When you are a large news organization or even just a popular blog and you have an open-ended comment section, you are just asking for anyone with no depth of knowledge about your subject matter to voice their opinion especially if said reactionary commenters are allowed to post anonymously. They are either going on beliefs, hearsay or their own imaginations. Ironically, when the Hubble telescope was launched in 1990 it was the dream of many to actually see more of the universe. In reality, the ’space’ we occupy is so small a portion that you wonder if the intelligence out there even cares that we are living here much less wants to talk to us especially if they are watching our television shows. (I have wondered on occasion though if Nielsen families are indeed aliens themselves subverting our culture.)
In the meantime, this mechanical device — let’s repeat that — mechanical device has had a few mechanical problems and, like mechanical things, needs to be mechanically fixed and have mechanical parts replaced. According to the CNN report once the Hubble is repaired in 2008, the telescope will have cost tax payers a total of $10 billion, which is what our war on Iraq is costing us — each month. The difference here is that the Hubble has actually delivered results - discovering black holes, finding out that the universe is not only expanding but accelerating, and capturing the most stunningly beautiful pictures of the universe around us. CNN also solicited email about what people around the US thought about NASA’s decision to, now, keep Hubble operating. Let us rant about them.
I cannot see the necessity of pouring all this money into outer space when we cannot come up with enough money to take care of the hunger, sickness, and myriad problems right here on earth. Who cares if there was water or life on Mars a thousand years ago? All it is doing is making nice jobs for a lot of people while the working class is getting shafted with the payments for years.
“Come up” with enough money. Oh, there is enough money. Just print some more, right? The problem here is spreading money around isn’t the only solution, plus with the greed that capitalism causes you can get an easier spread at a nunnery. I wanted to study astronomy. I discovered how much astronomers make. They are the working class, too. The people making ‘all that money’ are the people running the companies who supply the parts and who overcharge the government for, say, toilet seats. As for water on Mars — has this person ever sat down and just, you know… wondered? About anything? Except what Paris Hilton looks like under the flaps of fabric she normally wears?
The bigger question should be “who cares?” With our social, border security, homeland security and educational programs in dire need of limited federal funds, spending one penny more on the space program of any sort is absurd. I’ve yet to hear one report of how money spent in space has helped our general population of the United States and any meaningful way.
Instead of hearing, why don’t you try researching and reading. Anything. Here I’ll make it easy for you; however, you may just want to ignore this list of things that the space program has done for mankind. Go ahead. They’re just words. They only hurt if you let them. Like all your exes. One other thing — did you know that there are other people and countries outside the United States that this same list is helping? Yes! It’s true! There is a whole big world of people, many who have it much worse than you.
Why can’t the Hubble be towed to the space station and docked there?
A little research came up with this answer: “The space station is in a lower orbit, and takes a much different path around the Earth. If the Hubble could be moved into that orbit, it is not clear whether the space telescope could work because of drag from the small amount of the Earth’s atmosphere present at that altitude.” Did we learn NOTHING from Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Kahn? Space is three dimensional. It’s like being able to swim in water — you can go up and down, too.
I do not think there should be a mission to extend the life of the Hubble. My inner city community could use the tax dollars being spent.
See the second paragraph in this post about how much Congress is spending on a war that is about as effective as Congress itself. There’s where your inner city money is going. Oh, wait. The war is making us all safe, you say? Oh, right, I forgot about the seven terrorist cells that are specifically going after Kansas City. Quick run for your bunker! I’m sure it’s stocked with the best BBQ in the good ole US-of-A.
Put the money to better use. The space program is too costly already.
Wow, the breadth of your insight is as blinding as a supernova. And thank you sooo much for offering some ideas and solutions of where the money can be better spent. Of course after a supernova, the star collapses upon itself and creates a black hole. I’m sure that’s where your ideas went.
I believe instead of spending the money on Hubble, they should replace it with a more powerful telescope. I also think they should put several powerful telescopes on the International Space Station instead of putting them in orbit. That way we can justify some of the expense of the station and get a little more research out of it.
I’ve nothing bitchy to say here since not everyone keeps up with space news; however, the plan is to launch the James Webb Space Telescope in 2013. I realize that it’s not one of the big news items, but if you’re going to comment about the space program, you should know a little about the space program.
I think there are a multitude of things that need fixing on earth than in space. This money could be used on education, health care and social security.
Yeah, NOOOOO one has thought of that before. Instead of writing to CNN, how about you send this on to your elected officials. Sure it may not do anything, but at least you’ve done something to let the government know how you feel. Who knows? Enough people might actually do the same thing and affect some change.
Don’t believe those folk who say the money is better spent on immediate needs. Money is spent wisely when we look to a far horizon and encompassing goals. That’s why extending Hubble’s life is so encouraging. The shorter our vision, the more overwhelming our problems. We need all the vision-thing we can get.
“Vision-thing?” Here: a link to an online thesaurus. This is the other extreme. Let’s ignore the ‘now’. “Ahh, the baby will take care of itself until it’s 18 and then we can throw money at its college tuition.”
And just to leave you on a positive note, here is the most realistic and practical of the emails printed from someone right here in the Denver area, which sums up my opinion quite nicely.
Philip Chika, Aurora, Colorado
We’ve spent a fortune putting it up there, we ought to get our money’s worth out of it and keep it up there as long as possible. Yeah, I know it’s expensive to fix, but so is my car’s transmission. It was a lot cheaper to repair it than buy a new car.
Yes, I know they are building a “new car”, but like most of us, they are budgeting for the purchase to replace the puttering, old gas-guzzler. There is also a great commentary here on CNN.
Listening to: Dickhead - Robbie Williams
LAUREL, Maryland (WPBNews) — After a 3-and-a-half year mission to Mercury, NASA’s MESSENGER spacecraft has begun to beam back pictures of the mysterious planet. Once thought to be like our own Moon, MESSENGER is changing scientists perceptions of not only the planet, but of the universe and creation itself.
