9 Comments

1. 1. tharriss 08:08 AM 8/31/12

   Very cool stuff!

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2. 2. Sinned43 10:29 AM 8/31/12

   2.5 Billion for a SUV on Mars is ridiculous! Planet Earth needed the money and not a pie in the sky adventure.

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3. 3. Acoyauh2 10:52 AM 8/31/12

   Good grief! Off to shoot at more rocks again? Don't complain when the tripods come to exact revenge - we fired the first shot. Shots.
   And for what? A ream of self-photos longer than a teenager girl's facebook album? What vanity!
   
   Seriously though, please do keep the updates coming; this is exciting stuff!
   

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4. 4. rocketman33 in reply to Sinned43 03:04 AM 9/1/12

   To Sinned 43,
   Since humankind became cognizant of the presence of Stars,then Planets,then the Cosmos beyond our own small
   Solar System, we have wondered and been amazed about what we have learned over the Centuries and continued the quest to know more about our Cosmic History and the meaning of it All.
   Our latest attempts to comprehend, let alone understand,
   include Hubble and all of our unmanned Space Probes to
   our Planets and beyond. I am a 79yr old Space Scientist
   who has spent 54yrs of my Life designing and helping launch our exploration machines into Space.
   Not one dime spent in all these missions went to anyone off this planet !! It was all spent to pay for the employment of all those who participated in those efforts,
   down to those who supplied the paper and ink upon which was documented the results of their work. Thousands of dedicated people spent, with great Joy and Pride of accomplishment, their Lives making such Missions
   as "Curiousity Landing on Mars" not only possible but in fact REALITY !!
   Their rewards are much more than Monetary and to all involved, I say "JOB WELL DONE" !!!!!!
   The $$$$ involved are a Pittance compared to the returns
   upon the Investment. Incredibly more $$$$ are wasted each
   year on less important endeavours !!!!!!!!!!
   rocketman33

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5. 5. rationalfirst 04:09 PM 9/1/12

   Lets see...2.3 billion paid to American workers to send a scientific mission all the way to mars to help unravel the mysteries of the universe....900 billion to blow up large tracts of desert, kill and maim each other. Hmm, maybe we shouldnt keep it here on earth.

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6. 6. phil23 08:12 PM 9/1/12

   And where would you spend the money Sinned 43? - why tax free Megachurches and multi-million-dollar tax free salaries, or contribution or tithing or whatever your whack-job church demands the money be called (actually hidden). Hopefully enough US voters are going to demand that Mitt Romney explain his finances, especially his tithing and other tax free Mormon activities.

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7. 7. parker2757 in reply to Sinned43 11:13 PM 9/1/12

   ...yes, yes-- you're a religious nut, and your mind is closed to so many things.

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8. 8. Pazuzu in reply to rocketman33 02:24 PM 9/5/12

   Well said!

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9. 9. psmall 11:45 PM 9/10/12

   Sinned43, You must be anti-Jobs, anti-innovation, anti-america leading the way in Science and Tecnology.
   
   Perhaps you would like to give back all of the financial benefits that have resulted from such paltry and minor investments like we have made in the space program since the 50's:
   
   NASA, for example, could double its budget by simply getting $00.005 (½ a penny) from every tax payer per year. Creating thousands of jobs, downstream jobs and new technologies resulting in new industries, innovations and new economic opportunities like they have for the last 50 years. Examples include miniaturized, lightweight electronics, computers, flat panel TV’s, smaller batteries, medical treatments and services like the MRI, PET Scans, X-Rays, Cancer treatments, Endoscopic surgeries, LED’s, artificial limbs, scratch resistant lenses, Steel Belt Tires (on every single car & truck), Electronic Video, DVD, Blu-Ray, baby formula, cordless vacuums, water purification, solar power, wireless communications, improved food safety, Freeze Drying, Invisible Braces, aircraft anti-icing systems, fire resistant products (all), Firefighting technologies, Memory Foam, Oil Spill and pollution remediation technologies, Structural Analysis Software (Used to develop everything from bridges and Cadillac’s to the Space Shuttle, buildings, planes, roller coasters etc. There is not a day that goes buy you do not befit from such software), new lubricants, bendable eye glass frames, etc, etc, etc…
   
   If you despise the spending so much then simply opt of the very real and tangible benfits you reap every single day.
   
   Really, we should all thank NASA every day for what we have and not some imaginary friend in the sky. At least when we look up, with a telescope, we can see some of what NASA has done, where we have been and where we will go.
   
   One great example is Solar Power, we invented it, the Chinese stole it and now they are the world leader, thanks to those that think as you do. We sure could use the 100,000 jobs they have created with our technology right now. China projects 1,000,000 more jobs in Green Energy in China. But our "conservative" leaders let that slip away. We were #1 in the world and are now #3 while China is subsidising their industry with stolen intellectual property and underselling America in technologies we invented and developed because of NASA and the Space Program.

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