Thoughts about the future of NASA

[JC5123]

I'm throwing this out there, because I have always looked at NASA as an example of a government program that progressed our society in ways that the private market just couldn't do. At least in the beginning. We have so many modern conveniences now that are NASA designed. However our government no longer sees NASA as an agency to be funded, and to further our technology. Let alone go into space. I believe that if NASA had continued on it's path after the Apollo missions that by now we would be sending a permanent colony to the moon, and developing ways to mine for resources on Mars. What is their current mission? Oh yea, to tell the muslims how much they have contributed to the modern world. 

I believe that by patenting the incredible inventions that have come about through NASA the program could still be going strong without any public funding. Which is what I would like to see happen with the agency. Let NASA be absorbed by the Tech Companies who would benefit most from technological advancement. Patent the ideas that are taken to market. They say that there is no excitement for space exploration anymore, but how could there be when we are not exploring, not discovering.

Sorry for the rant, but FQ's post about the asteroid just got me thinking about this.

Opinions?

[tombogan03884]

I'm throwing this out there, because I have always looked at NASA as an example of a government program that progressed our society in ways that the private market just couldn't do. At least in the beginning. We have so many modern conveniences now that are NASA designed. However our government no longer sees NASA as an agency to be funded, and to further our technology. Let alone go into space. I believe that if NASA had continued on it's path after the Apollo missions that by now we would be sending a permanent colony to the moon, and developing ways to mine for resources on Mars. What is their current mission? Oh yea, to tell the muslims how much they have contributed to the modern world. 

I believe that by patenting the incredible inventions that have come about through NASA the program could still be going strong without any public funding. Which is what I would like to see happen with the agency. Let NASA be absorbed by the Tech Companies who would benefit most from technological advancement. Patent the ideas that are taken to market. They say that there is no excitement for space exploration anymore, but how could there be when we are not exploring, not discovering.

Sorry for the rant, but FQ's post about the asteroid just got me thinking about this.

Opinions?

I remember  the Gemini, and Apollo programs, compared to that the Shuttle program had all the excitement of a bus schedule.
It was essentially nothing but a scheduled bus service to the ISS .
The reason NASA did not patent the developments that came out of the program is because they were developed by private companies, like Raytheon.
 Govt does nothing well, look at the Postal system, it is my opinion that it is time to turn space travel over to industry.
This is a case where "greed is good". If there is a profit to be made they will pursue it. and if there are X number of profit generating objects with in the insignificant ranges we now travel the idea that greater range will lead to more potential profit is just the spur needed to develop real space travel as opposed to just coasting around in the immediate vicinity of home.
Mars, the closest planet, is 20 years away with current propulsion technologies, to make it practical that needs to be cut to less than 5 years at least. As it stands there is no point in investing in a trip that will take 2 generations to complete.
Alternative propulsion methods have been bandied about since before WWII, it's time to get serious about them.
Another thing that has killed the interest in space, is the end of the Cold War.
We have no competition, no one is trying anything we haven't already done, We needed to develop missiles to put A bombs in Russia, we needed to develop satellites to spy on Russia, everything else was spin off technology from the military attempt to seize the ultimate high ground.
With out that spur the program has basically died of old age.

[fightingquaker13]

As a libertarian I'm all in favor of private space programs. But here's the thing, there is nothing stopping industry from doing it now. They aren't for the most part (satellites being a big exception). The thing is industry is good for a lot of things, but making huge long term investments on pure research with no guarantee of a return isn't one of them. Sometimes government is necessary. Industry would never have given us the Hubble or the mars rover. Its just too big a risk. Government can take that risk and the results trickle down as JC noted. One would hope that selling the patents would help defray expenses. Launching private satellites sure does.  Sadly, in tough times, NASA post Cold War is seen as an expensive luxury. I disagree as I think that as a species we must expand past Earth. I really believe that space is just next big ocean to cross. But then maybe I just read too much scifi as a kid.
FQ13

[Timothy]

In twenty years, I'll most likely be dead!  I could care less what's on Mars...

Industry will do what there is a market for, it's called capitalism!  Find a niche, build a widget and make a profit, something the government cannot do with even the simplest of endeavors.

Our smart people today are making social networking sites, video games and other worthless crap that does no one any good what so ever unless you thinking gaining copious amounts of blubber on your backside is an "occupation".

I'm torn on NASA, always have been but then, I'm a science guy who sees it more as a welfare department for engineers than something that has made strides in science that private industry couldn't do.  Not so much that they couldn't, but that the Feds wouldn't allow them to due to "National Security"!

Still torn but then, I'll be dead soon enough so living on the moon or Mars ain't on my bucket list!

[JC5123]

In twenty years, I'll most likely be dead!  I could care less what's on Mars...

Industry will do what there is a market for, it's called capitalism!  Find a niche, build a widget and make a profit, something the government cannot do with even the simplest of endeavors.

Our smart people today are making social networking sites, video games and other worthless crap that does no one any good what so ever unless you thinking gaining copious amounts of blubber on your backside is an "occupation".

I'm torn on NASA, always have been but then, I'm a science guy who sees it more as a welfare department for engineers than something that has made strides in science that private industry couldn't do.  Not so much that they couldn't, but that the Feds wouldn't allow them to due to "National Security"!

Still torn but then, I'll be dead soon enough so living on the moon or Mars ain't on my bucket list!

Exactly part of my point. I have no doubt that there are companies out there that would take a piece of NASA if they could.

[Sponsor]

[Solus]

Tell ya what, just ball bearings made in a weightless Lagrange Point factory would corner the market and might pay for the project itself.

Of course, the cost of getting raw materials up to the factory would be prohibitive.   A mining and refining complex on the Moon would make the shipments all down hill.  The other hope would be a "space elevator" , theoretically possible, but I don't know if we have the advanced materials to pull it off.

No one seems sure of the mineral resources available on the moon, however, so who knows how it would work out.   Latest thinking is that there might be a cache of rare earth minerals waiting there....not a bad find any day.

[twyacht]

They have all this extra unused acreage,...like LOTS OF IT.....!!!!!!!

What a perfectly suited location for a 1000 yd Rifle Range!!!!!! Indoor, (empty hangers and such, and outdoor) It borders a swamp!!!

Geez, charge admission, make a big huge berm,....set it up, give me and some friends some shade.....and it will be a cash cow!!!!

[JC5123]

They have all this extra unused acreage,...like LOTS OF IT.....!!!!!!!

What a perfectly suited location for a 1000 yd Rifle Range!!!!!! Indoor, (empty hangers and such, and outdoor) It borders a swamp!!!

Geez, charge admission, make a big huge berm,....set it up, give me and some friends some shade.....and it will be a cash cow!!!!

Then do I get my flying car?!?!?!?! 

[dipisc]

Hi;

     I believe that a space program should be kept going. There is interest in some of the minerals that are on the moon that could be mined and sold here on earth - possibly helping in paying of out national debt. The estimate of Trillions of dollars was given on a science show that was on the Discovery Channel some time ago.

     NASA wanted to set up a colony on the southern pole of the moon as it is possibly the best place to support the colony in power from the sun and water deposits.

     2 rovers such as sent to mars would be a precurser to find out what is there. NASA developed basic living quarters for the initial set up. What this country lacks is the will and determination to try. Should all of the estimates and data be wrong - then it can be abandoned.

     A good space program would create jobs here on earth while if precious metals are on the moon - they would offset if not make a porfit as a result of the mining. There are always people willing to go into the "unknown" look at the early pilgrims who came to America.

[billt]

I'll never forget this. NASA put it together. Private industry made it all happen. It took both. One or the other will never make it happen on their own.  Bill T.