With all due respect to NASA, I’d like to know what you guys think…
Have all our great engineering minds died off? I asked the same thing about the progress, or lack thereof made in science with regard to ailments that have plagued us for the last 20-50 years (Cancer, Herpes, AIDS, Ebola, Smallpox, etc..) and now, as I focus on our space agency- is it me, or have we been stuck in the same spot for 25 years?

I am a science nut, but I didn’t pursue science as a career so my true scientific knowledge ended its run about 18 years ago. But, I still have interest in it. It’s just amazing to me that we have not gone past the space shuttle in terms of reaching space. I know about the half-baked replacement we have on the drawing board to replace the shuttle- but even that relies on a booster system to get it into space.

And, why is it that 23-25 years later we NOW have a problem with ice & falling foam endangering the shuttle & crew. Ice & foam has fallen off every rocket launched since the 60’s; and off every shuttle since 1980, even back when the tank was white…



Have we gone as far as we can go? Is there no one that can conceive a craft that can deliver our astronauts into space, and return them safely? I have designed one- but I don’t know if it can truly get there or not- but, I’m sure with my limited aerospace knowledge combined with some NASA eggheads, it could be made into just that- thus eliminating the need for an external fuel tank- and eliminating the ice/foam threat…

I’m not bragging- sure I think I’m pretty smart- but I know there are guys & gals out there, and on this web site that can intellectually and scientifically eat-my-lunch (My sister for instance); but if I’ve gone beyond in my thinking- why haven’t the people that are paid to do this? Why have we not TRULY evolved in our technology (not including PC/Computer technology) beyond the 1940’s? Are there no more Henry Ford's, Kelly Johnson's, Lawrence Bell's, Howard Hughes', Wernher von Braun's, J. Robert Oppenheimer's??? Have we gone as far as we're going to go?



Is the space shuttle the best we can do? Are we “complacent” since there’s no one to challenge us technologically- (Since Russia’s "Buran" Shuttle never carried a man into space). Many question the need to spend the money on a space program- but I think that if we’re going to do it, let’s not half-@$$ do it…

What do you think?

 

I think the Shuttle was a good idea. I repeat, was. I read something recently that stated had we kept on with the Saturn technology, we'd be on Mars already. When they shelved the Saturn V stuff, they were on the brink of having it perfected. Whatever bureaucrats decided to try the untested Shuttle stuff is who's to blame.

Personally, I think a return to Saturn V-type crafts will be the only way we go deeper into space. Think about it, the shape of it can be shipped quite easily (read: modular) to outposts on the moon, for instance. We'll need that type of flexibility if and when we take the plunge to the Mars. I'm sure the first few trips to the moon to make a base for Mars missions will be ripe with problems. Going back to better understood technology is a must.

-Travis

 

Did you hear the news? The space fleet is grounded indefinately. GO figure!

I agree, most of the hardware and software they're using to launch the shuttle is older than I am! Get with the times people.

 

Could launching from the moon to mars be possible? Anytime soon? (Read: 20 yrs)

 

Well said Hersh

I think lots of people don't see the need in space exploration. The same reason they don't see they need to protect ourselves when we are attacked. I agree with you, the space shuttle is very old. They do say that they are working on it, and I heard an astronaut on the radio saying to expect someone on Mars in the next few years. What I don't understand is that they could be working on some better ways for propulsion, and eventually it could trickle down to a more effective way for us all to travel.

But to me the important thing to do is to look at this in prospective. There have been more technilogical advances in the last 100 years, than all of time combined. People seem to have lost their fire for space and going beyond. We have all gotten comfortable in our nice offices, air conditioners, and fancy cars that we've lost they grander scheme of things. So yes, I would say that complacency is the key problem in my mind. We have accomplished a great amount in our space program. The next step is in order. Ever since our "giant leap for mankind" We have been comfortable. Comfort will make us go backwards.

 

I don't know about that, but I would say it could be possible. Think of a large "gas station" being on the moon, as a place to leave from.

