50 years of space travel - should we be further ahead?

[Tefal]

Maser

 

[arknor]

Work on space exploration has not stopped:

http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/516651main_NASA_FY12_Budget-Exploration.pdf

In fact a considerable amount is being spent:

http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/516684main_FY12_summary_Budget_Briefing_final_21411_rev1.pdf

It's worth reading the current stategic plan:

http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/516579main_NASA2011StrategicPlan.pdf

Money isn’t being frittered away, getting to Mars has been and is only one of NASA’s objectives.

what nasa plan and what nasa actually get a budget for are massively different.
nasa can plan to build a city on the moon and make a PDF it doesnt mean its ever going to happen because they dont decide how big a budget they get

 

[rypt]

It's about time Congress told NASA to aim for something grand and give them the budget to do it - certainly a bit more than the US$19b, or less than 1% of the federal budget, that they pull down currently.

The funding is a joke, especially compared to DOD

 

[eatcustard]

President Hick has cut funding to Nasa

 

[Glaucus]

Should we be further well yes if we could find it. I think in another 20 years private companies will take over and we will progress once again.

I really wish mass or UK had built a proof of concept numerous ship,. Smaller trips and only a couple of bombs.

 

[VoG]

The funding is a joke, especially compared to DOD

indeed.

NASA funding for 2012 is set to be $19.5 Billion
DoD funding for 2012 is set to be $671 Billion

& there actually arguing over cutting NASA's funding to save money...

 

[Orcish-Horde]

Lot of basic work needs to be done before anyone can really get into space travel. People are trying to run before they can even roll over.

 

[Glaucus]

What do you mean?

 

[sadbuttrue]

Without the use of nuclear power in space, any advances in the next 50 years will be minor imo. The current adminstration at the Whitehouse will never allow this to happen. Even when the Republicans take back power in 2012, they will capitulate to the UN and also refuse to go this route. The future of space travel rests with China and their flagrant disregard of international law and human rights, sad but true.

 

[Energize]

Imagine what could be achieved if the benefits money was spent on space exploration, we could be living on Titan already.

 

[Skii]

To be honest I'm not sure how much ahead we should, or *could* be right now. The simple fact is that other than the moon, the nearest planet is a very long way away, and using existing rocket technology only just reachable if the poor buggers inside are prepared to spend 8 months in a cramped capsule the size of a small room. Untill we find a way of travelling a lot quicker through space we won't be going anywhere for a very long time, and personally I think we are a long LONG way from that point.

 

[Glaucus]

People don't mind though, we could even get to another solar system if we had the money.

 

[IceBus]

To be honest I'm not sure how much ahead we should, or *could* be right now. The simple fact is that other than the moon, the nearest planet is a very long way away, and using existing rocket technology only just reachable if the poor buggers inside are prepared to spend 8 months in a cramped capsule the size of a small room. Untill we find a way of travelling a lot quicker through space we won't be going anywhere for a very long time, and personally I think we are a long LONG way from that point.

I think a lot of people would quite happily do that for 8 months to be the first man to set foot on another planet. I know I would.

It's also not as if they're going to be sitting there bored senseless, something tells me they might possibly be able to give them some entertainment and jobs to do.

 

[arknor]

To be honest I'm not sure how much ahead we should, or *could* be right now. The simple fact is that other than the moon, the nearest planet is a very long way away, and using existing rocket technology only just reachable if the poor buggers inside are prepared to spend 8 months in a cramped capsule the size of a small room. Untill we find a way of travelling a lot quicker through space we won't be going anywhere for a very long time, and personally I think we are a long LONG way from that point.

the first ION engine was built in 1960.

yes thats right the first ion propulsion system was built over 50 years ago and were still using rocket propulsion...

if nasa would have had a really nice budget for the last 50 years we would have had a moon base by now

 

[Cosimo]

Imagine what could be achieved if the benefits money was spent on space exploration, we could be living on Titan already.

Some of us already are.

 

[jp_bl_68]

Its crazy though, having seperate space agencies, there should be one central space agency for the planet and pool resources.

Some kind of federation, perhaps....

 

[izzy eckerslike]

People don't mind though, we could even get to another solar system if we had the money.

Aboard the starship Enterprise and Dr Who maybe but not in reality, it would take thousands of years with current technology.
Taking into account that the speed of light is over 660 million miles an hour how long would it take to get to another solar system that's maybe a mere 5 light years away ?

Even the first TV and radio waves transmitted from Earth all those years ago haven't yet reached anywhere near another solar system with known planets

 

[Rainmaker]

Some kind of federation, perhaps....

I'm torn on this, tbh. While I applaud and encourage the idea of space exploration and the widening (and deepening) of the current projects, I find it hard to moan about not spending more on space stuff when there are people starving to death and freezing cold/homeless down here...

But that's a perennial problem. One could just as easily say if we scrapped the pointless wars, stopped spending millions on MPs' luncheons and diplomatic soirées then we could use that money instead and the fully fed and clothed mankind could explore space without worrying about where the next meal is coming from.

But that's just me.

 

[joemo13]

how long would it take to get to another solar system that's maybe a mere 5 light years away ?

It would take 5 years at the speed of light...
And there have been some advancements,
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/12/secret-space-plane-touches-down-as-twin-readies-for-launch/
But seeing that it is doubtable that man did land on the moon, and NASA has killed its astronauts by not caring about their safety before. The chances of landing on the 'again' moon is unlikely.