tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5216738179263317509.post4442191919081665320..comments2024-01-08T00:25:24.777-08:00Comments on Philosophy of Science Portal: A soul of similar thoughtsMercuryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13757909461674304095noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5216738179263317509.post-17712703975332559932010-04-29T04:00:47.178-07:002010-04-29T04:00:47.178-07:00We all know Jack Kennedy had many discussions with...We all know Jack Kennedy had many discussions with Wernher von Braun long before he publicly announced America's intention to go to the moon. I fear the Obama administration didn't talk to any scientists or engineers before redirecting NASA's moon mission(s) toward Mars (where was Steven Chu on this?).<br /><br />Non-technical people always imagine planets as standing still but as we all know, Earth and Mars are in independent orbits around the Sun which is way more complicated than the moon being in orbit around the Earth (for all intents and purposes, the Earth is stationary as far as the moon is concerned but even moon missions can go horribly wrong). Due to timing, Earth-Mars only comes into optimum positions every two years or so. So what happens if astronauts head to need to be rescued? What happens if the Sun emits a Coronal Mass Ejection which would require the astronauts to be shielded? (apparently the Apollo crews just lucked out in not being irradiated via a CME).<br /><br />My last point relates to lifting off from Mars which is 80% the size of Earth. Although the Earth's atmosphere is much thinker compare to Mars, it is still really difficult to launch from Earth without a booster. To the best of my knowledge, no one on Earth has ever built an Altair-like lander to get from the Earth's surface into orbit (not even close). For the time being, Mars missions should be left to JPL's robots.<br /><br />It is time for congress to reinstate the NASA's constellation program to the moon. Besides, since NASA had already been working on it for 5 years, wouldn't killing Constellation flush 5 years of tax-payer sponsored research?neilrieckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11538484685834983515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5216738179263317509.post-32298356392882037122010-04-26T20:40:24.767-07:002010-04-26T20:40:24.767-07:00Well Tim, maybe we are becoming more mature and ca...Well Tim, maybe we are becoming more mature and can see an unclouded perspective of man in space for now. The risk and cost over shadow the "cowboy". Beside a whole lot more information can be gained cheaper and with less risk.Mercuryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13757909461674304095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5216738179263317509.post-41620253533503999152010-04-26T20:36:06.132-07:002010-04-26T20:36:06.132-07:00at first i did not completely agree with machines ...at first i did not completely agree with machines doing it all but as time passes and Earth worsens....i have a hard time justifying manned flight. is it i am aging and losing the cowboy in me or is it that age usually drives sense into you? nope...send out the machinesTimothyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16506919336703343072noreply@blogger.com