Earth from Space

[tw]

Being an adult requires one to learn facts. Especially facts tempered by numbers. NOVA (like FrontLine) is a fundamental and necessary source of reality. Especially a latest broadcast entitled
Earth from Space
This show is two hours. Some of the best compilation of science I have seen in years. A 'must watch' for anyone who would be educated rather than brainwashed.

Much science was recently learned from a fabulous array of satellites. In the past decade, extremists even tried to end Hubble. This has been discussed in The Cellar years ago. Including what was essentially an astronaut rebellion to save Hubble.

Reported is more amazing science including Aura, Terra, and Aqua. All launched before the George Jr administration began terminating research science satellites in mass numbers (also discussed here years ago). And then spent $trillions on Mission Accomplished. We are threatened by that legacy.

ISS does virtually no science. Mostly because it contains humans. Research satellites (also called drones) take a single digit percentage of NASA's budget. And do virtually all NASA's science.

What has been learned? Earth from Space is a stunning report on how successful science has been using technology developed when Clinton was president. Before government after 2000 (ie Cheney) openly subverted the advancement of mankind.

Earth from Space is a stunning report that any informed adult or student of science must review.

[glatt]

Sounds interesting. Too bad it was broadcast last week. I'll try to find time to stream it.

[xoxoxoBruce]

That was an excellent show, I heard some things I'd never been aware of before, like the 4000 mile diameter jet stream around the antarctic that stirs the ocean almost 2.5 miles deep.
Also how most of the oxygen created by the Amazon rain forest never leaves the forest, but the algae blooms created by the Amazon river carrying crap into the ocean creates much of the oxygen which benefits us.

It pointed out how the space program was much more than putting men on distant rocks, although that's what got all the press. The tremendous value of the scientific satellites and their ability to provide data that help us understand how the earth/nature works, has been of more value than Apollo.
But these aging satellites are not being replaced as the retire, so much of the scientific research will wither on the vine.

[tw]

Databases created by satellites and telescopes are 'mined' for decades to discover new science. Critical in making a useful database are no holes. Overlapping data is also essential to calibrate a retiring satellite's sensors with new satellite sensors.

We wasted $billions on bogus manned spacecraft including Constellation, Ares, and Orion. Projects promoted by people so technically inferior that those programs were scrapped when nearly finished. NOVA does not discuss earth science from the ISS. We wasted significant money and human talent on that $150billion creature and foolish manned spacecraft for items that would do near zero science. Real science is mostly done with devices that rarely need humans.

Those deep ocean currents have been curiosities for at least a decade. And are a major concern to global warming. They may have been a major sink for greenhouse gases such as CO2. Once those trapped gases return to the surface, then that 'sink' is gone.

Also not discussed by that report are gliders. Robot submarines that cruise for months or years beneath the ocean. Periodically rising to the surface to report their data to satellites. Rutgers U recently pioneered one from NJ to Spain. Another has just recently completed a journey from the US west coast to Australia.

(The US Navy is planning a glider fleet to perform what drones do in the air. The Air Force is also flying a secret X-37 space shuttle that carries no people.)