Scrap NASA (legal, economic, tax, country)

[Spudcommando]

Originally Posted by JustinFromBoise

Just saw something about this on another thread. NASA is a money pit that has achieved little since the moon landing. So why are we still wasting money on it? If we privatized the space program we would be light years ahead of where we are now in space exploration. Everyone knows the government sucks at doing just about everything. Let's stop wasting money and send space exploration to the private sector and turn a profit instead of another Washington based money pit.

I disagree, NASA is one of the best investments this nation has ever made, I would say it's up there with the interstate. Lets see some of what has spawned from the advances NASA made.

Here's a very small and random list of the products spawned or made better from NASA's advancements
-scratch resistant lenses
-Virtual Reality
-CDs
-Advanced Keyboards
-Food Packaging and Freeze dried tech
-MRI, ultrasounds
-modern athletic shoes
and much more

[fopt65]

Let private companies do the whole thing if the market demands it and you'll see no waste of your money because you won't be funding it unless it provides a service you wish to purchase. Those companies have an eye on profits and by their nature are encouraged to seek the most efficient operating model over time.[/quote]

Uh, ever hear of Halliburton? Weren't too effecient.

[tinman01]

Originally Posted by Spudcommando

I disagree, NASA is one of the best investments this nation has ever made, I would say it's up there with the interstate. Lets see some of what has spawned from the advances NASA made.

Here's a very small and random list of the products spawned or made better from NASA's advancements
-scratch resistant lenses
-Virtual Reality
-CDs
-Advanced Keyboards
-Food Packaging and Freeze dried tech
-MRI, ultrasounds
-modern athletic shoes
and much more

Agreed NASA has brought revelutionary technology to the average man. Much of their work has benifited not only the civil sector but our Military.
What most dont understand is private companys get awarded contracts to develope technology. Succeed or not they get paid. They then patent the products and reap all of the rewards. Without NASA such countries as Russia, and china would own space. This is not a terratory we should surrender willingly..

[SeanMc]

Originally Posted by tinman01

Without NASA such countries as Russia, and china would own space. This is not a terratory we should surrender willingly..

Oh, oh. I see people starting to gear-up for the future Invasion of Mars here. What really worries me is when people begin to ask themselves "Why should I surrender something" when that something isn't even theirs.
THAT'S spooky.

[bigdave01]

NASA should get MUCH more funding. The US needs to get into space. I hope in my lifetime that I will be able to live on the moon or Mars. There are no frontiers left on Earth. Space should be a main focus.

[Spudcommando]

Hell NASA's budget is only 1/3 that of the DHS, which has proven time and time again to be an utterly useless and expensive excuse of an agency. Plus it's not a good idea to let nations like Russia or China dominate space.

[GregW]

At least most of the NASA funding is spent within the United States. Not all, but most. I just think government employment is useful because it avoids things like year-end bonuses, executive perks and stockholder profits.

A huge increase in government employment would also stabilize the economy by reducing the income transfer inherent in private ownership. Without the profits the money needed to fuel speculation would be decreased. Instead of tremendous wealth for a few we would have a decent living for many. That is far better than our current system of rampant unregulated financial manipulation and corporate socialism.

[AONE]

Every day, in a variety of ways, American lives are touched by space technology. Since 1976, about 1,400 documented NASA inventions have benefited U.S. industry, improved the quality of life and created jobs for Americans. The Apollo program has helped change the way of life in America, especially in health care. Here are some of the inventions contributed by the Apollo program.

Kidney dialysis machines were developed as a result of a NASA developed chemical process that could remove toxic waste from used dialysis fluid.
As a medical CAT scanner searches the human body for tumors or other abnormalities, the industrial version, or advanced computed tomography inspection system, finds imperfections in aerospace structures and components, such as castings, rocket motors and nozzles.

A cardiovascular conditioner developed for astronauts in space led to the development of a physical therapy and athletic development machine used by football teams, sports clinics and medical rehabilitation centers.

A hospital food service system employs a cook/chill concept for serving food. The system allows staff to prepare food well in advance, maintain heat, visual appeal and nutritional value while reducing operating costs.

Athletic shoe design and manufacture also benefited from Apollo. Space suit technology is incorporated into a shoe's external shell. A stress free "blow molding" process adapted from NASA space suit design is also used in the shoe's manufacture.

Freeze-dried food solved the problem of what to feed an astronaut on the long-duration Apollo missions.

Insulation barriers made of aluminum foil laid over a core of propylene or mylar, which protected astronauts and their spacecraft's delicate instruments from radiation, is used to protect cars and trucks and dampen engine and exhaust noise.

Water purification technology used on the Apollo spacecraft is now employed in several spinoff applications to kill bacteria, viruses and algae in community water supply systems and cooling towers. Filters mounted on faucets can reduce lead in water supplies.
Process for bonding dry lubricant to space metals led to the development of surface enhancement coatings, which are used in applications from pizza making to laser manufacture. Each coating is designed to protect specific metal group or group of metals to solve problems encountered under operating conditions.

Digital signal-processing techniques, originally developed to enhance pictures of the Moon for the Apollo Program, are an indispensable part of Computer-Aided Tomography (CAT) scan & Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technologies used today worldwide.


Vacuum metallizing techniques led to an extensive line of commercial products, from insulated outer garments to packaging for foods & from reflective blankets to photographic reflectors.


Cordless power tools & appliances are one of the most successful commercial spin-offs of space-based technology.


