Text 7758, 66 rader
Skriven 2005-10-19 18:59:32 av Tony Williams (1:379/45)
   Kommentar till text 7755 av Geo (1:379/45)
Ärende: Re: Dial down the Sun?
==============================
From: Tony Williams <tonyw@blarg.net>

Geo wrote:
> "Tony Williams" <tonyw@blarg.net> wrote in message
> news:4356db99@w3.nls.net...
>
>
>>Maybe. I was thinking more of the knowledge of how to get people into
>>space more than "pure" science.
>
>
> Ok so putting people into space is a good way to learn about putting people
> into space. But let me ask this, it cost us 6% of our GNP to put a man on
> the moon, besides the historic value, what did that do for us, what did it
> accomplish? We got there, we walked around and picked up a few stones, and
> we came home saying interesting place but I wouldn't want to live there..

It's a work in progress. We sent people into orbit, then to the moon; next is
to use the moon as a steppping stone to Mars. Like I said before: baby steps.

>
>>A moon/space base would be a good launch facility for experimental
>>propulsion craft. Easier to launch from and fewer bad consequences if
>>that whizzy new fusion drive blows up instead of going up.
>
>
> I cringe when I read that. That's like someone saying "Hey, lets build a
> huge space ship factory 2 miles under the ocean".. WHY???

No, it's nothing like that. It's just a logical extension of the reason launch
facilities are close to the equator. We're at the bottom of a well here on
Earth, which makes it difficult to build an engine powerful enough to get into
orbit - and the type of engine which is capable of reaching Earth orbit isn't
much good when you make it into space, so you end up needing two different
types of engine on each craft. Plus, the craft has to be able to withstand the
stress of getting into orbit.

Launching directly from space or the moon eliminates or drastically reduces
these constraints.

> It's cheaper to
> build the parts here, launch them into orbit and assemble it there. If you
> are worried about starting up the engines too close to home, we'll use a
> couple rocket engines to move it out to a safe distance before lighting the
> fuse..

Yep. A quarter of a million miles sounds about right.

> Personally, I think trying to send a probe to alpha centauri would be an
> excellent way to develop a new means of propulsion. I also think the NextGen
> space telescope will help us with unification theory. The manned mission to
> the moon and then mars is going to do nothing but suck the life (funding)
> from all the other programs. Ok it could end up with the first man on mars
> but we've done that been there and I'd like to set the goal just a bit
> higher, like something that stands a chance of really making a difference in
> our lives (which unification or near light speed travel could do)

I'd sooner have a moon base or a space station which is more than a tin can. If
the longer term goal of getting to Mars results in one or both of these being
built then I'm all for it.

--
Tony

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