Suspend space exploration? No way!
I saw this article online today and I wanted to say something about it: http://communities.canada.com/nationalpost/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2007/06/15/yoni-goldstein-time-to-suspend-space-exploration.aspx
Some suggest the US space program is a waste of time and money. I've met people who have said this to me directly. People don't see the point to sending a shuttle up and getting pictures back of them installing solar panels and replacing faulty computers. Some people such as Yoni Goldstein think it's time to suspend space flights until NASA can put the excitement back in the space program.
There was a time in the past where commercial air travel was novel and exciting. Where people would stop what they were doing if they saw a plane in the sky. Today air travel is a common thing. Would you suggest suspending air travel until it became more exciting? Just because there aren't images of moon landings and the tenseness of a space race, should we stop using the weightless environment of space for research and development? I've never understood why people feel space flight should be an episode of Buck Rodgers, it's science, not Star Trek.
NASA space research has resulted in thousands of useful spin-off products including anti-scratch glass lenses, fire retardant clothing, fuel-cell technology, air and water purification techniques, memory-foam padding, non-contact temperature sensing instruments, heat-pipes and even ski boots. Yeah, boring stuff, but I bet you enjoy your purified water.
Now everyone is entitled to their own opinions but I don't put much stock in Yoni's article, and for one simple reason, this line:
"Even if that involved developing a new type of vehicle for space missions, which could take years, it would be worth the wait"
Where have you been? It's called Project Constellation and it is in development. I know news channels and sites aren't exciting enough for you but you should watch sometime and see what NASA is doing. Unless you want them to stop sharing news until it is exciting enough to catch your attention.
Enjoy your excitement packed fictional movies and media enhanced drama. Next time, do your research before making bold statements about the space program.
Oh yeah Yoni, I look forward to your response
Project Constellation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Constellation
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