Obama is planning on increasing NASA's funding by 2%, while getting rid of manned space flights. If this budget is approved by Congress, then it's pretty much the end of sending astronauts to the moon.
Although I'm quite disappointed that we won't be seeing a moon base anytime in the future, I do understand Obama's plan. There are disadvantages of sending astronauts to space to perform tasks
1) It costs a few hundred times MORE cash to send astronauts to space than it does to send only satellites. George W. Bush planned on sending astronauts to the moon and Mars, but soon gave up the plan because it was too expensive.
2) Almost all the important discoveries about space and astronomy have been made by unmanned satellites, and most of the machinery needed to perform future research about space won't require astronauts. Actually, because the Hubble Telescope was built by astronauts, the telescope could not be sent millions of miles away from Earth to capture better photos (and it cost much more to have the telescope installed by astronauts).
There are just so many benefits if NASA plans to not send humans to the Moon and Mars. Think about it, sending hundreds of satellites to Mars instead of a manned mission is actually much cheaper and efficient. I guess visiting the moon won’t be happening in my lifetime.
(Or having the chance to meeting a hot alien...)
7 comments:
I bet millions of little astronaut hopefuls are disappointed. However, personally, I don't think I am. I think we need the money that is being saved and now that I know that most important discovers are made my machine anyway, that just makes it sound even better. I don't see anything wrong with it. (Besides the fact that Justin won't meet the alien of his dreams.)
*discoveries, discovers
and *by, not my
T9 in texting has gotten the best of me
I actually support Obama's decision. It's reasonable and sensible.
"Although I'm quite disappointed that we won't be seeing a moon base anytime in the future, I do understand Obama's plan."
Space bases are absolutely a waste of time. We don't need to establish bases on the moon, Mars, or any other place in our solar system. We have earth. Earth is all we need. We should be grateful for it too, but we shouldn't obsess over it either.
I guess this is a good idea, seeing as sending satellites is more cheaper (and safer) than sending astronauts. We wouldn't want a repeat of what happened of those terrible accidents. Also, maybe this will cause NASA to put it's resources to better uses, such as the further exploration of other planets. I do question whether humans will still get a chance to go to the moon, however. I don't know for sure, if NASA is the sponsoring company for that. It could be that some other rich tourism industry just rents from NASA (or will rent from NASA) to go to the moon. Maybe, those organizations will have their own equipment. If the demand is great enough, or if we discover a moon like Pandora just after James Cameron releases "Avatar 2," maybe we will see ordinary citizens going to the outer reaches of space. Only time will tell.
-Henry Zhang
I agree that sending humans into space is not worth the money. Although very cool, the 1st trip to the moon was sorta pointless (besides showing up the Soviet Union). I do hope NASA keeps making meanful discoveries and maybe in the future manned space trips will make more sense economically.
I think this is a good budget cut. we really dont have the money right now to be sending people to space whne we already have satellites that can do just as good if not better of a job. i think right now it is important to be focusing on the economy here on land in the united states and trying to dig outselves out of the recession. in the future, of course, more exploring would be a good idea, just not at this time.
im sure there will be a time in teh future for us to explore the universe..does anyone else wonder if there is a planet just like earth with possibly people on it somewhere in the very far distance....? i know i have lol.
sry justin i guess you'll just have to wait to meet a na'vi person......
Georgia - I wouldn't say that a trip to the moon is entirely pointless. There are still cultures around the world that worship the moon, and we have our flag planted on it.
Nobody here sees the significance of such an achievement?
Granted, it's not essential, but who doesn't like to be worshipped?
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