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Current Events => General Discussion => Topic started by: Chris_ on April 06, 2013, 10:32:23 PM

Title: NASA unveils plans to tow asteroid into Earth's orbit for astronauts to explore
Post by: Chris_ on April 06, 2013, 10:32:23 PM
Quote
NASA unveils plans to tow asteroid into Earth's orbit for astronauts to explore

Florida Sen. Bill Nelson said Friday $100 million of President Obama's budget will be set aside for the space mission. The two-phased plan would help put an astronaut on an asteroid by 2021, four years ahead of Obama's previous goal.

The space agency is developing plans to launch a robotic spaceship that would rendevouz with a small asteroid and tow it toward earth for spacewalking astronauts to explore.
New York Daily News (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/nasa-plans-tow-asteroid-earth-orbit-article-1.1309163?localLinksEnabled=false)

This is as big a waste of money as studying duck genitalia.
Title: Re: NASA unveils plans to tow asteroid into Earth's orbit for astronauts to explore
Post by: DumbAss Tanker on April 07, 2013, 12:38:48 PM
I disagree, this is what NASA is supposed to do, as opposed to teaching people how great Muslim 'Science' is for.  Even aside from the possible scientific benefits of understanding more about asteroids which have not gone through the process of being superheated by atmospheric entry and our understanding of them as a future threat to Earth, money put into this program will pay for skilled manufacturing and software development in the US, and go to building better science, engineering, manufacturing, and technological infrastructure in the US, not just pissed away on food stamps or bailing out pension plans.  Unlike all the solar, wind, and other 'Alternative energy' bullshit, this really IS an investment.
Title: Re: NASA unveils plans to tow asteroid into Earth's orbit for astronauts to explore
Post by: ChuckJ on April 07, 2013, 12:57:42 PM
I disagree, this is what NASA is supposed to do, as opposed to teaching people how great Muslim 'Science' is for.  Even aside from the possible scientific benefits of understanding more about asteroids which have not gone through the process of being superheated by atmospheric entry and our understanding of them as a future threat to Earth, money put into this program will pay for skilled manufacturing and software development in the US, and go to building better science, engineering, manufacturing, and technological infrastructure in the US, not just pissed away on food stamps or bailing out pension plans.  Unlike all the solar, wind, and other 'Alternative energy' bullshit, this really IS an investment.

I wish we were spending that money to send astronauts TO as astroid or any planetary body. Not bringing one to us.
Title: Re: NASA unveils plans to tow asteroid into Earth's orbit for astronauts to explore
Post by: DumbAss Tanker on April 07, 2013, 01:32:29 PM
I wish we were spending that money to send astronauts TO as astroid or any planetary body. Not bringing one to us.

Just my personal informed layman's take, but I believe it's a lot less chancy, and I would expect much, much less expensive, to get it close and if possible into Earth orbit first, so the manned part of the mission is much shorter in both distance and duration, and also much less risky.
Title: Re: NASA unveils plans to tow asteroid into Earth's orbit for astronauts to explore
Post by: rich_t on April 07, 2013, 02:06:09 PM
It's all fun and games until the damn thing crashes to earth and wipes out millions.
Title: Re: NASA unveils plans to tow asteroid into Earth's orbit for astronauts to explore
Post by: DumbAss Tanker on April 07, 2013, 03:30:59 PM
It's all fun and games until the damn thing crashes to earth and wipes out millions.

There could be an upside to that, depending...
Title: Re: NASA unveils plans to tow asteroid into Earth's orbit for astronauts to explore
Post by: Mike220 on April 07, 2013, 03:33:57 PM
There could be an upside to that, depending...

Mecca, Pyongyang, Tehran... :hyper:
Title: Re: NASA unveils plans to tow asteroid into Earth's orbit for astronauts to explore
Post by: rich_t on April 07, 2013, 03:40:09 PM
Mecca, Pyongyang, Tehran... :hyper:

DC, NYC. LA.

Yup.. there is an upside.

