Author Topic: NASA unveils plans to tow asteroid into Earth's orbit for astronauts to explore  (Read 2419 times)

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Offline Chris_

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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

This is as big a waste of money as studying duck genitalia.
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Offline DumbAss Tanker

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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.
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Offline ChuckJ

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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.
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Offline DumbAss Tanker

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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.
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Offline rich_t

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It's all fun and games until the damn thing crashes to earth and wipes out millions.
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Offline DumbAss Tanker

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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...
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Offline Mike220

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There could be an upside to that, depending...

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Offline rich_t

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Mecca, Pyongyang, Tehran... :hyper:

DC, NYC. LA.

Yup.. there is an upside.

LOL
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Offline formerlurker

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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.


Offline J P Sousa

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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.
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Offline thundley4

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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.

Offline liana

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It's all fun and games until the damn thing crashes to earth and wipes out millions.

I agree.
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Offline RayRaytheSBS

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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:
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Offline thundley4

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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.  :-)

Offline Gina

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It's all fun and games until the damn thing crashes to earth and wipes out millions.

that was my exact first thought!  :lmao:






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Offline JohnnyReb

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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.
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Offline Ptarmigan

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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?
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Offline liana

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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.  :(
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