Curiosity - Mars landing

[Super Nova]

Do you know the difference between sports, sex and politics?

For Aussie there is no difference.

Doesn't do them but has an opinion on and judges those that do.

[Aussie]

A tad more of this and less space junk would be nice.

See above, listed in the benefits of space program, which include

lightweight composite materials that benefit cars, airplanes, camping gear,

and state-of-the-art prosthetics for amputees.

They did not need to put the thing on the Moon or Mars to get any of that.

[annielaurie]

Aussie, the space program has been in full swing since the sixties, and the moon landing. To do all that, companies developed high-tech materials we have never seen or used before.

From there, private industry got into the act, and developed the technology that led up to the things we have today, starting with lightweight metal alloys and plastics, leading to modern cars and computers, home appliances, medical instruments - and prosthetics for amputees.

I am leaving out most of what has been invented since then, and keeping it simple. The point is, it all started decades ago with the advanced technology developed out of necessity for the space program.

Not only that, these industries have provided jobs and careers for millions of people over several decades.

Chemistry and physics, the biological sciences, medical science, and the space program are all part of the infrastructure of our civilization, and necessary to the quality of life we have today.

[Aussie]

I am sure if the same effort and money was put into the health and well-being of human beings, instead of space junk (even space junk which produces 'beautiful photographs,') we'd all be a great deal better off.

[Aussie.]

A tad more of this and less space junk would be nice.

See above, listed in the benefits of space program, which include

lightweight composite materials that benefit cars, airplanes, camping gear,

and state-of-the-art prosthetics for amputees.

Mmmmmm my arse handed to me on a plate
Delicious!

[AiA in Atlanta]

Heard once that many if not all of the technology invented for the US space program was not protected by patents and so American business made the most of that.

[Super Nova]

So Aussie sees no value in space research.

Here is an example of the planning for what the future holds.

Google-backed asteroid mining venture adds billionaire investors

Planetary Resources, an asteroid-mining venture backed by Google executives, said it added more billionaire investors and is nearing a funding agreement with a "top-10" mining company.

Mining asteroids is clearly like eating a dinosaur. The way you eat a dinosaur is one bite at a time. We're doing it one

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/technology/sci ... z22riZslGG

[AnimalMother]

Arsegronk of the third cave on the left said:

No bang-um rocks together. Not make fire. Raw meat and grubs good enough.

Lord Arsemonkey of Cambridge said:

All this money spent on new-fangled "sailing ships" is a waste. So what if they bring back tales of distant lands? We can't live overseas, and there's nothing of value there.

I am sure if the same effort and money was put into better health through improvements in the application of leeches and mercuric enemas, instead of sea junk (even sea junk which produces 'beautiful lithographs,') we'd all be a great deal better off.

[AnimalMother]

Arsedroid of Curiosity City said:

Why are we wasting credits on expeditions to Jupiter? We already have a better life than our Earth-bound ancestors ever dreamed of, right here on Mars. I don't care if we get "beautiful holograms", there's nothing useful out there.

[Super Nova]

First colour photo on Mars from Curiosity. I hope there is some Windex and a hobo at the next set of traffic lights on Mars.



This image released on Tuesday Aug. 7,2012 by NASA shows the first color view of the north wall and rim of Gale Crater where NASA's rover Curiosity landed Sunday night. The picture was taken by the rover's camera at the end of its stowed robotic arm and appears fuzzy because of dust on the camera's cover. (AP Photo/NASA)