LOL
Title: Re: NASA unveils plans to tow asteroid into Earth's orbit for astronauts to explore
Post by: formerlurker on April 07, 2013, 03:43:58 PM
I disagree, this is what NASA is supposed to do, as opposed to teaching people how great Muslim 'Science' is for.  Even aside from the possible scientific benefits of understanding more about asteroids which have not gone through the process of being superheated by atmospheric entry and our understanding of them as a future threat to Earth, money put into this program will pay for skilled manufacturing and software development in the US, and go to building better science, engineering, manufacturing, and technological infrastructure in the US, not just pissed away on food stamps or bailing out pension plans.  Unlike all the solar, wind, and other 'Alternative energy' bullshit, this really IS an investment.

100% agreed.

Title: Re: NASA unveils plans to tow asteroid into Earth's orbit for astronauts to explore
Post by: J P Sousa on April 07, 2013, 04:22:57 PM
It's all fun and games until the damn thing crashes to earth and wipes out millions.

My first thought.

Look back at the discovery of nuclear fission and the nuclear accidents that followed. I think we have been lucky so far.
.
Title: Re: NASA unveils plans to tow asteroid into Earth's orbit for astronauts to explore
Post by: thundley4 on April 07, 2013, 07:38:27 PM
It's all fun and games until the damn thing crashes to earth and wipes out millions.


My fear is that these rocket scientists at NASA will make a mistake and mix up their calculations with both the Metric System and our system.  IIRC, they did that on one of the Mars projects.
Title: Re: NASA unveils plans to tow asteroid into Earth's orbit for astronauts to explore
Post by: liana on April 11, 2013, 04:01:53 AM
It's all fun and games until the damn thing crashes to earth and wipes out millions.

I agree.
Title: Re: NASA unveils plans to tow asteroid into Earth's orbit for astronauts to explore
Post by: RayRaytheSBS on April 11, 2013, 04:35:48 AM
How are the astronauts going to get to the asteroid? We don't have a space vehicle capable of carrying people thanks to Obama. What are they going to do? Borrow a rocket from the Russians like they are doing for the International Space Station?  :argh: :hammer: :banghead:
Title: Re: NASA unveils plans to tow asteroid into Earth's orbit for astronauts to explore
Post by: thundley4 on April 11, 2013, 09:15:48 AM
How are the astronauts going to get to the asteroid? We don't have a space vehicle capable of carrying people thanks to Obama. What are they going to do? Borrow a rocket from the Russians like they are doing for the International Space Station?  :argh: :hammer: :banghead:

Borrow?  Hell no, remember Obama is from Chicago so he'll just rocket-jack them.  :-)
Title: Re: NASA unveils plans to tow asteroid into Earth's orbit for astronauts to explore
Post by: Gina on April 11, 2013, 09:21:08 AM
It's all fun and games until the damn thing crashes to earth and wipes out millions.

that was my exact first thought!  :lmao:
Title: Re: NASA unveils plans to tow asteroid into Earth's orbit for astronauts to explore
Post by: JohnnyReb on April 11, 2013, 09:22:52 AM
Borrow?  Hell no, remember Obama is from Chicago so he'll just rocket-jack them.  :-)

Bill Clinton sold the Chinese the plans to our rockets for his campaign funds.........and soon we'll be able to buy Chinese rockets cheap down at the local WAL-MART.
Title: Re: NASA unveils plans to tow asteroid into Earth's orbit for astronauts to explore
Post by: Ptarmigan on April 11, 2013, 09:56:18 AM
Bill Clinton sold the Chinese the plans to our rockets for his campaign funds.........and soon we'll be able to buy Chinese rockets cheap down at the local WAL-MART.

Are they of good quality?
Title: Re: NASA unveils plans to tow asteroid into Earth's orbit for astronauts to explore
Post by: liana on April 11, 2013, 10:16:37 AM
How are the astronauts going to get to the asteroid? We don't have a space vehicle capable of carrying people thanks to Obama. What are they going to do? Borrow a rocket from the Russians like they are doing for the International Space Station?  :argh: :hammer: :banghead:

Most likely. It is indeed pitiful what Obama has done to our space program. All we are left to now is begging the stinky Russians for help.  :(