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Space Shuttle Atlantis Launch: AWESOME VIDEO From Multiple Points of View
Commented Dec 01, 2009 at 23:57:30 in Technology
“Actually, no, they don't do what they were suppose to do. They were suppose to provide regular (turn around measured in a few weeks), routine access to LEO, at quite low costs (I remember price points being given in the hundreds of dollars per pound).
Now, these aren't my expectations, but rather what NASA offered as to how well the Shuttle would work.
So, if meeting expectations is to be considered when determining greatness, Shuttle fails.”
Now, these aren't my expectations, but rather what NASA offered as to how well the Shuttle would work.
So, if meeting expectations is to be considered when determining greatness, Shuttle fails.”
Space Shuttle Atlantis Launch: AWESOME VIDEO From Multiple Points of View
Commented Dec 01, 2009 at 15:30:31 in Technology
“Not really - they weren't that great of a machine, and never really lived up to expectations.
That said, we learned a lot from them, and they did do quite a lot for us.
But its time to move on”
That said, we learned a lot from them, and they did do quite a lot for us.
But its time to move on”
DismayedRepub replied on Dec 01, 2009 at 22:46:31
“Not that great of a machine? They do what they were designed to do with grace and style. What is your frame of reference? Maybe your expectations are a little unrealistic.”
U.S. Losing Its Lead In Space, Experts Warn Congress
Commented Nov 20, 2009 at 01:10:11 in Technology
“Great - then will you also pass on having an earth that is livable, an economy thats growing, jobs for you and your family? If so, then by all means, lets ignore what has the potential to be at least as big as the internet.”
U.S. Losing Its Lead In Space, Experts Warn Congress
Commented Nov 20, 2009 at 00:48:23 in Technology
“Except that, its not about a race to find ET - its a race to utilize outer space. And Space development and utilization can help us deal with many of the pressing problems we face, right now”
LastOfTheMohicans replied on Nov 20, 2009 at 00:51:01
“I'll pass.”
U.S. Losing Its Lead In Space, Experts Warn Congress
Commented Nov 20, 2009 at 00:13:15 in Technology
“Yea, no new rocket needed, except for the Direct rocket, which BTW, is a new rocket.
Its time to retire all of the shuttle. Lets truly utilize only the rockets we have, and say no new NASA launchers.
http://www.ulalaunch.com/docs/publications/PropellantDepots2009.pdf
Or another slightly different
http://www.ulalaunch.com/docs/publications/AffordableExplorationArchitecture2009.pdf
Shuttle is not cheap, will never be cheap.
No new launchers.”
Its time to retire all of the shuttle. Lets truly utilize only the rockets we have, and say no new NASA launchers.
http://www.ulalaunch.com/docs/publications/PropellantDepots2009.pdf
Or another slightly different
http://www.ulalaunch.com/docs/publications/AffordableExplorationArchitecture2009.pdf
Shuttle is not cheap, will never be cheap.
No new launchers.”
Downix replied on Nov 20, 2009 at 09:36:39
“The Shuttle is cheaper per kg to orbit on an order of magnitude over the ULA launchers. The issue with the Shuttle is that most of that weight is the shuttle itself, almost 100 metric tons of it. Per launch, at $400 mil per launch, a DIRECT would run, including the Shuttles heavier overhead, at parity with the ULA per-kg to orbit once you hit 4 launches a year. Incidentally, the whole system can launch as rapidly as 18 launches per year, comparable with both the Delta and Atlas, but instead of each of those 18 launches bringing up 20 tons, they would be bringing up 110 tons.
A mac truck is not cheap, never will be cheap. But it delivers more freight per trip than a pickup truck. That is the measurement you go by. Not how much the vehicle costs, but how much it can deliver per dollar spent. DIRECTs proposal crushes the existing rockets in this regards, and has the advantage over Ares in low R&D costs, as the main R&D costs were paid for in the 1970ś with the shuttle programme itself.”
A mac truck is not cheap, never will be cheap. But it delivers more freight per trip than a pickup truck. That is the measurement you go by. Not how much the vehicle costs, but how much it can deliver per dollar spent. DIRECTs proposal crushes the existing rockets in this regards, and has the advantage over Ares in low R&D costs, as the main R&D costs were paid for in the 1970ś with the shuttle programme itself.”
