Do you think Space Travel or Exploration is important?

Member

Very little was said about the Discovery lift-off. Just curious as to what you all think.

Member

Funny you should mention this, because my DH and I were talking about this over the weekend. Personally I do not. I think it is a waste of $$ that would be better spent fixing things here on Earth. Just my

Excelent

I agree with Phillycat, waste of money

Member

The Movie Geek

Yes, but I'm not sure how exactly to articulate why.

Pyromaniac

This is a tough one. The advancement in technology the space program has provided is incredible. On the other hand, the unbelievable expense involved in even a single shuttle launch is incredibly outrageous. I believe that at this time the money is better spent elsewhere.

Oompa Loofah

I believe that space exploration is as necessary as breathing. Many of us have the same inborn desires that our forefathers had to continually seek out the new places--where no man has been before.

That being said: I feel the endeavor should not be governmental, rather it should be privatized. It can be done more expeditiously and for a much lower cost.

I feel that because it's gov't based, the organization has become bloated and poorly run.

Member

POTFH

I think it is real important. It helps to force people to think out of the box to solve problems and maybe figure out ways to help the earth at the same time.

I was always keen to the idea of building rockets that we load with our garbage and shoot them to the sun. Just an idea.

Adjunct

With all the recent blunders, I think it is time for private enterprise to take over more of the responsibility. I think there are many things the govt could spend money on besides sending out ships to space, imagine the money that could be spent on various other medical technology

Member

Big Daddy

Member

Big Daddy

Member

I’ve been a huge fan of the space program since it’s inception. I remember listening to the first Mercury suborbital flight made by Alan Shepard in 1961, on the PA system in high school. All school activities came to a complete halt until it was over. I know, I know .. I’m one of those old guys. Many of you weren’t born in 1961. The Apollo 11 moon landing was, for me and numerous others, one of the most spellbinding moments in modern history. For those of you who weren’t around …. you really missed something.

The recent Mars landings and the comet collision missions are several examples of the positive and spectacular unmanned accomplishments by NASA. Who knows, we may one day have to destroy a comet or asteriod to save our collective butts! I think that would fall into the category of money well spent.

I don’t mind my tax dollars being spent on the Space Program. I really object to how some of the other funds are spent, but that’s a whole new subject. Out of a $2.4 trillion budget, less than 0.8% is spent on the entire space program! That's less than 1 penny for every dollar spent. The average American spends more of their budget on their cable bill, eating out or entertainment than this yet the benefits of space flight are remarkable. It has been conservatively estimated by U.S. space experts that for every dollar the U.S. spends on R and D in the space program, it receives $7 back in the form of corporate and personal income taxes from increased jobs and economic growth.

Private enterprise is getting involved in space flight and as long as people of the caliber of Sir Richard Branson and Burt Rutan are involved, it should be a very successful undertaking. Speaking of getting maximum bang for the buck ... the recent successful civilian flights of SpaceShip One used a combination of ground tire rubber and laughing gas for fuel.

Interesting article follows:

Branson and Rutan Form 'The Spaceship Company'
To Jointly Manufacture and Market Spaceships for the new
Sub-Orbital Personal Spaceflight Industry

OSHKOSH, Wis. --July 27, 2005-- Today, Sir Richard Branson (Founder, Virgin Group of Companies) and Burt Rutan (President, Scaled Composites) announced their signing of an agreement to form a new aerospace production company to build a fleet of commercial sub-orbital spaceships and launch aircraft. The new company will own the designs of the new SpaceShipTwo (SS2) and White Knight Two (WK2) launch systems that are now in development at Scaled Composites. The SS2/WK2 system will use the 'Care-free reentry' and the 'cantilevered-hybrid' rocket motor technology developed for the Ansari X prize-winning SpaceShipOne (SS1), and will license that technology from Paul Allen's Mojave Aerospace company. The Spaceship Company will manufacture the new launch aircraft, spaceships and support equipment and market them to spaceline operators, including the launch customer, Virgin Galactic.

The Spaceship Company will be jointly owned by Virgin and Scaled, and will contract Scaled for the research, development, testing and certification of SS2/WK2. Burt Rutan will head up the technical development team.

Burt Rutan commented: "I am very excited to have agreed the terms on which we can now move forward to develop the world's-first commercial, passenger-carrying Spaceships. This will truly herald an era of personal spaceflight first described by the visionary science fiction writers of the 1940's and 1950's. Richard and I share a vision that commercially-viable and safe space tourism will provide the foundation for the human colonization of space. I am looking forward, (actually looking way up!) to working together with Richard on this next exciting phase."

Sir Richard Branson added: "I couldn't be more delighted to announce the formation of this joint venture at the biggest private aviation event in the world. Like many millions of people growing up in the Sixties who witnessed the wonder of man walking on the moon - I dreamt that one day I too would make that 'one small step...'! Unfortunately though, over the last three decades, many people gave up hope - luckily people like Burt Rutan never did. His vision has allowed people, like me, to dream again. But even I never dreamed as boy, that one day, I would form, with Burt, the company which will build the world's first commercial passenger spacecraft!"

In 2001, Paul Allen contracted Scaled Composites for the research and development of the SS1 system, to fulfill his vision of flying the world's first privately-developed, reusable space vehicle. Last year on June 21st, when Mike Melvill flew SS1 above 100 km altitude, Mr Allen forever dispelled the myth that manned space flight was the sole remit of huge Government programs. Then, on September 27th, Virgin announced the launch of Virgin Galactic, the world's first commercial space tourism operator and a new era in space travel was born. Virgin Galactic was a sponsor for the two successful X-prize flights completed on October 4th. SpaceShipOne, the historic, record breaking spacecraft, will be installed this fall in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's Milestones of Flight Gallery in Washington D C.

The launch customer for this new joint venture between Virgin Group and Scaled Composites will be Virgin Galactic, Sir Richard Branson's commercial space tourism venture. Virgin Galactic has placed orders for five SS2's and two WK2's, with options on further systems, thus securing the exclusive use of the systems for the initial 18 months of commercial passenger operations.

The Spaceship Company plans to make spaceflight affordable for the masses and to demonstrate the commercial viability of manned space exploration. We are dedicated to reaching that goal with the first generation of spaceship systems developed for routine, scheduled flight operations. Those systems will be environmentally friendly and will include new solutions to optimize both safety and the passenger experience. We expect that as the flight hardware matures, and is operated by competing spaceline companies, many thousands of people will experience the wonder of leaving the earth's atmosphere each year.

About Virgin:

Virgin, a leading branded venture capital organization, is one of the world's most recognized and respected brands. Conceived in 1970 by Sir Richard Branson, the Virgin Group has gone on to grow very successful businesses in sectors ranging from mobile telephony, to transportation, travel, financial services, leisure, music, holidays, publishing and retailing. Virgin has created more than 200 companies worldwide, employing approximately 35,000 people, in 29 countries. Revenues around the world in 2003 exceeded GBP 4.5 billion (US$7.9 billion).

About Virgin Galactic:

The Virgin Galactic name was first registered and trade mark protection applied for in the mid 1990s. As the world's-first commercial spaceline, Virgin Galactic will be heavily investing to setup a world-class commercial flight operation and to build the ground infrastructure required to create the best possible sub-orbital spaceflight experience for its passengers.
To register your interest in Virgin Galactic please log on to: www.virgingalactic.com

About Scaled Composites:

Scaled Composites was founded in 1982 and immediately became the world's most prolific developer of new research aircraft types.

Detailed information about Scaled Composites can be found at
www.scaled.com

Do you think Space Travel or Exploration is important?

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