Author Topic: Space shuttle advantages?  (Read 573 times)

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Offline Questor

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Space shuttle advantages?
« on: March 16, 2009, 08:45:11 AM »
Are we getting any value out of the space shuttle? They keep sending them up, but I never read about benefits of these trips. I would think that if there was value to our country, then we'd see more in print about it in the business pages. I realize the scientists love the thing, but it doesn't seem to be doing the rest of us any good. I would like to be proven wrong on that.
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Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: Space shuttle advantages?
« Reply #1 on: March 16, 2009, 08:49:21 AM »
PVC PIPE , PEX pipe and much more came out of the space industry . Medical advances etc. have also come thru. their reserch . The shuttle is the reason for the need for new products .
I see your point , i start to smell a pork barrel .
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Offline jumpsteady

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Re: Space shuttle advantages?
« Reply #2 on: March 16, 2009, 08:54:33 AM »
Don't forget Velcro. It came from the space program. Without it I wouldn't be able to tie my shoes. LOL.
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Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: Space shuttle advantages?
« Reply #3 on: March 16, 2009, 09:02:35 AM »
sorry to bust your bubble but it was invented in 1948 by a swiss doctor . He returned from hunting and his dog had burrs  in its hair which gave him the idea . His name was George something ( the doc not the dog )
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Offline Questor

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Re: Space shuttle advantages?
« Reply #4 on: March 16, 2009, 09:06:10 AM »
PVC and Velco pre-date the space shuttle. I cannot recall reading about a specific medical advance that required the shuttle to realize it.  I'm inquiring specifically about the shuttle program, and more specifically the shuttle program of the past 15 years.
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Offline Skunk

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Re: Space shuttle advantages?
« Reply #5 on: March 16, 2009, 09:14:35 AM »
Isn't the Space Shuttle basically used to launch and recover satellites, and transport cargo and astronauts to and from the International Space Station? I'd bet we actually get more information and benefits from all the space probes that we've launched throughout the last few decades.
Mike

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Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: Space shuttle advantages?
« Reply #6 on: March 16, 2009, 09:21:10 AM »
yes pvc did but to get it suitable for hot water ie; cpvc the additives allow that . I was told the improvement came out of the space program . Now we install it or pex pipe in labs and hospitals where de-ionized water is used . They needed de-ionized water for some reason in space reserch maybe . The parts used in an artifical heart were possible from reserch done for the space program .
That is how we benifit from space reserch on a local level. Like tang !
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Offline MGMorden

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Re: Space shuttle advantages?
« Reply #7 on: March 16, 2009, 09:41:35 AM »
Isn't the Space Shuttle basically used to launch and recover satellites, and transport cargo and astronauts to and from the International Space Station? I'd bet we actually get more information and benefits from all the space probes that we've launched throughout the last few decades.

Well, most satellites are handled by independent launches these days (smaller rockets are just MUCH cheaper than sticking one into the shuttle to go up).  Recovery simply doesn't happen.  When they die, they either leave them or de-orbit them.  Packing too much mass into the shuttle for reentry is just not seen as feasible or safe these days.  Particularly after the loss of Challenger and then Columbia, they're just not willing to shift the mass very much.

You have to filter what this discussion has veered into into two separate topics: what good is THE SPACE SHUTTLE, and what good is manned space flight.

Most scientists hate the space shuttle.  It's inefficient for one.  The thing is HUGE, doesn't have a great safety record, costs a lot in fuel to launch, and requires as much prep time and resources in getting one ready for relaunch that you might as well build something new.  A LOT of waste went into the simple political move of branding this thing reuseable.  The Russians had a very similar project (the Buran http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuttle_Buran) they they eventually abandoned out of practicality reasons.  Another major problem is that the shuttle is a (largely) unchanging platform.  Computer and mechanical systems have sat largely untouched since the original design.  This makes finding replacement parts, and, arguably more importantly, engineers qualified to work on the shuttle, difficult to allocate.

All in all, a waste of money.  Now, that aside, manned space flight itself is very good for research purposes.  Loads of experiments have been conducted in zero gravity, and there's also the simple fact of exploration and moving out.  If the Europeans hadn't decided to go exploring America would still be inhabited by Native Americans and few of us would be here.  Not to mention that scientific research itself leads to all sorts of things.  Chemistry and metallurgy research lead to our development of firearms.  Bio-tech research has led to many of our medical treatments.  Totally abandoning this type of thing is just not wise and WILL eventually lead to a stagnation in our technical progress - which in turn will lead to the fall of our society as others push forward.  We'll be SOL if China and/or Russia get an orbital missile platform deployed and we're stuck trying to figure out a way to get back up there.   

So, the answer here is what NASA is already looking at (though they should have done it long ago).  Dump the shuttle.  Go back to simple capsules atop a single rocket booster.  Let it come back down and land via parachute (ocean or land - both can be done) rather than gliding in like a plane, and then toss the capsule.  It's simpler, it's safer, and it's cheaper.  There's also a LOT of work in the private industry that's been doing some interesting things on very small budgets (Space Ship One for example http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Ship_One).  There is most certainly pork to be cut in NASA, but we should look at trimming the fat and making the system more efficient, and not dumping manned space flight altogether.


Offline Skunk

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Re: Space shuttle advantages?
« Reply #8 on: March 16, 2009, 09:46:42 AM »
Good info MG!
Mike

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Offline Questor

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Re: Space shuttle advantages?
« Reply #9 on: March 16, 2009, 11:01:34 AM »
MGMorden:

Thanks for the thoughtful answer about this. I read today that the Shuttle was launched again and my first reaction was "why?". I appreciate the insight.

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Offline Brett

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Re: Space shuttle advantages?
« Reply #10 on: March 16, 2009, 01:50:39 PM »
Are we getting any value out of the space shuttle?

It really pisses of the Russians and Chinese because they don't have one.  ;D
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Offline Redtail1949

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Re: Space shuttle advantages?
« Reply #11 on: March 16, 2009, 06:16:01 PM »
The many great discoveries as well as the leaps in development of all kinds of stuff because of the space program as a whole, are too many to list. Manned missions have made us develope many many great things that have been used in all types of industries as well as the military.

The cost have really been enormous with out a doubt. These times may give good argument to cutting back on the program. We have tremendous needs here on the earth. When times get better start it back up full tilt.

I believe the over all benifits outweigh the negative parts of the program mainly the cost.

just my opinion

Offline Heather

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Re: Space shuttle advantages?
« Reply #12 on: March 17, 2009, 06:12:36 AM »
Don't forget the wonderful mattresses developed by Nasa.  My Nanny couldn't sleep without it!  :)

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