Moon Ice: NASA LCROSS Bombing Discovers Water, Ice Field (PHOTOS)
Commented Nov 13, 2009 at 15:30:31 in Technology
“Well, if that were actually the case, I might agree. However, since space development can help us clean up this planet, I am all for it”
Best Invention 2009: NASA's Ares Rocket Tops TIME List
Commented Nov 13, 2009 at 08:06:33 in Technology
“What a load of unmitgated crap”
Star Pictures: NASA's Most Extraordinary Images EVER (PHOTOS, POLL)
Commented Nov 02, 2009 at 18:23:25 in Technology
“Do you know why they picked the name Ares? Because they hope to use those rockets to go to Mars. And if you know your Ancient Greek and Roman history, tells you something.”
OkieIntellectual replied on Nov 02, 2009 at 18:30:04
“Heh, I was thinking the same thing. I guess if astronomers had gone with the Roman names for the pantheon, we'd have the "Mars" rocket to go to the planet "Ares."”
NASA To Start Irradiating Monkeys
Commented Oct 30, 2009 at 16:17:13 in Technology
“Because we didn't know about it very well, and again, the length of exposure was also short - The longest duration Apollo mission to the moon was 12 days - now NASA is looking at going 40 days and beyond for deep space flight.
Its all a question of total time of exposure”
Its all a question of total time of exposure”
goodog replied on Oct 30, 2009 at 20:44:33
“It's about time... it's about space.”
Russia Hopes To Fly Humans To Mars With Nuclear Spaceship
Commented Oct 29, 2009 at 16:18:56 in Technology
“I agree that space development is a great way to get people to work. But competition from Russia? That really won't make that much of a difference.
What is a much better idea is to develop new forms of economic growth, that depend on space, and there are many potential industries that could help grow the economy.
And the really great irony - growing these industries would likely get us access to space much sooner than Ares I ever could”
What is a much better idea is to develop new forms of economic growth, that depend on space, and there are many potential industries that could help grow the economy.
And the really great irony - growing these industries would likely get us access to space much sooner than Ares I ever could”
AtheistUS replied on Oct 30, 2009 at 20:59:03
“Competition between former USSR and US was good for progress of science and technology.”
Ares I-X Launch: NASA's New Rocket Blasts Off On Test Flight
Commented Oct 29, 2009 at 04:49:11 in Technology
“I haven't seen any medical proof that its "quite obvious" - please cite something
In terms of why it makes a difference - NASA operates under a culture of very strict procudures (at least, in theory) - as you expand the number of people who have access to space, those procudures will decrease. Which means we'll have people taking risks, and finding out just how safe/unsafe things are, with many more data points.”
In terms of why it makes a difference - NASA operates under a culture of very strict procudures (at least, in theory) - as you expand the number of people who have access to space, those procudures will decrease. Which means we'll have people taking risks, and finding out just how safe/unsafe things are, with many more data points.”
Ares I-X Launch: NASA's New Rocket Blasts Off On Test Flight
Commented Oct 28, 2009 at 22:28:03 in Technology
“I know your comment was about manned vs unmanned - I disagree that all important space exploration (and more importantly space development) will be done by unmanned operations - its one thing to do unmanned operations for something like science probes and the like, but where there is regular operations of deliverables and deliveries, and multiple roles at the same time, it will be manned.
Concnering gravity, we don't know what the required level of gravity we need to be healthy - we have 2 data point, 1 g and 0 g.
Again, the assumption I suspect you are making is that most, if not all of the astronauts in the coming decade, will be NASA astronauts. Its not going to be that - maybe this will remain true for the next decade, but by 2020, most astronauts will not be NASA employee”
Concnering gravity, we don't know what the required level of gravity we need to be healthy - we have 2 data point, 1 g and 0 g.
Again, the assumption I suspect you are making is that most, if not all of the astronauts in the coming decade, will be NASA astronauts. Its not going to be that - maybe this will remain true for the next decade, but by 2020, most astronauts will not be NASA employee”
Ares I-X Launch: NASA's New Rocket Blasts Off On Test Flight
Commented Oct 28, 2009 at 17:44:56 in Technology
“Thats debatable - is access to health care more important than having good schools? Is clean water more important than not living in an area that has a huge criminal element?
Putting people in space has great value - its scientific returns are debatable, but the valuation it offers by expanding humanity into space, which provides new resources and oppertunities for us, cannot be denied.”
