Would there be as many people interested in science if NASA had never
so much as launched a rocket?
A very thought provoking question!
Cheers,
Jeff
----- Original Message -----
From: "Meteorites USA" <e...@meteoritesusa.com>
To: <meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Saturday, March 19, 2011 9:26 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] The Human Presence in the Solar System
Let the data and knowledge speak for itself.
Voyager I & II
Apollo Missions
Space Shuttle Missions
Hubble (without which many of these missions would not have been possible
or even considered)
Spitzer
StarDust
Dawn
EPOXI
WISE
Spirit
Opportunity
Curiosity (coming soon to a planet near you)
Messenger
Hyabusa (not ours, but worth doing)
Kepler (perhaps the most important)
And many many more successful missions.
What else do they want? Come on... The government dropped $700+ Billion on
the banks and auto manufacturers... Why can't they spare $100 Billion for
the advancement and preservation of the human species?
What the advancement of the space program (which has a direct influence on
the advancement and survival of the human species) has achieved both
intrinsically, and scientifically is immeasurable in dollars. Knowledge is
priceless. It's also the most precious and valuable thing in the universe,
we should cherish it, where it came from, and how we gained it. More
advanced technology, more businesses, more scientists, and more money has
been pumped into the economy than can be accurately measured since the
beginning of the space program. A student today, who watches the Moon
landing on video for the first time may be motivated to study astronomy,
or become an astronaut themselves. They may join the military, become a
pilot, and perhaps fly a real space craft.
Humans are curious. We want to know. It's in our nature, it's what makes
us human.
Would there be as many people interested in science if NASA had never so
much as launched a rocket? Would there be as many astronomers and
scientific discoveries if Hubble never existed? The Hubble Deep Field is a
perfect example. 1,500 galaxies discovered. Then as if that weren't good
enough, another photo was taken, this time deeper into the blackness of
space. The Hubble Ultra Deep Field. One photograph 10,000 galaxies in a
section of space equal to only 1/12700000th of the total area of sky. If
the whole sky was photographed and the same data holds true throughout,
that's 127 Billion galaxies in the visible/observable universe. And that's
not to say there's not more, considering that's at the limits of current
technological possibility. If we could see further, would we see more
galaxies? Yeah, I'd say that's a safe bet.
The economical effects may not be measurable. What is the effects of the
money that's injected back into the economy by those entrepreneurs that
were inspired to start a new business or create a new technology based on
what they learned through the space program? If we never had the space
program would we have the technological advancement we have today? Would
there be as many scientists advancing human knowledge at an ever growing
exponential rate?
Regards,
Eric
On 3/19/2011 12:47 AM, Greg Hupe wrote:
A successful round-about mission around Mercury by NASA would 'hopefully'
PROVE a few of our bucks is worth the 'Investment'!!!
Best Regards,
Greg
====================
Greg Hupe
The Hupe Collection
gmh...@centurylink.net
www.LunarRock.com
IMCA 3163
====================
-----Original Message----- From: Richard Kowalski
Sent: Saturday, March 19, 2011 3:26 AM
To: Meteorite List ; Sterling K. Webb
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] The Human Presence in the Solar System
Sterling
A Golden Age INDEED!
A number of years ago I was discussing a dear friend and mentor's career
over another fine dinner and many bottles of fine wines.
I lamented how exciting it must have been to be involved in Planetary
Science through the 70s & 80s and that I had missed it. He immediately
responded that we were now in a much more exciting time and the future
was more exciting still.
I've come to appreciate his perspective and agree that we are in an
incredible period of the exploration of our Solar System. Unfortunately
one that could be in severe danger. As was reported recently, major
missions are at risk of cuts and cancellation. I hope most of you on this
list, regardless of your political stripe, believe that this exploration
is important and should continue. The only way to make this happen is to
make your opinions heard, and I don't mean on this list.
Contact your Representative, Senator and the President. They are the ones
putting this Golden Age at risk...
--
Richard Kowalski
Full Moon Photography
IMCA #1081
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