Thread: Fuck yeah, we're gonna bomb the moon

Notice that no nuclear weapon has been used intentionally on people since 1945. Your argument is lacking evidence for the last 65 years.

In the history of humanity, 65 years is an extraordinarily short period of time.

Originally Posted by imran_p

In the history of humanity, 65 years is an extraordinarily short period of time.

In modern human history, it is a very long time.
Nevertheless, anyone doing scientific research for military applications is an asshole.

In the history since the inception of nuclear weaponry I'd say that's a very important distinction in time. The bomb hasn't been used with malicious intent for 99% of the time since it was developed. The fact that thousands of them exist is not pertinent, only their use is.

Originally Posted by Alextanium

Notice that no nuclear weapon has been used intentionally on people since 1945. Your argument is lacking evidence for the last 65 years.

You just proved my point. Used once, or all the time it was still used. There is no lack in evidence. I also said "etc" which means there is other bombs being made and used.

I never understood the claim that NASA's funding could be better used. It has already been pointed out that there budget is extremely small compared to the rest of government spending. They also produce real tangible benefits to society. From the obvious like satellite technology that gives us television, radio, GPS, Cellphones, etc.. to not so obvious but arguably much more pivotal things like pacemakers, ear thermometers, and those things that just make our lives more comfortable like memory foam mattresses, scratch resistant lenses, shoe insoles and cordless electronics. Deleting just a few outdated cold war era military programs would fund all of NASA, our education system and a host of other essential public services. It is arguable that with all of the redundancy and outmoded military spending, our defense budget could be cut in half and it wouldn't make our country any less safe. And yet because NASA is more visible with its spending people say that it is a waste of money.

The most common trotted out argument is that you could have developed all those technologies directly for a fraction of the cost, rather than the round about way of conducting extremely expensive human space flight and inventing those materials as a byproduct.

What this person ignores is that our future is out there. Like it or not, we'll have to leave Earth one day. She won't last forever.

Space is the last uncharted frontier. We've mapped the ocean floors with sonar and satellites have imaged the planet down to a resolution of 10 metres. Explorers of times gone by used to gaze at their horizon and wonder what adventure lay over it. Our horizon is still there, you just have to crane your neck straight up to find somewhere we haven't been yet.

Our next world could be Mars. Maybe like Total recall, use it that way. But everything will be inside, no going outside. But one day you wont need to go outside, you can insert a chip and your view changes to an outside, and feel everything that is outside. Bring that to Mars.

It's too bad everything has been explored on Earth, i would love to go somewhere that nobody has been. Maybe a planet the size of VY Canis Majoris?

Unfortunately the process of star formation prohibits terrestrial planets from getting that big.

Originally Posted by Alextanium

Unfortunately the process of star formation prohibits terrestrial planets from getting that big.

For real? man, that would be my vote for a new Earth. It would take millions of years to walk around the planet. Because it would be so big, there would be SO MANY discoveries.

Originally Posted by LucidFlanders

But everything will be inside, no going outside. But one day you wont need to go outside, you can insert a chip and your view changes to an outside, and feel everything that is outside.

Virtual reality chips that show things that aren't real?

What up Matrix 4

Another history debate?! lol.

http://www.space.com/scienceastronom...discovery.html

Yay.

Originally Posted by Alextanium

Notice that no nuclear weapon has been used intentionally on people since 1945. Your argument is lacking evidence for the last 65 years.

I have another theory why no nuclear weapon has been used since, BECAUSE IT'S PURE INSANITY. the sheer number of deaths and destruction caused by a single bomb, by today's standards is hardly justifiable, that's why no one has used it

the bomb was created to murder as many lives as quickly as possible, and that's what it does, and there is no good in it

mankind will never colonize space either until we pull our heads out of our asses and realize only the most deranged and neurotic species would create such a weapon to kill it's own species

science is meant to serve mankind, for the sake of mankind, to enrich mankind and make our lives better..............not worse

Talk about tax dollars being put to good use

Is that sarcasm? You don't think this was a beneficial project?

Not hardly Exobyte

So you don't think that a mission dedicated to the discovery of water on the moon, a succesful mission no less that yeilded positive results is beneficial? You don't think water on the moon is a worthwhile discovery?

Do you not understand what this could mean? The discovery of water on the moon could mean that we can potentially set up a lunar base. If a lunar base were to exist, it could be utilized as a staging ground for future space missions and launches. A craft launched from the moon would not need as much power or fuel, and thus a moon launch would be much more efficient and thus cheaper than current launches.

This means we can make other discoveries cheaper and quicker than we currently are. It also means that if we found water on the moon, significant amounts at that, that we can also assume that it is abundant in other parts of the solar system, galaxy and universe. Which means in future, possibly the near future, we may have a means of setting up other bases or zones on other planets.

Given the current population of the earth and our rate of growth, sometime very soon we will need extra planetary colonies. Even if its in the far future, this discovery sets up the notion that one day planetary colonies will be possible, which is vital to the survival and continued existence of the human race. Maybe not right this moment, but in the long term our expansion into the cosmos is necessary. This discovery allows us to understand that expansion into space is a distinct possibility.

Thus this discovery gives up and sets up precedent for the future survivability of our species.

Water on the moon is an amazing discovery. Even if the above is not enough for you, imagine what we can learn from this. If we can study what is allowing water to be created on the moon, we can utilize that down here on earth. It seems the moon is producing its own water through solar activity. Imagine if we could replicate that in technology down here on earth? Drought and Water Shortage problems would be solved. Entire countries would benefit and millions upon millions of deaths could be prevented.

Do you know that most of the technology that we enjoy in the comfort of our homes today exists because of space exploration? Many of these technologies were developed simply to go into space, or to put things into space. And then they either made their way into our homes, or their technology was utilized to create other technologies. Imagine what can be achieved with this. A real discovery in our neighborhood instead of simply going into earth orbit.

This is unprecedented and can do nothing but benefit the human race as a whole.

It is impossible for me to understand how you can believe this is a waste of money. I would love to see you argue so. Do you really think this wasn't worth it?

Well done Exo, I couldn't have put it into better words myself. Tis exactly why this is a great thing.

Even if we ignore the benefits of the knowledge gained in this way, it's not a waste but an investment. Let's put it in simple terms for people that only care for numbers.
For every single $ invested into technology for space exploration, 6-8 $ were generated by those technologies.