“DO you have any Ideas at how many technologies have been founded by space programs….. how often we use these technologies every bloody day of our lifes”

Oh, you mean like Tang and velcro?

Maybe, just maybe the space program had a impact on technology back in the 60’s, but I would say that Apple Inc. has far more of a technological impact on our lives today than NASA does.

But maybe you disagree, and that’s OK. Just tell us what technologies I’m missing that NASA has provided that are so important to our lives today in 2013.

“Either way Canada, Europe, China, Japan, India, and a bunch of other space agenices are in operation and or soon to be in operation so we will just sigh as america makes one of its biggest mistakes ever and goes so far backwards…”

Were you sleeping this whole weekend? Did you miss the Orbital Sciences Cygnus capture by the ISS, and the launch of the new SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1?

I’d say that America’s companies can do as much or more than the entire space efforts of entire COUNTRIES. As long as Commercial Crew keeps being funded, America is going to extend it’s lead on everyone else. Too bad you can’t see or understand that.

“Yes. NASA’s budget could and should be cut by at least $5 billion without effecting its primary mission.”

Which is what?

“Washington is surrounded by 4 of the 7 richest counties in America. That wealth is a corrupt skim off of the hard earned wealth of those in the hinterlands.”

Yeah, like that corrupt Republican Govenor of Virginia, right?

It’s funny when sometimes you are right, but for the wrong reasons…

“When I talk to people around here about NASA…”

In general, where is “here”? At NASA? At a school? A company? Just curious so your statement has context.

“All of these things have rockets in common.”

The Mars rovers all had far more press coverage of their landing and excursions on Mars than their launch. Hubble also had far more coverage of it’s repairs and discoveries than it’s launch.

So while rockets were involved in getting them all to space, I think it’s an unproven assertion to say that the public is focused on the rocket part and not what the results were after the rockets fell in the ocean.

I think in general that the Shuttle launches were popular to watch because of the known element of danger involved with each launch. It’s like all the people watching the 747’s landing and taking off at the Princess Juliana International in Saint Martin…

“But yes, the founders would never have had anything to do with a NASA, or a DOE, or an NIH, etc. etc. Probably even a DOD. ”

I disagree with that statement, especially the DoD part since the Founders did show an interest in investing in the latest military technology of the time. But I don’t have enough historical background to make any further arguments about the topic (nor the interest to pursue it).

“In my book, the idea of government should be that it does everything that the (horizontal) collective effort wants it to.”

I don’t know if I’m quoting something that has been stated previously publicly, but I’ve always thought that the best role of the government is to do what individuals and companies can’t or won’t do on their own.

Now that may be what the (horizontal) collective would like done but they can’t do it by themselves, or it could be that the government sees a need that the (horizontal) collective doesn’t.

As it pertains to NASA, NASA is just part of the science and technology efforts the government funds, and I think in general the (horizontal) collective understands that by doing that we are a far stronger country because of it. But how much NASA should get of that whole science and technology pie is negotiable, and it really depends on what the alternatives are.

This is exactly what I expected of a country that went totally broke with nothing to show for it except for some giant imaginary edifice of folly.

SLS and Orion.

When I talk to people around here about NASA they think “rockets” and maybe the space station or a Mars rover. These are normal people and not space cadets like us.

“I think I’d have to disagree with your assertion.”

Go ahead if it makes you feel better but I stand by it.

“If anything I think the vast amount of the public thinks of NASA as operating the Hubble, running the ISS, and sending a lot of robotic missions to Mars. As for the Shuttle, I think it is quickly fading from memory”

All of these things have rockets in common.

I don’t think the general public is yet educated to the point that they understand the next big thing NASA is working on doesn’t have to be building another rocket to launch their stuff. I suspect many people still believe that NASA has to build the next big rocket(s) because no one else can do it. It may be our failing that we have not educated them better than this.

Apple and its customers are hardly doing things collectively. Apple is trying to make a buck, and more power to them. They don’t ask me how they should make their bucks. Same with SpaceX. If they happen to make what I want, they make bucks. If they don’t, they die, and their potential dies with them. Kind of funny way to think about a collective partnership.

But yes, the founders would never have had anything to do with a NASA, or a DOE, or an NIH, etc. etc. Probably even a DOD. Interestingly, we never would have gone to the Moon if we didn’t have a national collective effort to do so. We never would have had rockets to go into space if we didn’t have a national collective effort to have them. In my book, the idea of government should be that it does everything that the (horizontal) collective effort wants it to.

Do you honestly think shutting down these programs will help the country by going backwards lol… just as well call yourselfs a third world country now cause all thats gonna happen is a few more people sitting at the top looking down at the ants we call a middle and lower class will get richer none of that money will ever make it down to the common folk…

Either way Canada, Europe, China, Japan, India, and a bunch of other space agenices are in operation and or soon to be in operation so we will just sigh as america makes one of its biggest mistakes ever and goes so far backwards there may be no saving it lol but yah keep that military funded, and your people dumb so you can keep paying goverment fat cats / Movie stars / singers / sports stars the hundreds of millions a year to ( watch you work / play make believe / sing( lately mostly autotune and dance) / and play games

once again Fair well America and hello our neighbouring Third world country
P.S maybe another war will end that debt lol one to end all wars