Frankly, America can't afford a space program of any kind any more. There is a national debt to service.
The ISS will be operational for another decade, perhaps shorter or longer. Then the worlds scienfitic communties will spend further decades studying the data. If after that at some point, manned missions might be considored to mars. In the mean time, nasa will send probes, which will take further decades to reach their destination and of course to build the things to begin with. Space is a time killer. Also: Any manned missions to mars, still have the huge stumbling block. How to keep people alive for the months long voyage. This alone is testing the very limits of current technology, to use minimal equitment in a unique minimalistic approach that won't break down while in the process. Repeated use for breathable air/food/water. Testing has been done all over the world, russia/europe/usa but as far as i know. It has not been solved as yet.
We need to put feet down on Mars. It is a hurdle that needs to be jumped. We are at our best when we are breaking barriers, and getting human beings (and life) onto another planet is something that has not happened in our planets history. While it is likely that some micro-organism have traveled through space, no mammal has, in our knowledge, spread itself beyond it's home planet. We need to push to become the first extraterrestrial species, it will prove we can move, and will help ensure our longevity beyond the habitability of Earth (which I have yet to give up on).
I think the intention of this post was to see where space exploration should go. NASA is used as an assumption that it is there, but I'm pretty sure you can answer the question assuming it is done with a private space program. The Constitution does give Congress the authority to develop a Navy, which has been used to develop an Air Force, so in terms of National Defense, I think we could justify a Space Fleet, and even a Missile Defense Shield. I'd suggest putting NASA under the Air Force and using it solely for defense purposes and opening up space exploration to private enterprise. With that said, I voted for Mars. We need to prove we can put people on another planet, whether or not Mars is the best place to set up a colony, we will find planets that are and it may be smart to spread our species around the galaxy (as it was valuable leaving Africa and Europe and Asia, or at least, gaining the ability to do so).
Mars is too ambitious for the current state of technology. Over a year in space for the journey and return journey plus additional time on the planet for study. The ISS is achievable as an orbiting structure it can have regulary rations provided, repairs, change of personnal etc.. But even then, the studies to prolonged space time have not yet been completed. Remember, Mir? When the last russian came down from the space station, he could hardly walk. After so long in zero gravity, his muscles were wasteing away. Also, it has been found that excercising in space, only slows down the muscle degernation and does not stop it. Prolonged space missions have to jump this hurdle. Another mystery yet to be solved.
I voted space station. We CAN go to Mars or the Moon but with current technology those will be nothing more than propaganda piece scientific missions. We need to build spacecraft that are large enough to carry real payloads, that don't have to worry about carrying fuel to get themselves to orbit, and that have engines built for speed. To do that, we need a permanent space station to use as a dock at the L1 Lagrange point. We also need fully functioning, all-weather, LEO launch capability.
Because the American dollar is still the world's reserve currency. When it ceases to be hold that status such nonsense will come to an end.
By that logic the Russians have no manned space program because the ruble isn't the world's reserve currency.
The Russian space program is living on borrowed time and peak oil prices. It uses Cold War technology. What we see is the afterglow.
Landings: Mars, Phobos, Europa Exploration of galaxy Milky Way, ultra high speed space traveling (speed tests in solar system, then interstellar) Travel to nearest stars: Alpha Centauri
Maybe stuff we discover on other planets will help us here on Earth. We're always going to have problems on Earth. Exploring other planets can actually decrease those problems.
I take it you know little about even theoretical space travel. Unless we figure out a way to do FTL, interstellar travel is effectively impossible.
I don't know enough about this stuff, but does the same side of the moon always face the earth? If they're both rotating I don't see how a fixed station could even help with communication. Also, aren't there a crap load of craters on the moon? How do you propose to keep it from getting smashed?
Yes, the same side always faces the Earth. That's why there are stories about the "dark side of the moon".
To the private sector - except for military and absolutely necessary scientific applications. If NASA wants to have 'fun' and go to the Moon or Mars - they should get the funds strictly from private donations. If enough Americans want it - they go. If enough do not - they don't.
So then how does the side always facing us have craters? We don't shoot meteorites from earth do we? Wouldn't the gravitational pull of any coming right by us to hit that side be sucked in? Sorry, I'm a laymen on this subject. LOL
Good question - imo. Is it because the Moon has gravity (not nearly as much as Earth) and rocks flying by get caught in it and are sucked down? Just a guess - I do not know either.
I don't know enough technical details to answer that. It may be that it does revolve, just very slowly. It would have had millions of years in which to do it though. Asteroids and other space objects would still be able to hit the side facing Earth if they approached at an angle, or maybe gravity plays into it. I admit I don't have the specifics either. Does anyone? I'm curious now too.
Lifespans isn't the bottleneck. The bottleneck is machine longevity. We can't build advanced machines that will survive wear and tear and radiation long enough to make the century/centuries long journey to another solar system (Alpha Centauri is a possibility, but it does NOT have Earth-like or habitable worlds).
