Does anyone else think all NASA employees should be sent home?

[adamred]

If I made that many mistakes at work, I'd be one completely unemployed and unemployable dude right now....

Now I know what they do is complicated, dangerous, yada, yada, yada, but jeebus they just cannot seem to break the spell....

An organization dominated by politics with unbelievable red tape that they keep claiming is going to change but it never does!

I saw a show the other day on battleship building on one of the HDTV stations and even in just an hour you could see the precision and dedication that every single employee had with even the tiniest details.....

Just what are my tax dollars paying for here.....

[dhoward]

A high-performance machine, using 70's technology.
Sound familiar?

[Rot 911]

I agree, they make really stupid mistakes. What do they stick those window covers on with, masking tape?

[cowtown]

IMHO the entire idea of re-usable shuttles has been a boondogle. Not that it's the lower-level workers' fault. It was just an idea way before its time, and has not worked. We should have stuck with Atlas rockets for a few decades.

[mikester]

The service life of these shuttles has been over extended - we got our money's worth and then some out of them. The only option is to continue using them until they fail, shut down the program or get new ones.

You're a tax payer I assume - you pick. Didn't GW want to go to mars or something?

[BGCarrera32]

A reusable shuttle was never a bad idea. The original idea was a reusable shuttle that took off like a regular airplane and went into orbit. Our current fleet of reusable shuttles that basically have a hydrogen bomb under it with booster rockets was screwy from conception and the result of the usual cost overruns and...being an idea ahead of its time.

[Leader]

At the risk of being flamed to the ground...I'm beginning to wonder why we continue to spend billions on "space exploration." Somehow the whole NASA program made more sense in the '60s and '70s when the world was a more predictable place. Now, with the threats to our country so ever-present, maybe that space money could be better allocated.
Sure, the space program has given us countless discoveries that have made all our lives easier and better, but it didn't stop those idiots from flying planes into the WTC and Pentagon. Just a thought...

[BlueSkyJaunte]

You'd rather the money went to pay welfare checks for people who'll never contribute to society anyway?

[Leader]

How did you get that out of my post? Wow.

[Zeke]

Originally posted by Leader
How did you get that out of my post? Wow.

Exactly. That's why I come over here once a month or less.

Sure, the space program has given us countless discoveries that have made all our lives easier and better,....

But, what I'm really posting for is an example of these betterments. In my mind, general aviation developement w/o space flight would have done the same. Like the B2. Otherwise, I agree with you.

[M.D. Holloway]

leader - I'm thinking that the space thing is rsather stupid. Ya, its sexy and all that to go to outspace but I would much rather see money spent to explore our Earth and seas. There are life forms yet to be discovered here on Earth. Why the push for space?

This just seems to be the way of the Human condition, always look outside yourself and your surrondings for enlightenment. The wonders are within, enlightenment is found within. When are we ever gonna get that?

[IROC]

I worked with NASA (as a contractor) on shuttle programs for about 15 years and so it will come as no surprise when I say that I think the shuttle program and space exploration in general is a noble expediture of taxpayer's money.

Those of you who write off NASA (and it's contractors who do a lion's share of the work) as idiots really have no idea.

I have a vested interest in this launch as the carrier I designed is flying in the payload bay (and contains among other things the kit to repair thermal tiles).

Mike

[tobster1911]

Originally posted by Leader
At the risk of being flamed to the ground...I'm beginning to wonder why we continue to spend billions on "space exploration."

I was wondering this same thing just yesterday. I am sure there are reasons for continuing to hurl metal objects outwards using large explosions. Heck, I used to try to do this all the time growing up.

If there is real return-on-investment from the space program, the gov/NASA does a crappy job of letting the public know about it. Seems that they used to.....

[stevepaa]

I sat with awe watching the launches in the 60's. But I don't see the value to the shuttle program, now. I'd rather spend less money through JPL and get some better ROI for science.

[Moneyguy1]

Fellas..THe money spent on the space program is not aboard the shuttle and spread out on space. It goes to pay subcontractors, as well as direct employees. It buys hardware, programming, and pays for maintenance people, clerical staff and more. It also plays an important part in expanding our technological expertise in medicine, chem,istry, materials, and more. There are many common items we take for granted that wouldn't exist without the efforts of NASA. We cannot ignore that mankind is a curious race, always trying to reach goals that are, for the moment, just outside its grasp. I would, in a perfect world, rather see expansion of the space program rather than of the military.

All progress is obtained in fits and starts, and at great expense.

[techweenie]

The more I read from some posters on OT, the better the vast silence of space looks...

Who was it that once said: 'It takes an optimist to sit in a capsule on top of a rocket filled with tons of highly explosive fuel and reflect that every one of the two million component parts came from the lowest bidder."

[stuartj]

I would bet the space program, like military spending, is a major driver in the US economy, and that to remove it would do more damage to the economy than any benefit derived from not spending the money. On multiplier effect alone, every $1 the govt spends is creates about $7 in the broader economy.

[M.D. Holloway]

I takes a very very brave and smart person. I just would like to know more about the inside and our exsisting space rather than "something out there".

[Neilk]

In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue... or something like that. It took what 300-400 years to make crossing the Atlantic a relatively risk free endeavour?

We've only been in space 57? years? Let's not give up now, there's so much more to learn and discover.

[VaSteve]

I'm not going to defend everything NASA does but Return to Flight is a big deal at the agency.

I myself wondered why once we went to the moon, we every needed to go into space again.

While the execution may not be as great as we'd have liked today, the program and missions of NASA gives people inspiration. The people who wanted to be astronauts and stuff (if t hey stuck with it) work for NASA now. Have you ever watched the NASA channel - those guys get wood crashing a satellite into a comet.

There is a lot of national pride tied up in our space program, people from all over the world are watching us (for a good reason this time!!)

Hey Mike (IROC), I'll be in Huntsville in September. I'm looking you up!