Randomness

[Alelou]

I saw one go up from my parents' backyard (we're talking about a three-hour drive away from the launch site) -- night launches are good for that.

[Aikiweezie]

My son is really into the whole space thing and says he wants to be an Engineer, like Trip, and Geordi and Scotty. That's very cool but he'll have to pursue his dream in the private sector, I imagine. The space program is goin nowhere.

[Alelou]

I wouldn't assume the space program is going nowhere. It has changed focus, and it's been suffering from budget limitations for years now, but that can all change quickly.

[Aikiweezie]

I wouldn't assume the space program is going nowhere. It has changed focus, and it's been suffering from budget limitations for years now, but that can all change quickly.

Based on what the President said in April, it looks to me like the private sector is where much of the growth will be in the near future.

"And we will extend the life of the International Space Station likely by more than five years, while actually using it for its intended purpose: conducting advanced research that can help improve daily life on Earth, as well as testing and improving upon our capabilities in space. This includes technologies like more efficient life support systems that will help reduce the cost of future missions. And in order to reach the Space Station, we will work with a growing array of private companies competing to make getting to space easier and more affordable.

I recognize that some have said it is unfeasible or unwise to work with the private sector in this way. But the truth is, NASA has always relied on private industry to help design and build the vehicles that carry astronauts to space, from the Mercury capsule that carried John Glenn into orbit nearly fifty years ago, to the Space Shuttle Discovery currently orbiting overhead. By buying the service of space transportation – rather than the vehicles themselves – we can continue to ensure rigorous safety standards are met. But we will also accelerate the pace of innovation as companies – from young start-ups to established leaders – compete to design, build, and launch new means of carrying people and materials out of our atmosphere."

[Alelou]

My uncle worked at Kennedy Space Center for his entire career, but he was a Rockwell employee, not a government employee.

Personally I would hope they would get a lot more focused on being able to stop an asteroid when that's what we need to do.

[Aikiweezie]

My uncle worked at Kennedy Space Center for his entire career, but he was a Rockwell employee, not a government employee.

Personally I would hope they would get a lot more focused on being able to stop an asteroid when that's what we need to do.

Yes, I really hope SOMEBODY is working on that.

[WarpGirl]

Call me crazy but I don't think the world is really going to be obliterated by an astroid. And even if it was... Whose to say it will come directly at us?

[Alelou]

Here's the guy ... scan down a little. He's REALLY into this asteroid thing.

http://www.haydenplanetarium.org/tyson/ ... oid?page=1

[honeybee]

Oh it's a real threat. It's happened before. Ask a dinosaur. . . .oh wait. Actually, last time I checked they were blaming a supervolcano like the one underneath yellowstone for the death of the dinosaurs - but the asteroid theory is still around.

Most scientists believe that we will have quite a bit of warning if one does threaten us - but we need to be watching for it.

[WarpGirl]

But Honeybee even though an astroid might have destroy the dinosaurs it didn't obliterate earth.

[Aquarius]

Oh it's a real threat. It's happened before. Ask a dinosaur. . . .oh wait. Actually, last time I checked they were blaming a supervolcano like the one underneath yellowstone for the death of the dinosaurs - but the asteroid theory is still around.

Most scientists believe that we will have quite a bit of warning if one does threaten us - but we need to be watching for it.

That's true, and if it happens again, it's likely to wipe us out as well. Even if there are survivors, we won't be able to survive the climate changes. Even if we can guard against the weather, we won't be able to grow our food.

[WarpGirl]

I don't know about that. I mean meteors and tiny astroids hit earth far more often than we realize we just don't hear about it.

[Aquarius]

As many women out there know: size matters.

[WarpGirl]

I'm not sure what you mean by that. However I still doubt earth will be obliterated.

[Alelou]

As many women out there know: size matters.

LOL.

I just did my first Netflix over the computer and watched a chick flick (The Proposal, which was cute). I need to figure out how to get this to work on the TV but I must say that subscription is suddenly looking like a better deal.