NationStates Jolt Archive

Consider it a given that we will eventually glean the resources and will to launch an expedition offworld. Is it in our best interest to go? But more importantly; where in space shall we go? What planet/moon/other place?There are infinite possibilities, from mining colonies to habitation modules to laboratories, you name it. I have my idea; the moon is close, mineral and oxygen rich, and did I say close? Where is our goal located? Which location (or non-location) should be the focus of our extra-Earth foray? What do YOU, the citizen on the street, say. Do tell, do tell. :D

Space = Waste of Time

Seriously, it's pointless, what are we trying to find? I don't mind the idea of pillaging mars though.

its all aimed at keeping the whitehouse.

Well, it'll give the aerospace complex some more tax dollars.

It forces Sci-fi to push it's boundaries even further. Where would we be without bioships and alternative dimensions in sci-fi?

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"But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality."
Free your mind! (http://dwardmac.pitzer.edu/Anarchist_Archives/bright/berkman/comanarchism/whatis_toc.html)
I like big butts!

http://img63.photobucket.com/albums/v193/eddy_the_great/steatopygia.jpg

I've always found space fascinating. In my humble opinion (however practical or impractical it may be) we should devote quite a bit of time to research. We know very little more than can be gained through radio and other forms of telescope. For instance, what would happen if we flew though a nebula? Would we notice a difference in density, pressure, or anything else for that matter? Or "dark clouds?" Or event horizons? Beyond that edge, are we left with a black hole, or the theorized Gravastar? Or perhaps something entirely different? I could go on and on about all the theories and unexplained phenomenon. We know very little about so much.

when you show me a dome or whatever that can use the atmosphere around it to make breatible air for the inside, then il encourage moving to another planet. for now, im glad to have my feet firmly planted on this one.

Space = Waste of Time
I beg to differ:

Time = Waste of Space

Space = Waste of Time
I beg to differ:

Time = Waste of Space

I disagree with you both.

Time/Space = Waste of Reality

Anyways, on the actual topic: Space is like any other unexplored place, we do it because we're curious and because we want to. There are a variety of things that can be gained, most of which can just be summed up in 'knowledge'.

While I do agree that it's ridiculous to put space exploration above social welfare or healthcare in priorities, I also think it's ridiculous to put military spending (beyond that required for adequate defense) above space in priority.

A few things gained and developed from space exploration and funding of N.A.S.A.:

Development of satellite transmissions.
Improvements on medical imaging technologies.
Bar coding, and the superior form of it known as Data Matrix Symbology.
Systems and technologies used to discover sight defects without any input from the patient.
The ear thermometer.
Current fire-fighting uniforms. The fireproof material was originally developed for spacesuits.
Smoke detectors, originally used to detect toxic fumes.
Lenses that block out wavelengths that might have harmful effects on the eyes while still allowing through visible light.
Advanced plastics.
Joystick controllers and their variations.

Also, Earth -will- eventually overpopulate (excepting draconian population control measures or genetic sterilization of humanity) to the point where there will either be a lethal epidemic, famine, or world-war to reduce population unless we have the ability to move enough people off-planet.

Remember: Don't discount things as impossible simply because they are written about in science fiction.

We need to go to Luna because it has a large concentration of Helium-3 which would be perfect for fusion power plants.

I think the aim is to come back

I think the aim is to come back

:lol:

I would hope we're aiming up, otherwise those space shuttles are going to have a quick and nasty ride.

Space is the ultimate goal of my existance. You see, I am of the sort that believes that if we have not returned to the moon in a meaningful, permanent way, that we are A)doomed, and B) as a species, not able to accomplish anything truly meaningful.

The Moon is close, has oxygen for us, has rare minearls in abundance, and will provide practice for the future. The future, in my view, is not going to be pretty, and to diversify our holdings, to use the term, is the safest route.

And the technology! 8) I want my flying cars and talking computers NOW, and earthlocked inactivity is not positive. Preservation and expansionis are more important than improvement and stasis.

Space = Waste of Time

Seriously, it's pointless, what are we trying to find? I don't mind the idea of pillaging mars though.

No, it is not a 'waste of time', as you put it. After all, where else can we achieve the lessening of gravity to such a degree to allow for experiments on cell research and viral studies to be preformed?

Space provides several unique oppurtunites for us, such as mining the asteriod belt for rare minerals and gases; utilizing cosmic bodies for uninhibited observation of the sky (without all the smoke and grime present on earth); use of solar power as a new energy source; etc etc etc.

