Comments on: Stars or Wars http://wanderingspace.net/2007/01/stars-or-wars/ Imaging the bodies of our Solar Sysytem Thu, 17 May 2012 13:18:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Moon http://wanderingspace.net/2007/01/stars-or-wars/#comment-3951 Moon Sun, 18 Jan 2009 00:23:31 +0000 http://wanderingspace.net/?p=198#comment-3951 There is no way we will have a manned mission to the moon or mars in the time frame you suggest. I say double both estimates, at least. 2027 for the moon, 2054 for Mars (not likely in our lifetime). Sad, but the priorities of governments have changed. The only thing that will get us moving again is competition. When another country is poised to make the trek, we will again enter the space race. There is no way we will have a manned mission to the moon or mars in the time frame you suggest.

I say double both estimates, at least. 2027 for the moon, 2054 for Mars (not likely in our lifetime).

Sad, but the priorities of governments have changed. The only thing that will get us moving again is competition. When another country is poised to make the trek, we will again enter the space race.

]]> By: thomas http://wanderingspace.net/2007/01/stars-or-wars/#comment-91 thomas Sun, 21 Jan 2007 06:50:37 +0000 http://wanderingspace.net/?p=198#comment-91 Perhaps I put too much stock in NASA here, but who else can figure out how to raise such revenue for something like a Mars mission? Where would the return on investment be there? Could a business be launched based solely upon the promise that reaching such a inspirational goal will result in many unpredictable and patentable inventions along the way? I think capitalism is far too conservative for such a venture. Thusly, the stars lie only within the reach of nations and governments and can only be paid for by tax revenues. Perhaps I put too much stock in NASA here, but who else can figure out how to raise such revenue for something like a Mars mission? Where would the return on investment be there? Could a business be launched based solely upon the promise that reaching such a inspirational goal will result in many unpredictable and patentable inventions along the way? I think capitalism is far too conservative for such a venture.

Thusly, the stars lie only within the reach of nations and governments and can only be paid for by tax revenues.

]]> By: ratchetcat http://wanderingspace.net/2007/01/stars-or-wars/#comment-90 ratchetcat Sun, 21 Jan 2007 05:43:27 +0000 http://wanderingspace.net/?p=198#comment-90 Good post. I personally don't place much stock in NASA any longer when it comes to pushing the boundaries of manned exploration. The Mars exploration/Moon exploration goal seems ( more or less ) a hopeful, but ultimately vacant bullet point in an otherwise lackluster agenda for the government. A serious effort would mean a serious timeline. Ten years is comfortably far enough away that no real effort need ever be made. It's sad, too. Apollo advanced the state of the art in countless ways. A serious space effort -- given proper resources and time -- would probably pay for itself many times over. Good post. I personally don’t place much stock in NASA any longer when it comes to pushing the boundaries of manned exploration. The Mars exploration/Moon exploration goal seems ( more or less ) a hopeful, but ultimately vacant bullet point in an otherwise lackluster agenda for the government. A serious effort would mean a serious timeline. Ten years is comfortably far enough away that no real effort need ever be made.

It’s sad, too. Apollo advanced the state of the art in countless ways. A serious space effort — given proper resources and time — would probably pay for itself many times over.

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