Cool suits, which kept Apollo astronauts comfortable during moon walks, are today worn by race car drivers, hazardous area workers, & people with specific health problems.


A hollow retroreflector, a mirror-like instrument that reflects light & other radiation back to the source, is used as a sensor to detect the presence of hazardous gases in oil development, chemical plants, waste storage sites & locations where gases could be released into the environment.


TV Satellite Dish
NASA developed ways to correct errors in the signals coming from the spacecraft. This technology is used to reduce noise (that is, messed up picture or sound) in TV signals coming from satellites.

Medical Imaging
NASA developed ways to process signals from spacecraft to produce clearer images. (See more on digital information and how spacecraft send images from space.) This technology also makes possible these photo-like images of our insides.

Vision Screening System
Uses techniques developed for processing space pictures to examine eyes of children and find out quickly if they have any vision problems. The child doesn't have to say a word!

Ear Thermometer
Instead of measuring temperature using a column of mercury (which expands as it heats up), this thermometer has a lens like a camera and detects infrared energy, which we feel as heat. The warmer something is (like your body), the more infrared energy it puts out. This technology was originally developed to detect the birth of stars.

Fire Fighter Equipment
Fire fighters wear suits made of fire resistant fabric developed for use in space suits.

Smoke Detector
First used in the Earth orbiting space station called Skylab (launched back in 1973) to help detect any toxic vapors. Now used in most homes and other buildings to warn people of fire.

Sun Tiger Glasses
From research done on materials to protect the eyes of welders working on spacecraft, protective lenses were developed that block almost all the wavelengths of radiation that might harm the eyes, while letting through all the useful wavelengths that let us see.

Automobile Design Tools
A computer program developed by NASA to analyze a spacecraft or airplane design and predict how parts will perform is now used to help design automobiles. This kind of software can save car makers a lot of money by letting them see how well a design will work even before they build a prototype.

Cordless Tools
Portable, self-contained power tools were originally developed to help Apollo astronauts drill for moon samples. This technology has lead to development of such tools as the cordless vacuum cleaner, power drill, shrub trimmers, and grass shears

Aerodynamic Bicycle Wheel
A special bike wheel uses NASA research in airfoils (wings) and design software developed for the space program. The three spokes on the wheel act like wings, making the bicycle very efficient for racing.

Thermal Gloves and Boots
These gloves and boots have heating elements that run on rechargeable batteries worn on the inside wrist of the gloves or embedded in the sole of the ski boot. This technology was adapted from a spacesuit design for the Apollo astronauts.

Space Pens
The Fisher Space Pen was developed for use in space. Most pens depend on gravity to make the ink flow into the ball point. For this space pen, the ink cartridge contains pressured gas to push the ink toward the ball point. That means, you can lie in bed and write upside down with this pen! Also, it uses a special ink that works in very hot and very cold environments.

Shock Absorbing Helmets
These special football helmets use a padding of Temper Foam, a shock absorbing material first developed for use in aircraft seats. These helmets have three times the shock absorbing ability of previous types.

Ski Boots
These ski boots use accordion-like folds, similar to the design of space suits, to allow the boot to flex without distortion, yet still give support and control for precision skiing.

Failsafe Flashlight
This flashlight uses NASA's concept of system redundancy, which is always having a backup for the parts of the spacecraft with the most important jobs. This flashlight has an extra-bright primary bulb and an independent backup system that has its own separate lithium battery (also a NASA developed technology) and its own bulb.

Invisible Braces
These teeth-straightening braces use brackets that are made of a nearly invisible translucent (almost see-through) ceramic material. This material is a spin off of NASA's advanced ceramic research to develop new, tough materials for spacecraft and aircraft.

Edible Toothpaste
This is a special foamless toothpaste developed for the astronauts to use in space (where spitting is not a very good idea!) Although this would be a great first toothpaste for small children, it is no longer available.

Joystick Controllers
Joystick controllers are used for lots of things now, including computer games and vehicles for people with disabilities. These devices evolved from research to develop a controller for the Apollo Lunar Rover, and from other NASA research into how humans actually operate (called "human factors").

Advanced Plastics
Spacecraft and other electronics need very special, low-cost materials as the base for printed circuits (like those inside your computer). Some of these "liquid crystal polymers" have turned out to be very good, low-cost materials for making containers for foods and beverages.

And that doesn't even talk about Integrated circuits, and computers. O for one am glad Nasa has been a part of my life. For those that want to live without them. Parts of the outback of Australia may allow you to get back to your roots.

[Rggr]

Originally Posted by SeanMc

Oh, oh. I see people starting to gear-up for the future Invasion of Mars here. What really worries me is when people begin to ask themselves "Why should I surrender something" when that something isn't even theirs.
THAT'S spooky.

So should we not have a presence on the oceans because we don't own them?

[sponger42]

Originally Posted by SeanMc

Oh, oh. I see people starting to gear-up for the future Invasion of Mars here. What really worries me is when people begin to ask themselves "Why should I surrender something" when that something isn't even theirs.
THAT'S spooky.

Space may belong to "everyone" or "no one" on a document at the UN, but just like every other territory ever discovered, it belongs to those who get there first and establish a strong, defensible, and lasting presence there.

NASA is in no way preparing for some future extraterrestrial space war, but it is our best bet for getting to the resources on the Moon, Mars, and Near-Earth Orbiting asteroids and exploiting them first. I don't know about you, but I'd rather see the Russians and/or Chinese buying rides to space, machinery to harvest minerals/energy, and other space-related infrastructure from us rather than the other way around.