html <-- why Ceres might be a better location
http://science.howstuffworks.com/landing-on-mars1.htm <-- why we don't know how to land on Mars yet
So yeah, my basic reaction to the speech was asteroid mission --> great; manned Mars mission --> yeah, that's not gonna happen. Developing the technology to make it happen though (VASIMR, radiation shielding, etc.) is definitely worth it. There's no technology out there they plan to develop that is applicable _only_ to Mars and a complete waste of money elsewhere. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