Putting people in space has great value - its scientific returns are debatable, but the valuation it offers by expanding humanity into space, which provides new resources and oppertunities for us, cannot be denied.”
Ares I-X Launch: NASA's New Rocket Blasts Off On Test Flight
Commented Oct 28, 2009 at 17:29:48 in Technology
“Concerning the shuttle - yes and no - the politics of it really screwed shuttle, which is the blunder. That said, we did learn a lot from it. NASA should have done something similar to what it did, when it went from Mercury, to Gemini, to Apollo, with the focus on resuablity and cheap access, instead of trying to do it all at once (which they did with Shuttle). And as I said, the politics of the situation really hurt it.
All that said, NASA is at its best when its doing something no one else can do, or is close to doing, and when its building a self-sustaining industry, that it can utilize, as well as others, instead of doing full on operations - have it do R&D, and operate it where no one else is operating.”
All that said, NASA is at its best when its doing something no one else can do, or is close to doing, and when its building a self-sustaining industry, that it can utilize, as well as others, instead of doing full on operations - have it do R&D, and operate it where no one else is operating.”
Ares I-X Launch: NASA's New Rocket Blasts Off On Test Flight
Commented Oct 28, 2009 at 17:16:46 in Technology
“No doubt, but when you have rockets like Atlas V, and Delta IV, already in place, and rockets like Falcon 9 and Taurus II in the pipeline, exactly why do you need a 5th rocket, owned and operated, by NASA that can lift roughly the same payload, but will only lift the Orion capsule?
The other rockets can lift Orion just fine”
The other rockets can lift Orion just fine”
AtheistUS replied on Oct 28, 2009 at 17:24:41
“It is probably arguable which combination is best for the Constellation program.
The biggest blunder was shuttle.”
The biggest blunder was shuttle.”
Ares I-X Launch: NASA's New Rocket Blasts Off On Test Flight
Commented Oct 28, 2009 at 16:55:30 in Technology
“And, with some reforms, NASA can help to launch an entire industry - Check out some much cooler stuff, on the west Coast, that NASA has its hand in today as well
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-pomerantz/horse-races-with-rocket-e_b_336295.html”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-pomerantz/horse-races-with-rocket-e_b_336295.html”
Ares I-X Launch: NASA's New Rocket Blasts Off On Test Flight
Commented Oct 28, 2009 at 16:25:16 in Technology
“How about if NASA were helping to create a self-sustianing industry? Would you still oppose doing human spaceflight?”
Ares I-X Launch: NASA's New Rocket Blasts Off On Test Flight
Commented Oct 28, 2009 at 16:24:20 in Technology
“As long as we are also going to defund the Department of Education too. And all other basic research - after all, what good has come from studying the electron, or researching genes, or getting kids to read?”
GeorgeMilquetoast replied on Oct 28, 2009 at 16:39:51
“Yeah. Who needs Science anyway?”
Ares I-X Launch: NASA's New Rocket Blasts Off On Test Flight
Commented Oct 28, 2009 at 16:10:27 in Technology
“NASA shouldn't be in the business of operating rockets - they should get out of that, and get in the business of deep space flight - we've done earth to LEO flights for 50 years - lets have industry work on that, and NASA can work on the really cool stuff, which is going to the moon, going to asteroids, going to Mars - in otherwords, NASA needs to be in the business of operating spaceships, not rockets”
Rapid1 replied on Oct 28, 2009 at 17:59:27
“Perhaps you misunderstand what NASA really is. NASA would be called a prime contractor in the business world. It takes set goals and builds requirements. Missiles are , for the most part, built by sub contractors who are private companies. So, your arguement would mean that a fully commercial space program would be built to profit from obtaining goals which most times only have a scientific value. Which is precisely the reason NASA was created in the first place -- because that won't work.”
ChrisSen replied on Oct 28, 2009 at 17:15:58
“you should read more, this rocket is the rocket that will put men in space cheaper and is the small brother to the Ares 5 that will take us back to the moon and to mars.
This rockets advantage is that it can get to LEO for much less than current space vehicles. The big boy, Ares 5, will take up the rest of the equipment for hookup and deeper space capabilities.
Geez, so many people on HuffPo are completly illiterate in science.”
This rockets advantage is that it can get to LEO for much less than current space vehicles. The big boy, Ares 5, will take up the rest of the equipment for hookup and deeper space capabilities.
Geez, so many people on HuffPo are completly illiterate in science.”
