*gales of derisive laughter*

Don't make me pull IT rank on you, clown. You don't know who you're talking to.

I really enjoyed this line the first time I saw UT use it. I've been waiting for my chance to try it, too.

The only thing you're pulling is your pud.

pud? Whats a pud? Must be one of those MSCE things the unwashed are not enlightened about.

jag, it's Radar, he's right your wrong end of story, it doesn’t matter what sort of fucked up terminology he uses, he's right and your wrong.

I think he meant spud. Thats it, HB is pulling potatoes. Some kind of agricultural slur I guess...

So for a man as computer educated as Radar would it really be that difficult to use spell check. I mean really.

"Pud" is actually another word for "penis". Doesn't make Radar any less of one though.

I believe we still need manned space flights so that we can continue to perform experiments in space. Experiments in Low gravity has led to some interesting discoveries. I found this site interesting on the topic of microgravity research. Experiments in Microgravity

Hey!
 

Hey! The only one who should be pulling HB's pud is ME.

Just wanted to get that straight.

With no disrespect intended, as I hold you both in the highest possible regard (given the fact that I don't know either one of you), I've got to inquire...isn't HB allowed to pull his *own* pud, or is that strictly your job by some sort of mutual agreement (an agreeable agreement, to be sure)? :) :confused: :)

Now how many of these were done on a space station and how many were done in a much less expensive shuttle flight?

No one is disputing the need for manned space flight. It would just be nice if even 50% had some scientific purpose. Many of those experiments were performed just as easily in robotic vehicles that are substanically less costs. Estimates are as much as 1/10th cost. Manned flight only for the sake of manned flight makes no sense. Manned flight to solve problems, ie Hubble, have a purpose. With three out of four shuttles virtually dedicated to building a station that has little scientific value, what is the purpose in most cases?

Regarding A meaningful goal for NASA, this person has an interesting proposal that rings true and makes a lotta sense.

I like it.

Which guarantees and entrenches the French as world leader in satellite launch business. Because of the Shuttle program, US long ago lost out to France as commerical satellite launch leader. Now the French or Russians become the world leader in heavy launch vehicles.

Amazing how many #1 rankings of importance the US will surrender because politicians - not engineers - make technical decisions. Top of the list for why the US loses leadership in other, productive industries: anti-ballistic missile defense system - that does not work but creates lots of jobs. Jobs that result in nothing productive.

If the shuttle fleet stops flying, then the $150billion for the ISS will also become a flaming meteor.

Heard today that the US has asked Russia to bring back three astronauts on ISS. Not sure if this means the ISS will be abandoned for a while. Without Shuttles, ISS cannot be maintained except for short periods using supplies from Soyus capsules.

Universe expansion is accelerating - a mystery discovered by Hubble. One suggested reason was dark matter. Currently, not enough matter (Hubble number) has been found to account for the big bang. Science speculates that 'dark matter' must exist.

Also to confuse quantum mechanics theories is a shortage of anti-matter. In theory, matter and anti-matter should be in equal quantities.

Noble prize winner Samuel Ting of MIT leads a 16 nation space mission to find these answers. The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) is a multi-purpose particle detector to perform three experiments including a search for dark matter and to locate the missing anti-matter. Previous attempts using high altitude ballons discovered nothing. The detector must get outside earth's atmosphere.

Normally AMS would be launched into high orbit by expendable rocket. But ISS was so desperate for any real science (previous NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin had to justify ISS existence). A free shuttle launch without the usual NASA restrictions was offered. Entire AMS program will cost $840million. AMS would still be exposed to earth's atmosphere in low earth orbit (LEO). But free launch and eliminated attitude control would make the bird both simpler and less expensive. Also the bird could be recovered three years later so that data can be 'tweeked' by recalibrating an aged space vehicle.

Expected launch data was 2007. That was until George Jr annouced his 'man to Mars' mission. AMS may be bumped this summer when NASA reevaluates all science not directly traceable to a manned Mars mission. Just more good and essential science being undermined for the glory of George Jr's wish to become another Kennedy - without first learning facts. "We're going through a rethinking process," says Bernard Seery of NASA's biological and physical sciences office.

If AMS does get bumped, then the bird will require massive changes to fly freely; including hardening of its structure, enlarged power systems, and a flight control system. Messy job after the bird has been designed and is being constructed. But then George Jr better understands what science needs do. Politics being more important.