Anytime I see anything about NASA it makes me think if I could undo one single act in my life, it would be my last Presidential vote. That kind of shame is gut wrenching.
All you trekheads out there (including the original) will of course remember the episode that broached the subject of whether humans were essential to space exploration, THE ULTIMATE COMPUTER. Predictably, the plot involves demonstrating that computers are not fit to pilot star ships without humans.
My opinion is that, given the basic assumptions of the star trek series (a universe populated by numerous sentient life forms strewn about the galaxies), it probably would be impossible to avoid sending humans into space. We've been sending diplomats across borders for millenia; it's hard to imagine that an advanced robotic computer might be developed that could replace humans in tact and judgement any time soon (maybe something like the replicants from Blade Runner?). In terms of the need for humans to pilot exploration ships in the real universe, where for all intents and purposes we're the only sentient life around, Captain Kirk (or "Captain Dunsail", as Commodore Wesley calls Kirk) has, I believe, already been made obsolete.
Frank Herbert's "Destination: Void" series puts a very interesting spin on this question. Well worth a read, especially "The Jesus Incident."
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA launched a new solar-powered spacecraft on a mission to Jupiter on Friday.
The robotic explorer, named Juno, was atop an unmanned Atlas rocket.
The launch had to be delayed for a short time while a problem with a helium system was investigated and a boat was removed from the launch zone. The launch happened at 12:25 p.m.
It will take Juno five years to reach Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system. The spacecraft will be powered by three huge solar panels. It will be the farthest any solar-powered craft has ever traveled. Previous Jupiter probes have relied on nuclear energy.
Jupiter is believed to be the oldest planet in the solar system.Astronomers hope to figure out the recipe for making planets by uncovering the ingredients of this gas giant. Juno will spend at least one year circling Jupiter's poles.
All you trekheads out there (including the original) will of course remember the episode that broached the subject of whether humans were essential to space exploration, THE ULTIMATE COMPUTER. Predictably, the plot involves demonstrating that computers are not fit to pilot star ships without humans.
My opinion is that, given the basic assumptions of the star trek series (a universe populated by numerous sentient life forms strewn about the galaxies), it probably would be impossible to avoid sending humans into space. We've been sending diplomats across borders for millenia; it's hard to imagine that an advanced robotic computer might be developed that could replace humans in tact and judgement any time soon (maybe something like the replicants from Blade Runner?). In terms of the need for humans to pilot exploration ships in the real universe, where for all intents and purposes we're the only sentient life around, Captain Kirk (or "Captain Dunsail", as Commodore Wesley calls Kirk) has, I believe, already been made obsolete.
fyt
Captain Dunsel
Not a typo. Dunsel is how transcript writers heard it, but I believe dunsail is the correct spelling (cf stunsail, pronounced "stuns'l")
Crikey, that is an extraordinary trajectory. I'd always imagined a somewhat more glider-like gentle descent.
And as for the "airglow", well... it's well known that in favourable conditions on an open sea a lucky sailor will see the "green flash" across the western horizon moments after the sun has set. Not seen one yet
You can actually see them over land as well. We occasionally get them from the deck here with the sun setting over the peninsula. It has to be VERY dry though, and almost no surrounding clouds.
Location: Still in the tunnel, looking for the light. Gender:
Posted:
Jul 24, 2011 - 3:28pm
Zep wrote:
Atlantis returns to Earth, as seen from the International Space Station. Details here.
"The green band of light in the background is called "airglow." Airglow is a luminous bubble that surounds our entire planet, decorating the top of the atmosphere with aurora-like color. Although airglow resembles the aurora borealis, its underlying physics is different. Airglow is caused by an assortment of chemical reactions in the upper atmosphere driven mainly by solar ultraviolet radiation; auroras, on the other hand, are prompted by gusts of solar wind."
Crikey, that is an extraordinary trajectory. I'd always imagined a somewhat more glider-like gentle descent.
And as for the "airglow", well... it's well known that in favourable conditions on an open sea a lucky sailor will see the "green flash" across the western horizon moments after the sun has set. Not seen one yet
Atlantis returns to Earth, as seen from the International Space Station. Details here.
"The green band of light in the background is called "airglow." Airglow is a luminous bubble that surounds our entire planet, decorating the top of the atmosphere with aurora-like color. Although airglow resembles the aurora borealis, its underlying physics is different. Airglow is caused by an assortment of chemical reactions in the upper atmosphere driven mainly by solar ultraviolet radiation; auroras, on the other hand, are prompted by gusts of solar wind."
