Space travel engineering in modern life
Discussion
My missus thinks space travel is a waste of time and bemoans the cost of it.
On the other hand I think it is bloody epic and we need to think big and long term as a species.
I'd like to show some examples of things developed to fix a space problem that we now use day to day. Eg F1 came up with KERS and now it is in daily runarounds.
Any ideas?
On the other hand I think it is bloody epic and we need to think big and long term as a species.
I'd like to show some examples of things developed to fix a space problem that we now use day to day. Eg F1 came up with KERS and now it is in daily runarounds.
Any ideas?
Taita said:
Been through sat nav. Received 'we'd have developed it eventually when there was a different need for it'.
I despair!
Perhaps she could explain to those of us who know anything about science how in the name of Eris sat-nav could work without space travel? The birds sort of have to be in space, don't they?I despair!
Oh, and as to the cost;-
NASA’s annual budget for fiscal year 2009 is $17.2 billion. The proposed budget for FY 2010 would raise it to about $18.7 billion. That sounds like a lot of money, and it is, but let’s put it in perspective. The US annual budget is almost $3 trillion and NASA’s cut of the US budget is less than 1%, which isn’t big enough to create even a single line on this pie chart.
<snipped>
A few other things to put NASA’s budget in perspective:
Former NASA administrator Mike Griffin mentioned recently that US consumers spend more on pizza ($27 billion) than NASA’s budget. (Head nod to Ian O’Neill)
Miles O’Brien recently brought it to our attention that the amount of money Bernie Maddof scammed with his Ponzi scheme ($50 billion) is way bigger than NASA’s budget.
Americans spend a lot of money on some pretty ridiculous things. Returning to that oft-used phrase about spending the money used in space to solve the problems on Earth, consider this: *
Annually, Americans spend about $88.8 billion on tobacco products and another $97 billion on alcohol. $313 billion is spent each year in America for treatment of tobacco and alcohol related medical problems.
Likewise, people in the US spend about $64 billion on illegal drugs, and $114.2 billion for health-related care of drug use.
Americans also spend $586.5 billion a year on gambling.
It’s possible we could give up some other things to help alleviate the problems in our country without having to give up the spirit of exploration.
NASA’s annual budget for fiscal year 2009 is $17.2 billion. The proposed budget for FY 2010 would raise it to about $18.7 billion. That sounds like a lot of money, and it is, but let’s put it in perspective. The US annual budget is almost $3 trillion and NASA’s cut of the US budget is less than 1%, which isn’t big enough to create even a single line on this pie chart.
<snipped>
A few other things to put NASA’s budget in perspective:
Former NASA administrator Mike Griffin mentioned recently that US consumers spend more on pizza ($27 billion) than NASA’s budget. (Head nod to Ian O’Neill)
Miles O’Brien recently brought it to our attention that the amount of money Bernie Maddof scammed with his Ponzi scheme ($50 billion) is way bigger than NASA’s budget.
Americans spend a lot of money on some pretty ridiculous things. Returning to that oft-used phrase about spending the money used in space to solve the problems on Earth, consider this: *
Annually, Americans spend about $88.8 billion on tobacco products and another $97 billion on alcohol. $313 billion is spent each year in America for treatment of tobacco and alcohol related medical problems.
Likewise, people in the US spend about $64 billion on illegal drugs, and $114.2 billion for health-related care of drug use.
Americans also spend $586.5 billion a year on gambling.
It’s possible we could give up some other things to help alleviate the problems in our country without having to give up the spirit of exploration.
Why does she hold such views?
What makes her think that way?
Does she understand science and/or engineering?
If she does, are there any other areas of scientific endeavour that she feels are wasteful? And conversely, what areas of scientific endeavour does she consider worthwhile?
On what basis does she weigh up the merits of different areas of research?
Does she assume that only certain lines of research are beneficial whilst other areas are wasteful?
Does she understand that sometimes research in one area can lead to unexpected breakthroughs in another?
What makes her think that way?
Does she understand science and/or engineering?
If she does, are there any other areas of scientific endeavour that she feels are wasteful? And conversely, what areas of scientific endeavour does she consider worthwhile?
On what basis does she weigh up the merits of different areas of research?
Does she assume that only certain lines of research are beneficial whilst other areas are wasteful?
Does she understand that sometimes research in one area can lead to unexpected breakthroughs in another?
Simpo Two said:
The money spent on space travel doesn't go into space, it keeps people in work and keeps businesses going. It all trickles back into the economy and Mr Rocket Scientist will go to the shops and buy a new settee with it, just like she does.
ThisIt's not as if they burn it.....
And as others have said, it's peanuts compared with how much is spent on other stuff
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