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Forum Index : Off topic archive. : Curiosity on its way.
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Gizmo Admin Group  Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5015 |
Launch time was just after 1am here, sat up and watched it live. Good job fella's. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/index.html The Atlas 5 is proving a good workhorse, nice combination of Russian and USA space technology. Still a long way to go for the new rover. August next year it arives I think. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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norcold Guru  Joined: 06/02/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 670 |
Just doesn`t seem to be the same amount of interest in Space as there was back before we went to the moon. I remember watching those launches with excitement, is it because Mars does not appeal to people as the Moon did or are we a fickle lot controlled completely by today`s media spin? We come from the land downunder. Vic |
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mac46 Guru Joined: 07/02/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 412 |
Talking about space and space missions is almost the same thing as talking about politics and politicians. To my knowledge no one as answered the question of why we canceled the last three Apollo missions. We need to explore the heavens, thats for sure, but we need to get back to the moon asap. Regards, Mac46 I'm just a farmer |
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powerednut Senior Member  Joined: 09/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 221 |
I'll start getting excited when they start doing manned missions to other planets, or even the moon again. |
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| norcold Guru Joined: 06/02/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 670 |
mac46, I can understand as you are located in America and America being at the forefront of Space exploration, it is a political hot potato. As an Aussie I look on with wonder at these achievements and thank you Americans for footing the massive bills of Space exploration that have been borne by Amercian taxpayers, for the betterment of the whole world. I hope all goes well with Curiosity and will watch on with much interest. The people involved with this mission deserve the worlds full support, can only imagine their ansiety and apprehension as she speeds away on her mission. We come from the land downunder. Vic |
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| mac46 Guru Joined: 07/02/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 412 |
norcold, Hello, Yes, this Curiosity mission is one of the more expensive missions...I've read that its about the same as buying a "order out pizza," for each adult tax payer here in the states, but well worth it in my openion. I'd be up for purchaseing a few more pizza's besides, provideing at least one goes to the moon. Mac46 I'm just a farmer |
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| Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5015 |
There was a news conference after the launch, and one reporter questioned the need to spend so much money on a mission to mars. The answer was pretty good. He said missions like these inspire people to take up science and engineering, which is true, I got into electronics because I was fascinated as a kid at the Viking lander missions. And he said Nasa doesn't spend the money on Mars, they spend it on Earth. Good point, one space mission employs thousands of people through hundreds of businesses, it gives them jobs, and money to take home to their family. And not only in the USA, the rocket engines are made in Russia, employing Russian people, the signals are monitored in Africa and Australia, etc. We all benefit from this sort of endeavor. I'll bet there are even parts made in China! Plus it's our instinct to ask questions, to explore. Whats over that hill? Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| mac46 Guru Joined: 07/02/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 412 |
Hello Glenn, Very well put..."we all benefit", and I was also so inspired and interested in electronics...but it was before it was called electronics it think. The systems back then were quite different than those of today. Remember "Sky Lab" ? How about the Red Stone rockets,? I should post a picture of my old "O scope", it'll give my age away, it has tubes inside. Regards, Mac46 I'm just a farmer |
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| viatu3 Newbie  Joined: 29/11/2011 Location: United StatesPosts: 5 |
I think Gizmo's comment is very good. The Mars mission makes jobs on earth and helps people to live. I think it's important to see what's going on in space, therefore I support missions like that. I'm not sure where it will lead us, but I think it's important never the less. |
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Greenbelt Guru Joined: 11/01/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 566 |
Hi Glen Good Post. ---------------Cheers, Roe Time has proven that I am blind to the Obvious, some of the above may be True? |
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