I could write a sci-fi novel about that evil dark cloud in the upper right corner.
Atlantis returns to Earth, as seen from the International Space Station. Details here.
"The green band of light in the background is called "airglow." Airglow is a luminous bubble that surounds our entire planet, decorating the top of the atmosphere with aurora-like color. Although airglow resembles the aurora borealis, its underlying physics is different. Airglow is caused by an assortment of chemical reactions in the upper atmosphere driven mainly by solar ultraviolet radiation; auroras, on the other hand, are prompted by gusts of solar wind."
Atlantis returns to Earth, as seen from the International Space Station. Details here.
"The green band of light in the background is called "airglow." Airglow is a luminous bubble that surounds our entire planet, decorating the top of the atmosphere with aurora-like color. Although airglow resembles the aurora borealis, its underlying physics is different. Airglow is caused by an assortment of chemical reactions in the upper atmosphere driven mainly by solar ultraviolet radiation; auroras, on the other hand, are prompted by gusts of solar wind."
I shared Coaxial's link with a few people here at work and one of them sent me this photo. Thought I'd share. Gene Roddenbery came to our highschool in 1976 when I was a freshman. He screened a blooper reel from Star Trek and fielded questions about the upcoming (rumored) Star Trek movie (it was still three years away).
Still haven't figured out how they arranged for him to visit our dinky school. My graduating class only had 120 kids in it - I don't think we had more than about 500 total.
It was a highlight though and he was a nice guy. He stuck around and spoke to people in the hallway after the presentation.
All you trekheads out there (including the original) will of course remember the episode that broached the subject of whether humans were essential to space exploration, THE ULTIMATE COMPUTER. Predictably, the plot involves demonstrating that computers are not fit to pilot star ships without humans.
My opinion is that, given the basic assumptions of the star trek series (a universe populated by numerous sentient life forms strewn about the galaxies), it probably would be impossible to avoid sending humans into space. We've been sending diplomats across borders for millenia; it's hard to imagine that an advanced robotic computer might be developed that could replace humans in tact and judgement any time soon (maybe something like the replicants from Blade Runner?). In terms of the need for humans to pilot exploration ships in the real universe, where for all intents and purposes we're the only sentient life around, Captain Kirk (or "Captain Dunsail", as Commodore Wesley calls Kirk) has, I believe, already been made obsolete.
Yeah. But. No kid was ever inspired to become an astronaut (or an aerospace engineer or a poet) by a datastream from a robot. The reasons to do personed flight may indeed be more emotional than rational: that fact does not necessarily tender those reasons invalid.
OK, but that's why we have guys like Richard Branson. He can afford to spend extravagantly on manned spaceflight projects for romantic reasons! We really can't.
Wow.Just wow.We should stagnate as a nation and a race in order to squander our resources on being world cops and bombing other countries that haven't done a frigging thing to us,rather than try to advance ourselves?
Where do you see me advocating the above? Wasting money comes in many forms, including fighting pointless wars.
The point is, sending human flesh into space is inefficient; we can employ contractors and generate economic growth by being smart about utilizing our space flight capability and produce much more meaningful "science" along the lines of projects like Pioneer, Voyager, Mariner, etc. You get much more bang for your buck regarding advancing the frontiers of science and knowledge when you stop insisting on sending humans into space to evacuate their bowels and vomit in zero gravity. Stagnating is what we basically have been doing with our inefficient approach to space exploration.
There was supposed to be a test fire of a new plasma engine on the Space Station next year and I never heard anything more about it. This new engine is suppose to knock 6 months off the trip to Mars down to a 39-day mission to Mars. If this is feasible, the new technology will make going to Mars and further a return trip not a one way ride.
Location: On the edge of tomorrow looking back at Gender:
Posted:
Jul 22, 2011 - 1:00pm
There was supposed to be a test fire of a new plasma engine on the Space Station next year and I never heard anything more about it. This new engine is suppose to knock 6 months off the trip to Mars down to a 39-day mission to Mars. If this is feasible, the new technology will make going to Mars and further a return trip not a one way ride.
"...besides, it's cold as hell" (That simile always bothered me - hell is supposed to be hot.) I see your point about setting up an outpost or settlement; that'll probably happen someday. I just figure picking the first guy could be a little troublesome. You're probably right about a lot of the westward expansion people not expecting to come back - the same is probably true for many of the early trans-Atlantic sailors.
Not to mention dust storms that blanket the planet and radiation due to lack of atmosphere. (got your continued reference though)
