[meteorite-list] The Human Presence in the Solar System

[Meteorites USA]

Let the data and knowledge speak for itself.

Voyager I & II
Apollo Missions
Space Shuttle Missions
Hubble (without which many of these missions would not have been 
possible or even considered)
Spitzer
StarDust
Dawn
EPOXI
WISE
Spirit
Opportunity
Curiosity (coming soon to a planet near you)
Messenger
Hyabusa (not ours, but worth doing)
Kepler (perhaps the most important)

And many many more successful missions.

What else do they want? Come on... The government dropped $700+ Billion 
on the banks and auto manufacturers... Why can't they spare $100 Billion 
for the advancement and preservation of the human species?

What the advancement of the space program (which has a direct influence 
on the advancement and survival of the human species) has achieved both 
intrinsically, and scientifically is immeasurable in dollars. Knowledge 
is priceless. It's also the most precious and valuable thing in the 
universe, we should cherish it, where it came from, and how we gained 
it. More advanced technology, more businesses, more scientists, and more 
money has been pumped into the economy than can be accurately measured 
since the beginning of the space program. A student today, who watches 
the Moon landing on video for the first time may be motivated to study 
astronomy, or become an astronaut themselves. They may join the 
military, become a pilot, and perhaps fly a real space craft.

Humans are curious. We want to know. It's in our nature, it's what makes 
us human.

Would there be as many people interested in science if NASA had never so 
much as launched a rocket? Would there be as many astronomers and 
scientific discoveries if Hubble never existed? The Hubble Deep Field is 
a perfect example. 1,500 galaxies discovered. Then as if that weren't 
good enough, another photo was taken, this time deeper into the 
blackness of space. The Hubble Ultra Deep Field. One photograph 10,000 
galaxies in a section of space equal to only 1/12700000th of the total 
area of sky. If the whole sky was photographed and the same data holds 
true throughout, that's 127 Billion galaxies in the visible/observable 
universe. And that's not to say there's not more, considering that's at 
the limits of current technological possibility. If we could see 
further, would we see more galaxies? Yeah, I'd say that's a safe bet.

The economical effects may not be measurable. What is the effects of the 
money that's injected back into the economy by those entrepreneurs that 
were inspired to start a new business or create a new technology based 
on what they learned through the space program?  If we never had the 
space program would we have the technological advancement we have today? 
Would there be as many scientists advancing human knowledge at an ever 
growing exponential rate?

Regards,
Eric



On 3/19/2011 12:47 AM, Greg Hupe wrote:
> A successful round-about mission around Mercury by NASA would 
> 'hopefully' PROVE a few of our bucks is worth the 'Investment'!!!
>
> Best Regards,
> Greg
>
> ====================
> Greg Hupe
> The Hupe Collection
> gmhupe at centurylink.net
> www.LunarRock.com
> IMCA 3163
> ====================
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Richard Kowalski
> Sent: Saturday, March 19, 2011 3:26 AM
> To: Meteorite List ; Sterling K. Webb
> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] The Human Presence in the Solar System
>
> Sterling
>
> A Golden Age INDEED!
>
> A number of years ago I was discussing a dear friend and mentor's 
> career over another fine dinner and many bottles of fine wines.
>
> I lamented how exciting it must have been to be involved in Planetary 
> Science through the 70s & 80s and that I had missed it. He immediately 
> responded that we were now in a much more exciting time and the future 
> was more exciting still.
>
> I've come to appreciate his perspective and agree that we are in an 
> incredible period of the exploration of our Solar System. 
> Unfortunately one that could be in severe danger. As was reported 
> recently, major missions are at risk of cuts and cancellation. I hope 
> most of you on this list, regardless of your political stripe, believe 
> that this exploration is important and should continue. The only way 
> to make this happen is to make your opinions heard, and I don't mean 
> on this list.
>
> Contact your Representative, Senator and the President. They are the 
> ones putting this Golden Age at risk...
>
> -- 
> Richard Kowalski
> Full Moon Photography
> IMCA #1081
>
>
>
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