Have I Mentioned I Hate NASA?
Frequent readers of this blog know that I hate NASA. NASA is a cancerous, rapidly metastasizing tumor on the US budget.
Today, I read A Rocket to Nowhere. This well-written and well-researched blog entry argues that the Space Shuttle and International Space Station programs are worthless Cold War relics, that NASA's only valuable purpose is currently in unmanned missions, and that funding for NASA is simply for military purposes and because NASA always gets funding without question. The billions of dollars spent to send seven astronauts into space to press buttons for negligible research could save countless school systems and feed countless poor people.
With the Shuttle program grounded yet again, I think it's time for some serious attention to be paid. I think manned space flight would be an excellent issue for Democrats to pick up, to flaunt the exorbitant funds thrown at a worthless program and offer alternatives to how that money can be spent. Sure, Democrats can't say right now that manned space flight should be canned (not like us powerless bloggers can), but Democrats can surely ask, "Why are we spending billions of dollars on something that is outdated, is serving no purpose, and is falling apart?" They should ask, "Shouldn't we spend far less money while you focus on not only building a new system that won't fall apart everytime you launch it but also has an important purpose?" And finally, "What are we doing with men and women in space that we can't do with unmanned probes?"
NASA should focus on telling us what's out there and defending us from what's out there (asteroids in our path, Xenu). And when there is a reason to send humans into space that's more important than public relations or do-it-before-the-pinkos-do-it, the have a good reason and a good plan. It's a shitload of our money, and we should demand nothing less.
(Via Waxy.org)
8 Comments:
Holy shit.
How can you hate an organization that builds spaceships?
Arlo? Is that you?
I hate an organization that launches stupid, pointless, fragile, expensive spaceships instead of purposeful, forward-thinking spaceships. I think what the SpaceShipOne folks are doing is awesome because it looks cool, it's a newer, safer design, and because my tax dollars aren't paying for it.
A spaceship is a spaceship. Zoom! C'mon. Society ain't no different than a person. If we, as individuals, couldn't spend our money on stupid shit that goes "Zoom" and "Boom" and "Wakka Chikka Wakka", life would be too boring to endure. Ditto for the collective.
I think space flight is absolutely vital. I want to see a colony on the moon in 2 decades. I also think that Arlo is right about NASA. They aren't cutting it. Light a fire under their ass and make em get to work on shit that wont blow up. It can be done. I must be done.
The frog is able to extend its eyeballs down through the roof of its mouth to help push food items into its stomach.
"I want to see a colony on the moon in 2 decades."
Why? What purpose would that serve?
I love space and spaceflight, which is why I also hate NASA. NASA is squandering space money on aging programs like the ISS and the Shuttle program. We should be investing in next generation technology (such as robotics and alternative power sources) that will have applications throughout society, not these aging systems.
I love space and spaceflight, which is why I also hate NASA. NASA is squandering space money on aging programs like the ISS and the Shuttle program. We should be investing in next generation technology (such as robotics and alternative power sources) that will have applications throughout society, not these aging systems.
Post a Comment
<< Home