AtheistUS replied on Oct 28, 2009 at 17:04:21
“But to get gadgets (or people) from Earth to Space we still need a rocket.”
Ares I-X Launch: NASA's New Rocket Blasts Off On Test Flight
Commented Oct 28, 2009 at 16:07:47 in Technology
“Yea, well, if this actually got us back on the path towards Beyond LEO flight (whether to the moon, or elsewhere) I'd cheer with you.
In reality, this didn't move us any closer.”
In reality, this didn't move us any closer.”
Ares I-X Launch: NASA's New Rocket Blasts Off On Test Flight
Commented Oct 28, 2009 at 16:06:33 in Technology
“Oh, bullshit - they had plenty of data for that before this test - they didn't need this test. This test was always largely a PR stunt. The Ares I-Y - that would be a real test.
As for COTS
1. Augustine said they would be ready well before Orion's first flight
2. There is already COTS rockets flying (Atlas V, Delta IV), and 2 more soon to enter service (Falcon 9, Taurus 2)
3. There is no reason you have to, or even should, launch the Orion Capsule on a shuttle derived vehicle, including Ares.
The whole point which Augustine proposed was to use Crew Transport (IE COTS-D) to deliver astronauts to the Orion capsule - thats assumed in MOST of the options the committee presented.”
As for COTS
1. Augustine said they would be ready well before Orion's first flight
2. There is already COTS rockets flying (Atlas V, Delta IV), and 2 more soon to enter service (Falcon 9, Taurus 2)
3. There is no reason you have to, or even should, launch the Orion Capsule on a shuttle derived vehicle, including Ares.
The whole point which Augustine proposed was to use Crew Transport (IE COTS-D) to deliver astronauts to the Orion capsule - thats assumed in MOST of the options the committee presented.”
Ares I-X Launch: NASA's New Rocket Blasts Off On Test Flight
Commented Oct 28, 2009 at 15:41:33 in Technology
“Why do we insist on doing space stupidly? There is so much potential to space, and the Ares vehicles are the worst way to do it.
And Ares I-X wasn't a legitimate test, by any strech - Different first stage, no second stage, no capsule, different guidence.
Its time to turn Earth to Orbit transportation over to Commercial Space, and have NASA focus on Deep spaceflight”
And Ares I-X wasn't a legitimate test, by any strech - Different first stage, no second stage, no capsule, different guidence.
Its time to turn Earth to Orbit transportation over to Commercial Space, and have NASA focus on Deep spaceflight”
jatkins replied on Oct 28, 2009 at 15:50:42
“The Ares team will now have aerodynamic data to develop the upper stage and final Ares I vehicle. There was a mock Orion capsule onboard the test article. The Augustine Commission believe COTS won't prepare exo-LEO crewed vehicles in time for the first Altair landings in 2019/20. They may be wrong, but it's up to Elon Musk and Richard Branson to prove them wrong.”
Ares I-X: NASA Launching Brand New Rocket, First Step In Effort To Return Astronatuts To Moon
Commented Oct 27, 2009 at 13:22:56 in Technology
“Yes, you can do shuttle more often, but you still have the incredible high fixed costs. That is intrinsict to it. Just like you could make a lot more Ferrari's, but if you insist on the same level of quality, you'll have the high up front fixed costs
Unless you want to discuss privatizing the shuttle systems, and there is NO ONE who would want to operate shuttle hardware privately”
Unless you want to discuss privatizing the shuttle systems, and there is NO ONE who would want to operate shuttle hardware privately”
Ares I-X: NASA Launching Brand New Rocket, First Step In Effort To Return Astronatuts To Moon
Commented Oct 27, 2009 at 12:21:47 in Technology
“For full-disclosure, here is a link to the moon rock story
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32581790/ns/technology_and_science-space/
If you read it and dig into it, its pretty clear someone didn't keep good records, and just assumed it was a moon rock”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32581790/ns/technology_and_science-space/
If you read it and dig into it, its pretty clear someone didn't keep good records, and just assumed it was a moon rock”
Ares I-X: NASA Launching Brand New Rocket, First Step In Effort To Return Astronatuts To Moon
Commented Oct 27, 2009 at 12:15:52 in Technology
“NASA ain't perfect - I won't claim otherwise. But if you dig into the story, it looks like the museum where it was on display didn't do their homework, when it was recieved.”
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