-Travis

 

They'd burn far less fuel breaking the moons minute gravity than they currently use to escape Earth's... Or, should I say- used to use (Saturn Program).

Russia is now the heavy lift Rocket king- they just don't have a worthwhile shuttle... Perhaps something like that could propel our shuttle into a course that would take it to the moon- the only problem from there would be having fuel to break the moons orbit to return to Earth...

 

The critical design flaw, the way I see it is the vast majority of fuel is consumed just to get the shuttle into orbit. There is no fuel to maintain deep space flights. I think this particular shuttle design has passed its life expectancy anyhow. If deep space exploration is ever to be accomplished a new fuel supply and method of launch and recovery has to be developed.

 

I think it's summed up into a couple main areas.

Lack of public will/interest
Lack of political will
pansy *** approach to everything

Really, we dumped a lot of money at the time into a HIGH RISK project basically flying by the seat of our pants to get guys to the moon. I'm sorry but that's how you push the envelope. Not this we gotta stop EVERYTHING and reexamine everything for 2+ years every time a problem crops up. I'm not saying we should just fling people into space on the hopes that they might come back alive (even though apollo was a lot like that), but we need to understand it's a dangerous buisiness and do the best we can but push forward.

The technologies exist to put a base on the moon and move forward from there, but there's just no will to take on the risk and expense of doing it. I think putting an outpost on the moon would give us the ability to uncover a lot of the mysteries of how to survive in an invironment like mars. Not to mention the ability to probe the moon's hidden mysteries.

Anyway, I think eventually somebody will do it. Might be the chineese that finally get there (trying to show the americans up and all).

\end rant\

 

Agreed- if we are to maintain the current design, it'll need to be stretched to accomodate an internal liquid fuel tank (Liquid because it would need to be fired and stopped more than once- whereas solid fuels burn until they're empty- there is no re-light...) The shuttle's rockets would not be used with the lift-off duty (Requiring a new booster system)- if modifications are made to the current design to accomodate deep space travel- or even to the moon.**

** This may also be a problem if the gimbling of the shuttles rockets are used for course corrections.

 

Bush just pumped another 1.2 Billion into deep space exploration.

You got to hand it to him, he's damned determined to find those WMDs.

 

I have argued with "hersh-agent" before regarding the progress of biotech (particuarly the fight against AIDS) but I have to agree on this one. If our space program had made as much progress as biotechnology (even in the last 20-25 years) then we might have people living on Mars right now. I've heard it said that in our desperation to make it to the moon first, we really messed up our space program b/c after orbit, the next logical step was a space station and then on to the moon and so on and so forth. The shuttle is nothing to scoff at, but we can and need to do better. I read an article the other day saying that the only way that America will be able to compete in the new emerging global economy is too revamp our education system and to maintain and take back technological superiority. We are lagging too far behind in too much, from infotech to biotech. We put a man on the moon in 1969, now we can't even get our shuttle to go up safely on a regular basis? It's time that this country put the emphasis on math and science in schools and stopped worrying about force feeding junior revisionist history and making sure he has read the classics and gets to play with clay in art class. Ok, sorry rant off. JMHO

 

The latest report is that after smuggling them to Syria, they built an under ocean tunnel to Russia, who them promptly blasted them to a passing comet. It is due to circle the sun and pass back by the earth in time to get Hillary on her coronation.

That deep space science project a few months back to look at the inside of an asteroid was just a cover to see if we can hit that comet on its way back.

 

Well how else to do you suppose they figure out who is to build held accountable for the latest mishap, pull a name out of hat

Sarcasm aside, I agree.

 

I don't know, but I think a million+ pounds of thrust against a metal object, is gonna vibrate something loose... It's to be expected- so, the only thing to do is:

a.) Make the tiles/wings tougher.
b.) Fabricate a light-weight protective cover that protects the underbelly of the shuttle during lift off, and is jettisoned when the main tank falls away.

Maybe we need to get rid of our candy-@$$ shuttles and get those X-5's like they had in Armageddon! :^)

It'd take a direct hit from an asteroid chunk to bring that down!