Perhaps, one day, we might become so technologically advanced that we could build a Dyson's Sphere around the Sun, and allow for pure energy to be collected, in terms of light, heat, and gases harvested from flares.

What you should be asking, instead of 'should we go to space' is 'when can we go to space'.

I agree with you completely, Angvine.

Space is, as trekkies put it, "The Final Frontier".

Earth *WILL* overpopulate, and it *WILL* require space for more room for the expansion of humanity.

And think about it: Why even have fusion plants if we could have orbital stations with huge solar panel arrays (of course, with better gathering capacity than today's cells) that could collect huge amounts of energy and beam it back to Earth in the form of harmless microwaves?

All we'd have to do is to get the stations in geosynchronous orbit, and focus the beams into receptors here on Earth, then- viola!

Free, unlimited energy, and look! Suddenly, all that space taken up by power plants are now freed up for residential use!

Ahh but its cold in space. People like the idea of playing around in ero Gravity. But Personally, All of you can you think of another good reason for the common man to go?

Ahh but its cold in space. People like the idea of playing around in ero Gravity. But Personally, All of you can you think of another good reason for the common man to go?

Zero-gravity and low gravity are -vital- to a variety of important medical and scientific expirements. Reasons for the common man to go? Escape overpopulation, off-planet jobs, low-gravity living spaces for those who need them. There might not be a reason for the average joe to go right now (which is good, it costs painful amounts of money to get just a pound of material into space), but there will be eventually.

(Also, it can be both deathly cold in space, or absolutely broiling. Depending on if the sun's rays are hitting you directly or not.)

Overpopulation isnt really a problem if the alternative is to live on a space station. Theres plenty of room, just not sustainable room.

A massive facility would be needed for a self sufficent colony in space. Perhaps feasable in a hundered years, but not now.

It'll take a hundered years of unheard of amounts of money before the investment pays off

A hundred years is a decievingly short period of time. Your grandchildren will have seen 2100 by middle-age.

On one hand, we can plan for the future, come up with long term solutions (even if they take a while to implement), and try and eventually improve the quality of life.

Or we can make the same mistakes people did back in 1900, thinking the next generation can work it out just fine on their own. (Wasn't it predicted that we'd have a way to get rid of nuclear waste by now?)

Granchilderen? I should bloody well hope so.

Im just saying there is little real payoff for the average man to care about space exploration, There is only really a coolness factor

It's hard to correctly estimate that sort of thing. Automobiles, for instance, were long just another item of the rich in the world. The same thing with electrical items. When something is introduced to a market, it will generally become more and more widely available over time.

Unless we can sustain a consistent population and prevent pollution levels from getting horrendous (along with finding reasonable alternatives for limited resources), we're going to need to go somewhere other than Earth.

oh yeah great plan, over populate and over pollute the earth, then go out into the universe so we can do the same to other planets

I would prefer that we did have a consistent population, keep pollution as low as possible, and learn to live with each other, so that there would be no need for off-planet colonization. However, if we can't, what other choices do we have, wipe outselves out or live in a hell of our own making?

(Also, it would be hard to do any serious harm to Luna pollution or population-wise. Although possible, I'm not sure how much could be done until there were problems.)

I would prefer that we did have a consistent population, keep pollution as low as possible, and learn to live with each other, so that there would be no need for off-planet colonization. However, if we can't, what other choices do we have, wipe outselves out or live in a hell of our own making?

(Also, it would be hard to do any serious harm to Luna pollution or population-wise. Although possible, I'm not sure how much could be done until there were problems.)

constant population = aint gonna happen
pollution problem = easier to fix than pollution problem
learn to live with each other = easier to fix than the two above

But...if all else fails....we can just live on the Moon!

I'm hoping they make the Mars mission's a public investment opportunity because I think we may get on Mars one day.

Consider it a given that we will eventually glean the resources and will to launch an expedition offworld. Is it in our best interest to go? But more importantly; where in space shall we go? What planet/moon/other place?There are infinite possibilities, from mining colonies to habitation modules to laboratories, you name it. I have my idea; the moon is close, mineral and oxygen rich, and did I say close? Where is our goal located? Which location (or non-location) should be the focus of our extra-Earth foray? What do YOU, the citizen on the street, say. Do tell, do tell. :D

how is the moon oxygen rich?
it dosnt even have an atmosphere

i think we should find whichever planet has lefeforms which are almost but not quite as smart as us and then massacre half their population while enslaving the rest, its not original but itl be fun

G.W. wants oil to be on the moon and/or mars.