Space Exploration

[OH58D]

I think in the beginning NASA was necessary because no private entity could do it and it needed the backing of the government to happen. But with the loss of government backing and the technology and capability becoming more commonplace, it is probably best for the private sector to take over.

The Capitalist profit motive has always created innovation and improvements for society. Just in a simple example, in the 19th century, a wooden wind-up house clock was a luxury item in Europe the average peasant couldn't afford. Companies in the United States like Ansonia, Seth Thomas, Chelsea did mass production of clocks and made them affordable for the average citizen.

The same was with the automobile. The United States didn't create the first car, but we mass produced them to make them affordable for everyone. I think private industry will be the primary mover for space exploration and the new ancillary technologies we will all benefit from.
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[Grand58742]

Crew Dragon craft officially named "Endeavor." Multiple use name since both astronauts flew on the Shuttle Endeavor and a new "endeavor" of US Spaceflight capabilities.

[Grand58742]

I think in the beginning NASA was necessary because no private entity could do it and it needed the backing of the government to happen. But with the loss of government backing and the technology and capability becoming more commonplace, it is probably best for the private sector to take over.

It's to my understanding the eventual goal of the COTS program is to turn over all manned LEO missions including the ISS rotations to private companies and NASA would "contract" seats on them like they did with the Soyuz. Basically, Boeing and SpaceX (maybe Sierra Nevada eventually) would take over the "expensive Uber" role while NASA concentrated on the Artemis Program, SLS and eventual Mars missions.

I'll keep the thoughts on the SLS and the disaster it's turning out to be to myself.

[Grand58742]

Endeavor on approach to dock with the ISS this morning around 10:30 AM Eastern

[Voodoochild]

Soft capture complete.

[Grand58742]

Soft capture complete.

Certainly takes a lot longer than the movies portray.

Hard dock and capture complete.

[Grand58742]

I thought the ringing of the bell and announcement of arrival in Naval tradition was a nice touch for former USMC Colonel Hurley.

The only thing left is the crew doffing their pressure suits and opening of the hatch.

[chuckman]

I thought the ringing of the bell and announcement of arrival in Naval tradition was a nice touch for former USMC Colonel Hurley.

The only thing left is the crew doffing their pressure suits and opening of the hatch.

The AF astronaut was like, "WTH, man? Don't I get no respect??"

[Diamondback]

Apropos of nothing:

[SteyrAUG]

It's to my understanding the eventual goal of the COTS program is to turn over all manned LEO missions including the ISS rotations to private companies and NASA would "contract" seats on them like they did with the Soyuz. Basically, Boeing and SpaceX (maybe Sierra Nevada eventually) would take over the "expensive Uber" role while NASA concentrated on the Artemis Program, SLS and eventual Mars missions.

I'll keep the thoughts on the SLS and the disaster it's turning out to be to myself.

I just hope I get to see a manned mission to Mars in my lifetime. I was born in the Space Age and grew up with dramatic expectations such as moon colonies by 1999 and things like that. As a kid I followed the Viking and Mariner missions to Mars closely and with great fascination. And of course the Voyager probes and data completely blew us away. And of course Galileo would make all of that look like childs play.

We've done amazing things, but we've also failed to live up to many expectations. I know things had the change, it became obvious the Space Shuttle was not going to be the interplanetary vehicle some might have imagined it to be. We know going to Mars rather than the moon is a lot like going to Japan rather than Canada only with a Cessna.

Really wish we didn't have to fight several wars in Iraq and one in Afghanistan because some backward ass arab death cult doesn't think Israel should be allowed to exist or have friends. I could almost accept that drain on resources if we truly annihilated our enemies in the way that Germany and Japan were made to understand that they had lost there war and their asses had been kicked so hard they were afraid of making us come back. We didn't quite get that result, but we still flushed billions of dollars making sure we didn't accidentally scratch a mosque only to have ISIS roll up on it when we pulled our troops.

Frustrating all the things that hampered our space program over the last 5 decades. I watched the Challenger disaster live on TV and just couldn't believe it. And when I learned of the cause I couldn't believe that we contributed so heavily to the failure.

In 2003 I watched the Columbia disaster first on tv, then in the sky from my front yard. It ties with 9-11 for the most sickening thing I've watched.